Becoming a new parent is both exhilarating and overwhelming. Being thrust into a new world of responsibility for a tiny human being can leave new parents feeling unprepared for the task.

Now, Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Babys First Year gives the clear guidance new parents are looking for from trusted experts. The editors are Mayo Clinic pediatric experts who, as active parents, can personally relate to the joys and challenges of parenthood.

Co-medical editor Esther H. Krych, M.D., is a mother of three young children and a pediatrician.

"Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Babys First Year is a one-stop resource for caring for a newborn," she says. "From baby-care basics, to month-by-month development, to health and safety, this book covers it all. It is an easy-to-navigate and easy-to-understand guide that all new parents can trust."

Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Babys First Year is in full color, including color photos of common skin rashes and conditions, and is divided into six easy-to-navigate sections to help new parents quickly find the information theyre looking for. The subjects covered within the six sections include:

• Understanding your babys temperament• Managing and enjoying parenthood• Growth and development month by month• Encouraging good sleep habits• Succeeding with breast-feeding and bottle-feeding• Introducing solid foods• Choosing good child care• Comforting a crying baby• Choosing the right diapers• Baby bonding• Immunizations• Common illnesses and concerns

The companion book to Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, this is the second in a series of parenting guides by Mayo Clinics pediatric experts.

Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Babys First Year offers the unique expertise and support of Mayo Clinicthe gold standard in medical research, education and patient care for more than a century.