What others have said about The Safe Baby:
Protecting vulnerable populations is one of our passions at The Healthy House Institute (HHI), and it is gratifying to see Debra Smiley Holtzman 's comprehensive and well-written volume, The Safe Baby, addressing that most vulnerable of populations: babies. This guide is a tour de force covering virtually every topic important to ensuring that babies have a safe and healthy environment to live and grow in. Highly recommended.
—Allen Rathey, President of The Healthy House Institute (HHI)
I wish our family had this book when we were preparing for the social worker home visit that all prospective adoptive parents undergo prior to having children placed with them. I'm thrilled to now own a copy of this book, and plan to use it over and over again as a handy reference—both in making sure our current home is up to scratch, and ensuring that I'm aware of any issues for any future homes (or the homes of family members we may visit). I unreservedly recommend this book to any new parent, and this is probably my new gift to any prospective adoptive parents in preparation for that nerve-wracking home visit. So if you're a new parent (or grandparent, or close family member or friend of a new parent) run out and grab a copy soon. You'll be glad you did.
—parentdish.com
Child-proofing your home is a difficult task. Some parents may not even know where to begin. Get going with The Safe Baby. The book is endorsed by many top safety and health professionals and recently won the 2004 National Parenting Publications’ Gold Award. Author Debra Smiley Holtzman—of the Discovery Health Channel’s Make Room for Baby—didn’t miss a beat. She covers just about every possible issue dealing with child safety. This “how to” guide provides new parents with an in-depth explanation on protecting children from dangers. Some of the numerous topics included are preparing for emergencies, food safety, environmental hazards and choosing a daycare facility. Holtzman’s thoroughness is continued in the appendices, which list pages of helpful resources.
—E - The Environmental Magazine
Herself the mother of two children, child safety expert Debra Smiley Holtzman brings a particular expertise to the pages of The Safe Baby. Readers will learn all of the child-proofing essentials for making the nursery safe, to protecting the baby in the kitchen, the bathroom, and everywhere else in the house. Parents are shown how to choose and use appropriate nursery equipment; prevent falls; avoid poison injuries; deal with environmental hazards; keep backyards safe; which pets are suitable for children; choosing a babysitter or day care center; and travelling safely with children. A candid, practical, thoroughly "reader friendly" instructional manual, this do-it-yourself advisory will have still another additional benefit—peace of mind for stressed out parents!
—Midwest Book Review
It’s best to spend a little quality time reading Debra Smiley Holtzman’s latest eye-opening book—The Safe Baby. Holtzman offers parents a practical and comprehensive collection of tips, insights and warnings. The Safe Baby is helpful reading if you want to baby proof any area of the home. Holtzman’s room-to-room and inside-to-outside safety review takes parents on a baby’s-eye tour of their own home. It’s time well spent.
—Safe Homes Magazine
In The Safe Baby, Debra Smiley Holtzman speaks to grandparents everywhere, reminding us what we knew when our children, the parents of these miraculous new beings, were small—and telling us new information. Thanks to Debra Holtzman's guide, I am taking some safety steps—not just for my grandchildren—but for my husband and me. I'm cleaning the dryer's vent. I'm checking the automatic garage door. Underwriters' Laboratories suggests that people check their door by putting a two-by-four in its path each month. I'm doing it for the first time in 15 years. I'm gathering all poisonous products, storing them out of reach. Every grandparent knows the basics of grandparenting: cookies, milk, hugs and stories. But home safety should be another grandparent basic.
—Prime Time Magazine
All parents know that (1) children's talent for making mischief is enormous; and (2) the potential for physical hazards caused by such mischief is terrifying. What they may not know are some simple (and not-so-simple) ways to make the home safer. Debra Holtzman has compiled a guide to what parents can do to better protect their little ones. The author divides her book into logical sections, starting with baby-proofing the "hot spots" (nursery, kitchen, bathroom, etc.). Then on to more specific issues: pets, gun safety, fire safety, environmental hazards, and common poisons—essential information for physical-harm prevention. It's easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of information here, but the author's overall approach is positive and the precautions she suggests are straightforward. With a room-by-room checklist, a list of common poisonous plants, and a rundown of other safety resources, parents will wonder how they could have done without The Safe Baby.
—Kirkus Reports
Holtzman offers parents of young children a well-written guide on home safety. The author takes a tour of the house and the backyard, covering safety measures that apply to each room. Besides the expected areas like the nursery, the bathroom, and the kitchen, Holtzman also covers the backyard, the home office, and the basement. Chapters on fire safety, common poisonous plants, and environmental hazards are also addressed. The "Room-by-Room Checklist" and the list of resources in the appendix are handy and extensive. Highly recommended.
—Library Journal
Keeping your tot safe is undoubtedly your No. 1 concern. This practical guide is a fresh and empowering approach to the age-old topic, covering safety in every room of the house and beyond.
—National Parenting Publications Awards, on awarding the Gold Award (their highest commendation) to The Safe Baby
Debra Smiley Holtzman, mother of two and former lawyer, is the type of woman I would want as a neighbor. I’d want her nearby because when it comes to safety—particularly child safety—Holtzman is THE expert.
—Ana Veciana Suarez, Miami Herald
An informative and accurate guide to keeping kids safe. A copy of this excellent, easy-to-read resource should be part of every parent’s library.
—National SAFE KIDS Campaign
The biggest threat to the health of a child is an unsafe environment. Every parent and grandparent should read this book and follow the advice.
—Michael P. Nussbaum, M.D.,
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics,
State University of NY
The Safe Baby is extremely authoritative, comprehensive and well organized. This book will be a valuable addition to any parent's library. As a physician who cares for children who have been the victims of trauma, I want to congratulate you on this very important initiative in helping to reduce infant and childhood injuries.
—Gary Birken, M.D. Pediatric Surgeon,
Surgeon in Chief and Director
of the Pediatric Trauma Center,
Joe Dimaggio Children's Hospital
To new parents, it sometimes seems as though there are life-threatening safety hazards lurking in every room in the house. Fortunately, there's no need to panic. In The Safe Baby, Debra Holtzman takes us on room-by-room tour, thoroughly and calmly identifying problem areas and offering specific, easy-to-implement solutions. No home should be without a copy.
—Armin Brott, author of The New Father and
A Dad's Guide to the Toddler Years
Debra Holtzman's columns have interested my readership for years, and I am exceptionally happy that she has put this book together. What a wonderful resource for parents, and what interesting reading!
—Phyllis Juried, publisher, Today's Parent
The only book parents will ever need, The Safe Baby is the most comprehensive book I’ve ever seen on the topic of home safety. I can think of no better gift to the new family than a copy of this book. Even if you have already raised several children, there are topics in this book that will be new to you or pages you turn down because you’ve forgotten to be as safe as you should. It was a good refresher for our family, and we have a five year-old!
—Sheri Wallace,
Associate Publisher, REAL Magazine,
Former Editor-in-Chief, Pregnancy.com
