BRAIN HEALTH FROM BIRTH

In this health guide, biotechnology patent attorney Fett (It Starts with the Egg, 2019, etc.) advises parents on how best to foster the development of their children’s brains.

The time to ensure the health of a baby’s brain is during pregnancy and in the first year of infancy, says the author. Modern medicine has a better understanding of this period than ever before, she notes, including what nutrients and practices will help nurture early language development, creativity, memory, and attention span, while also decreasing the chances of premature birth, autism, ADHD, and other developmental disabilities. In this book, Fett outlines how parents can create the best possible environment for brain development, from their children’s conceptions to their first birthdays. To that end, she points out what common toxins to avoid, which vitamins to take, how to keep hormones in balance, and how to ensure that a baby’s body maintains a healthy collection of microorganisms. “By the end of the book, you will have learned about many small changes that can have a big impact on the health of your child’s brain,” writes Fett in her introduction. “You will be armed with all the knowledge you need to make truly informed decisions, to give your child the best possible start in life.” Fett, the granddaughter of noted neuroscientist Paul Fatt, holds a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Sydney. She appears to feel at home in these fields, effectively elucidating complex jargon for a general audience. Readers who will soon be parents may be familiar with most of the prenatal vitamins, but they may not be aware of the dangers of the flame retardants found in some car seats, for example. The author takes a decidedly better-safe-than-sorry approach, which results in some unexpected restrictions; one chapter, for example, is titled “The Risks & Benefits of Ultrasounds.” All of her recommendations are based on recent research, however, which she documents in extensive endnotes. Although the science behind this advice continues to develop, readers seeking to give their child the best possible start will likely be interested in Fett’s regimen.

A serious, comprehensive children’s health reference.