Table of Contents

Foreword Dr. Alan Greene xi

Introduction xiii

A Note to the Reader xvi

1 Talk the Talk: Respectful Communication 1

2 You Got Me! Responding to Cues 29

3 Tick-Tock: Creating Security and Predictability 49

4 Let Your Fingers Do the Walking: The Importance of Touch 71

5 More Than Chitchat: Promoting Language Development 91

6 Talk to the Hand: Sign Language 117

7 Babies without Borders: Foreign Language 141

8 Baby Got Book: Reading 175

9 A Different Kind of Toy Story: The Importance of Play 209

10 Thinking Outside the Box: Screen Time 239

11 It's Easy Being Green: Reducing Exposure to Toxic Chemicals 271

12 Food for Thought: Eating and Nutrition 305

Appendix A Child Care 345

Appendix B Preschool 358

Appendix C Sample Baby Schedules 369

Appendix D Reducing the Risk of SIDS 375

References 379

Resources 404

Acknowledgments 408

Index 410