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Toddler 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Toddler
With over 100,000 copies in print, Baby 411 is the country's fast-growing parenting series with legions of fans nationwide. Now, here comes the sequel: Toddler 411! From picky eaters to temper tantrums, Toddler 411 provides practical answers and advice from an award-winning pediatrician and mom who've been there, done that!
496 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
233 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
February 4, 2008
Written in a pretty humorous way that makes it more approachable. Lots of basic information-- especially medical-- that may come in handy as my son gets older. I was a little dissatisfied with it, however, because it had almost nothing on weaning or sleep issues, which I'm particularly interested in. Seems like they assume that those things are water under the bridge once you're child reaches one. They are also proponents of a very regimented and organized life which might not work for every parent (and certainly not for me)-- they suggest things like washing your hands after you touch your child to keep germs from spreading among family members and "kissing at your own risk". Still, it is full of clear, concise medical information, with very complete lists of symptoms and treatments, that I think will keep even the most nervous parent from panicking needlessly.
July 18, 2011
Toddler 411 (much as its predecessor, Baby 411) is a great book to have on hand when you have a question about your child that you don't feel warrants a doctor call, and yet you feel you need a little bit more than your own common sense. It's straight-laced answers are very calming in the wake of some of toddlerhood's scariest scenarios for a parent (illness, etc.). The Q&A form in which it's written makes things easy to find. Once you've read it through once, you can easily revert back to pertinent topics at a moment's notice. Or you can simply use it as a reference in general without ever needing to read it cover-to-cover. A+
December 29, 2016
Not as good as Baby 411. Focuses far more on diseases, injuries, etc. so will likely come in handy as an encyclopedia. Didn't like the recommended approaches to discipline and would recommend the Janet Lansbury books for that instead.
December 14, 2007
Ok. Some stuff was helpful, other stuff was the kind of stuff that can make you crazy.
November 12, 2020
I've turned to this book for advice for seven years and three children and continue to use it, despite being beyond the toddler years. Concise, easy-to-find answers for when you're debating calling the pediatrician or going to the ER. Hoping there is a Teenager 411 before I arrive at those years.
November 18, 2013
Sassy Summary: This no-nonsense reference guide aims to save its reader a trip to the doctor’s office by providing easy-to-find answers to common questions (How Often Should My Child Pee?) to advice on handling Picky Eaters. Success! The index and glossary are comprehensive. It’s funny. It’s smart. It’s reassuring. My only complaint is that the organic food recommendations gave me anxiety and made me afraid to put anything in my child’s mouth.
Quotable Writing: Follow the “Two Stop” Rule. Getting in and out of your car with a toddler is an experience itself. With our kids, we always had a two stop rule for Saturday errands–that is, if you have to stop the car more than twice to do errands, you are asking for trouble.
Cheetah or Snail? Cheetah. I skimmed this book in one evening.
Buy or Borrow? Buy. Give it as a gift to a mother on her child’s first birthday.
Book Club Discussion Generator? Nah.
Who should read it? Any caregiver for a child between the ages of 1 and 4 years old.
Quotable Writing: Follow the “Two Stop” Rule. Getting in and out of your car with a toddler is an experience itself. With our kids, we always had a two stop rule for Saturday errands–that is, if you have to stop the car more than twice to do errands, you are asking for trouble.
Cheetah or Snail? Cheetah. I skimmed this book in one evening.
Buy or Borrow? Buy. Give it as a gift to a mother on her child’s first birthday.
Book Club Discussion Generator? Nah.
Who should read it? Any caregiver for a child between the ages of 1 and 4 years old.
January 2, 2012
Great reference book. I stumbled upon it at the Library, but now want it for my own book shelf. The concluding chapters on illness and First Aid are something I would like to have at my fingertips when needed.
Many authors of mom-help books try to use humor -- and completely fail. Fields might just be the first one I've seen succeed. Her humor comes at just the right time, and it isn't forced.
If I go through the baby stage again, I'll have a copy of Baby 411 on hand. I'm sure it is just as fabulous a read. I'd say Toddler 411 is to Toddler Parenting as Mayo Clinic Guide to Healthy Pregnancy is to Pregnancy. Namely, a must read.
Definitely skip the "What to Know" series. 411 is a much better choice.
Many authors of mom-help books try to use humor -- and completely fail. Fields might just be the first one I've seen succeed. Her humor comes at just the right time, and it isn't forced.
If I go through the baby stage again, I'll have a copy of Baby 411 on hand. I'm sure it is just as fabulous a read. I'd say Toddler 411 is to Toddler Parenting as Mayo Clinic Guide to Healthy Pregnancy is to Pregnancy. Namely, a must read.
Definitely skip the "What to Know" series. 411 is a much better choice.
January 26, 2011
This book provides a comprehensive overview of what parents can expect in the toddler years. Mostly a reference tool for quick answers, I'll likely start here, and then read more in depth from my other parenting books that delve into the various subject matter more deeply.
My favorite parts were the developmental milestones and when to take your child to the ER versus to the doctor versus the need for no medical visit at all. This approach is taken in different ways in regard to various topics, which I thought was great. It was all about "should I panic?" and if so, "how much?".
My favorite parts were the developmental milestones and when to take your child to the ER versus to the doctor versus the need for no medical visit at all. This approach is taken in different ways in regard to various topics, which I thought was great. It was all about "should I panic?" and if so, "how much?".
March 14, 2009
I've been reading a lot of toddler books lately, and this is one of the best. I love the easy to follow format, and I love the emphasis on practical solutions that are child-centered. I really like how encompasses so many aspects of toddlerhood in one easy reference versus one book for discipline and one for nutrition etc.
February 20, 2012
Out of the numerous books out there, I've loved the 411 series for babies and toddlers. Packed full of great information. This book is as much as primer for dealing with the toddler years as it is a reference. Well written, easy to digest, interesting and most importantly helpful.
February 14, 2022
One of the few print books I’ll read this year (and which took me 6-months to get through), this book is chock full of good info and worth having in your reference library if you’ve got littles.
I like using this book (and it’s sister Baby 411) when I have questions (usually medical) about caring for my kiddos versus Googling the answer (which doesn’t always give accurate info).
No complaints about this thick book… I find the info useful, beneficial, and nice to have on hand since I definitely won’t remember everything I read!
I like using this book (and it’s sister Baby 411) when I have questions (usually medical) about caring for my kiddos versus Googling the answer (which doesn’t always give accurate info).
No complaints about this thick book… I find the info useful, beneficial, and nice to have on hand since I definitely won’t remember everything I read!
January 30, 2018
Great reference, just like Baby 411! There's a lot of duplicate info between the books where it's relevant to both infants and toddlers, but this book also covers a lot of toddler-specific topics. I haven't read the entire thing since I have less time to read now, but it's easy to skip straight to the parts I need when I have questions.
December 20, 2018
It's a little dated. I'm curious as to whether there's a new edition out. Otherwise, this book is great! Covers everything from development to potty training to first aid and illnesses to nutrition and everything in between. Definitely helpful for a new mom of a toddler! I highly recommend especially if you're curious or concerned about what to expect in toddlerhood.
January 24, 2020
Just like Baby 411, this book is very helpful. From discipline to eating to poop, it's all in there. And of course, the best part is the First aid section. Something happens, should I be calling 911 or can I wait for tomorrow. This book is very pro-science and research, so if you're an anti-vaxer, you might want to skip this one, but if you want your kid to survive and thrive, this is the book for you.
October 18, 2023
Baby 411 and Toddler 411 were our favorite and most-used of the advice genre. Practical, easy to find what you need right then, and very useful for parsing out what needed an immediate call vs. wait and see. (Also for calming down parental anxiety.)
My only complaint is that there’s no 411 book for older kids - we were very sad when our kid aged out of these!
My only complaint is that there’s no 411 book for older kids - we were very sad when our kid aged out of these!
December 29, 2019
I have a newer edition, but the bare bones are still there - this is my go-to for everything toddler. It has a very thorough glossary; anything that I've ever wanted to look up has been addressed in this book. Highly recommend.
July 31, 2020
Having read “Expecting 411” and “Baby 411” I definitely felt more ‘meh’ about this book. Maybe it’s because toddlers are more complex, but I felt like this book left out a lot and focused on very few issues. Good to have around as a quick medical reference though!
September 17, 2021
About 1/2 of the book seemed to be pulled directly from the content as Baby 411. A lot more product placement in this one as well, relative to the prior book.
The content uniquely applicable to toddlers was good, but there needed to be a lot more of it.
The content uniquely applicable to toddlers was good, but there needed to be a lot more of it.
December 28, 2023
This book had a lot of information for parents that was broken down by age since kids vary so much from one to four years old. It was hard to read straight through but is great to repeatedly reference.
October 12, 2018
Found it helpful and like the home recipes for binge like pedialyte and ear and nose drops
February 6, 2019
Excellent book for helping you raise your toddler
May 20, 2020
Great info, factual point blank info. No opinions or fluff. Perfect for first time parents. I keep it handy for a reference.
November 7, 2020
Great resource to go to anytime anything is up with a toddler. Really liked the previous book Baby 411 too.
September 23, 2022
Excellent source book for anyone involved with raising toddlers.
May 30, 2025
Slightly updated sequel of Baby 411, but too repetitive to warrant an additional read.
March 4, 2012
I picked up Toddler 411 because I enjoyed the authors' Baby Bargains book so much. The authors have a matter-of-fact style to parenting and I appreciate their non-judgmental approach to controversial topics. Overall, Toddler 411 was much of what I expected from them.
The book is an encyclopedia of toddler. It covers everything you could imagine: milestones, weird but normal behaviors, potty training, transitioning to a big kid bed, and a whole chapter on poop (if you have a toddler then you know just how essential this chapter is). The second half of the book is called "Toddler Healthwatch" and covers minor bumps and bruises all the way through to red flags for meningitis. The authors stand so strongly by their product that the end of the book contains the guarantee that if the book hasn't saved you one co-pay for a doctor's visit, they will refund your money entirely.
The thing I most appreciate about the "411" series is that everything is backed by evidence. There are no broad generalizations about what is "best" for a child, and any time the authors make a recommendation they explain the reasoning and cite medical research on the topic. A great example of this was their handling of vaccines. There has been so much hype about the vaccines and the unknown damage they may or may not be causing, and it can be very alarming to a parent trying to make an informed decision. The authors first explain how we came to using vaccines, and describe the climate pre-vaccine (pretty scary for a child). They hypothesize that vaccines are a victim of their own success; vaccines have been so successful at eradicating disease that we wonder if we need them at all. This is followed up by a top ten FAQ that I'm pretty sure they lifted directly from a transcript of one of my son's well-child visits. (I think our pediatrician would have appreciated me reading this book first, THEN playing 20 questions with him.) The most valuable thing I took from the vaccine chapter was this: mercury preservatives were removed from all vaccines in 2001. Why is no one talking about this when talking about vaccines?
My only complaint about the book, causing me to lower its star rating by one, is that it contained a lot of what I consider to be "fluff," in that if my child was experiencing any of these problems there's no way in hell I'd be consulting a book about it. An example was this parent question:
"My child chronically throws up only in the morning. Should he see the doctor?"
How do people like this get dressed in the morning? Should he see a doctor?! Are these people eternally stumped by the weather forecast? "It says partly cloudy today, so should I dress for sun, or clouds? Or monsoon? Should I see a meteorologist?" (FYI it is NOT NORMAL to vomit every morning, so see a doctor, people!). Anyway, I wish they hadn't wasted so much space on questions like this. There's already a lot of content in the book without this fluff.
The book is an encyclopedia of toddler. It covers everything you could imagine: milestones, weird but normal behaviors, potty training, transitioning to a big kid bed, and a whole chapter on poop (if you have a toddler then you know just how essential this chapter is). The second half of the book is called "Toddler Healthwatch" and covers minor bumps and bruises all the way through to red flags for meningitis. The authors stand so strongly by their product that the end of the book contains the guarantee that if the book hasn't saved you one co-pay for a doctor's visit, they will refund your money entirely.
The thing I most appreciate about the "411" series is that everything is backed by evidence. There are no broad generalizations about what is "best" for a child, and any time the authors make a recommendation they explain the reasoning and cite medical research on the topic. A great example of this was their handling of vaccines. There has been so much hype about the vaccines and the unknown damage they may or may not be causing, and it can be very alarming to a parent trying to make an informed decision. The authors first explain how we came to using vaccines, and describe the climate pre-vaccine (pretty scary for a child). They hypothesize that vaccines are a victim of their own success; vaccines have been so successful at eradicating disease that we wonder if we need them at all. This is followed up by a top ten FAQ that I'm pretty sure they lifted directly from a transcript of one of my son's well-child visits. (I think our pediatrician would have appreciated me reading this book first, THEN playing 20 questions with him.) The most valuable thing I took from the vaccine chapter was this: mercury preservatives were removed from all vaccines in 2001. Why is no one talking about this when talking about vaccines?
My only complaint about the book, causing me to lower its star rating by one, is that it contained a lot of what I consider to be "fluff," in that if my child was experiencing any of these problems there's no way in hell I'd be consulting a book about it. An example was this parent question:
"My child chronically throws up only in the morning. Should he see the doctor?"
How do people like this get dressed in the morning? Should he see a doctor?! Are these people eternally stumped by the weather forecast? "It says partly cloudy today, so should I dress for sun, or clouds? Or monsoon? Should I see a meteorologist?" (FYI it is NOT NORMAL to vomit every morning, so see a doctor, people!). Anyway, I wish they hadn't wasted so much space on questions like this. There's already a lot of content in the book without this fluff.
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February 21, 2017Read by ACRL Member of the Week Christina Chan-Park. Learn more about Christina on the ACRL Insider Blog.
July 15, 2012
This is an excellent book that delves into many differet issues you may run into as a parent. The advice is helpful and informative. I think whenever you read books like this you have to be knowledgeable about your child and family, and ultimately make the best decisions for your child regardless of some peoples' opinions; however, this has great information covering everything from sickness, sleep problems, medications, and old wives tales. Some of the stories are humourous, and the book is just a fascinating read. It's set up to where it's easy to find exactly what you are looking for with a very detailed TOC.
February 12, 2016
Best no-nonsense parenting book series out there. It won't tell you what to expect or any of the other stuff the get-in-touch-with-yourself feel-good parenting books like to spend time philosophizing. THIS book tells you exactly when to call the doctor, what to look for in each symptom and when to just calm down. They keep it real with many charts and cheat sheets to help you get the knowledge you need fast! The very best book for middle of the night, sleep deprived parenting. We recommend this book to EVERYONE!
March 15, 2008
BUY THIS BOOK
Hands down, this book combined with Toddler 411 are the parenting books I would own if I could only have two. They have absolutely everything you need for your child up to about kindergarten in 2 concise volumes that are easy to read, entertaining (you'll laugh out loud) and most importantly, are conveniently organized as a reference tool. The overall tone of these two books is that of a "Hey, you'll be okay Grasshopper." one that is comforting and reassuring.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews