How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor
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- Create Date：2021-08-11 08:53:52
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Robert S. Mendelsohn
- ISBN：0345342763
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Reviews
Monica Ionita
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I've read both the book and the reviews （ both praising and attacking the author） so I felt compelled to add my thoughts here。 The book itself indeed has a few outdated elements and is very specific to the American medical routines （ particularly as it relates to medication names and recommendations）。 The author however has a refreshing dose of honesty in regards to both doctor motivation as well as quality of teachings， acknowledges routines he himself employed with their rationales and counter I've read both the book and the reviews （ both praising and attacking the author） so I felt compelled to add my thoughts here。 The book itself indeed has a few outdated elements and is very specific to the American medical routines （ particularly as it relates to medication names and recommendations）。 The author however has a refreshing dose of honesty in regards to both doctor motivation as well as quality of teachings， acknowledges routines he himself employed with their rationales and counter arguments and can admit when answers are simply unknown （ie。 both when a treatment or the mechanics of a diseasea are in question）。 This is universal enough to be comprehensible to non American readers a good 40 years later。The 4 star is primarily because the author tends to pass a bit too much of the blame for the more shady medical practices exclusively to medical professionals， whereas I believe the causality is more complex than simply 'pediatricians training is poor and they are unjustifiedly regarded as masters of health by parents'。 A significant amount of compliance to excess medication or intervention is also due to society's evolution towards smaller and dual income families （ having grandparents help at hand or only a working parent is rare， and a parent's willingness to let fevers run their course for example will be influenced by their dependency on schools， paid time off or in extreme cases， needing a job itself）。Granted， the book means to only narrow in the medical responsability of the matter but I can see why his stance of non medicating fevers or breastfeeding or diaper rash would make most modern day mothers feel diminished or plain outraged。 His advice are sound enough but it is debateable how easily applicable in 2021。His other more controversial stance is on immunisation， which to be honest I didnt find controversial at all。 His arguments are common sense and on the quite light spectrum of the debate。 He simply argues that if the disease is very rare or harmless or highly treatable， that the risk may be greater in immunization， which is a factual argument。 It's the same as saying that if you have a headache， you can first try taking a nap， then meditate or go outdoors and only then take aspirin。 Taking aspirin as a first resort comes with a small （ but greater than zero） risk， taking a nap comes with zero risk。 Readers of medical prospects with some familiarity in risk assessment will find this logical; emotional readers with personal negative experience or a strong social-cause mindset will have a hard time。 The reader reaction says more about their life view and experience than the quality of the author's arguments in the matter。Will parents like this book？ Maybe， maybe not。 But if it is read with an open mind and without pangs of guilt over past actions， it will give new perspectives。 。。。more
Andee
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I’m always wary of males who push the “breast is best” and “proper nutrition” a bit too hard。 So much judgment about women making decisions about their own bodies and mental health。 Get back home， stay there， and breastfeed！ Never mind your needs， desires， and intellect。 Oh， and if you breastfeed you can quickly return to your normal weight and have contraceptive protection for much longer！ I wonder who cares more about “normal” weight and sex， me or my husband？He also dedicates literal pages to I’m always wary of males who push the “breast is best” and “proper nutrition” a bit too hard。 So much judgment about women making decisions about their own bodies and mental health。 Get back home， stay there， and breastfeed！ Never mind your needs， desires， and intellect。 Oh， and if you breastfeed you can quickly return to your normal weight and have contraceptive protection for much longer！ I wonder who cares more about “normal” weight and sex， me or my husband？He also dedicates literal pages to a “natural” birth—which means one should not commit the sins of c-sections， epidurals， Pitocin， and/or birthing at a hospital。 My body， but not my choice。 。。。more
Elena
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Even though the book is old， the general idea will never get old。 Trust yourself， be responsible for your kids health and know when to ask for a professional help。 The key is always prevention， not intervention。
Sydney Drinkwater
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I had to drop a star for a few points the author and I disagree on， mostly when his opinions are anti-biblical; however， the overarching point of the book should be learned by all parents！ Question everything and educate yourself。
Jorgina
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I actually read this book so many years ago I can hardly remember the content but I remember marking many passages and feeling that the content and the information was very important at the time。
Dan
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It's hard to know the place of this book in 2020。 I read it assuming that most of the details were outdated。 In many cause that was true but not in every case。 Turns are people are physiologically pretty similar to people 30 or 40 years ago。 Details aside the major messages I took from the book still seem important。 - As a parent， you should trust in your experience and knowledge of your child to identify when they are facing illness。 Rest， care， and time can often provide all the support a chil It's hard to know the place of this book in 2020。 I read it assuming that most of the details were outdated。 In many cause that was true but not in every case。 Turns are people are physiologically pretty similar to people 30 or 40 years ago。 Details aside the major messages I took from the book still seem important。 - As a parent， you should trust in your experience and knowledge of your child to identify when they are facing illness。 Rest， care， and time can often provide all the support a child requires to fight off a bug。 - Doctors play an important role in childhood as they are the individuals best qualified for treating major injuries and ailments。 Their role as an emotional support figure to the parents should be evaluated。 - Medical standards change over time as our understanding develops。 It may not be wise to assume that the standard procedure is the best procedure for your child。 - As with any profession， there is an undeniable economic system that influences the actions and policies of the medical profession。 If you are picking a thirty-year-old book with this title you probably already understand or believe in some of these main takeaways yourself。 In that sense， this can be a source of affirmation to those personal beliefs。 I will note this probably best read as a source a balance。 An argument made from one end of the spectrum that can help you find a place somewhere in the middle。 。。。more
Yumi Kirtash
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A very good summary guide for parents to the common questions and ailments of babies and children， whether a mild case of a cold or a concerning accident。 Many of the things Doctor Mendelsohn mentions for me seem common sense， but I come from a household in which a visit to the doctor was only for emergencies （thus I have barely any experience with doctors and hospitals） so I suppose my experience is uncommon。I found the chapter of first aid advice very helpful as I lack much experience with it， A very good summary guide for parents to the common questions and ailments of babies and children， whether a mild case of a cold or a concerning accident。 Many of the things Doctor Mendelsohn mentions for me seem common sense， but I come from a household in which a visit to the doctor was only for emergencies （thus I have barely any experience with doctors and hospitals） so I suppose my experience is uncommon。I found the chapter of first aid advice very helpful as I lack much experience with it， my fiancé has instructed me in some of them， but I still feel unsure of my own knowledge so it is good to revisit them and learn something new。Reading it has also given me more confidence in myself as a mother and carer of my child。 We are constantly bombarded with information on what is best for our children， from doctors to the well intended friend。 And nowadays more than ever we seem to really not know how to care for our own offspring。 Such a book by a doctor assures you that you are the best "doctor" for your child in most cases as you see them everyday and know them best。I am sure the book by now is a bit outdated on some aspects， but most of it still stands true today， so it is still a very helpful tool for the new parent。 And most importantly， it gives you a good example at what to look for in a doctor when he actually *is* needed。 。。。more
Krishonda Torres
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The book I wish I had been gifted at my baby shower。 Every mother or soon to be mother needs this book in her How to Mom well arsenal。
Triều Nguyễn
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kj
Alicia
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Surprising how much of this is NOT dated。 Great read。 I love how he tells you when no really， this is a good situation to take your kids to the doctor。 Otherwise， pass。 Must own in library。
Ingrida Stariene
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Itin neigiama nuomone apie gydytojus， medicinos sistema ir vakcinacija。 Argumentuota ir informatyvi。
Stephanie
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I love that this book encourages parents to do two things， question and advocate。 Many parents are too intimidated to question anything that a “professional” recommends。 We have to remember that even though they may have had more training in a specific area than we have， they are still fallible （hense the reason for a second opinion） and no one has the interests of our children held higher than we as parents do。 Unfortunately， Dr。 Mendelssohn passed away in the later 80s， so his book isn’t very I love that this book encourages parents to do two things， question and advocate。 Many parents are too intimidated to question anything that a “professional” recommends。 We have to remember that even though they may have had more training in a specific area than we have， they are still fallible （hense the reason for a second opinion） and no one has the interests of our children held higher than we as parents do。 Unfortunately， Dr。 Mendelssohn passed away in the later 80s， so his book isn’t very current and some of his suggested methods might get you in trouble with CPS （administering whiskey to babies for various ailments）， but much that is contained in this book is still relevant and the admonition to do what is best for our kids even if we have to push back against the experts is still spot on advice。 。。。more
Rachael Marsceau
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Keeping this for reference。 It's a bit dated （1987ish？）， and even though I agree with his premise that parents know their kids best and the health system as a whole is corrupt， his tone and constant berating of pediatricians got annoying fast。 I've been blessed to have found awesome family doctors， so his extreme blanket statements made me mad because there ARE exceptions out there if you look hard enough。 Keeping this for reference。 It's a bit dated （1987ish？）， and even though I agree with his premise that parents know their kids best and the health system as a whole is corrupt， his tone and constant berating of pediatricians got annoying fast。 I've been blessed to have found awesome family doctors， so his extreme blanket statements made me mad because there ARE exceptions out there if you look hard enough。 。。。more
Donna
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HOW DR。 UNEME brought back my ex lover unemespellben@gmail。comAm DONNA， am from UK。 After been in a relationship with my Boyfriend for 1 year now and we were planning to get married soon and all of a sudden he left me for another girl。 of a truth， I really love this guy and never can I imagine life without him。 I further tried all my best to get him back but all my effort to get him back in my life did not work out。 It was on this faithful day， I came across some Testimonies on a website about t HOW DR。 UNEME brought back my ex lover unemespellben@gmail。comAm DONNA， am from UK。 After been in a relationship with my Boyfriend for 1 year now and we were planning to get married soon and all of a sudden he left me for another girl。 of a truth， I really love this guy and never can I imagine life without him。 I further tried all my best to get him back but all my effort to get him back in my life did not work out。 It was on this faithful day， I came across some Testimonies on a website about this great spell caster called （Dr。 UNEME） any persons claimed that he help them to renew their relationship and bring their ex lover back， I had to contact him because he was my last hope。 I contacted him through his email and he assured me that in three days time my boyfriend is going to leave the other girl and come back to me and it was a very great surprise to see my boyfriend coming back to me after three days the spell was done。 I am so very happy today that he came back to me and i achieved this with the help of Dr UNEME I equally want to use this opportunity to Tell/Advice to as many who need their ex back， if you need his help you can Contact him throughEMAIL: unemespellben@gmail。com WHATSAPP HIM @ +2348143813120Thank You Once Again Dr。UNEME 。。。more
Sabirah
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Incredible。 Empowering。 Puts confidence of children's health back into parents - where it belongs。 Thank you Dr。 Mendelsohn for this wealth of knowledge。 This book truly has cemented my belief in the body's amazing ability to self-heal and without the interference of unnecessary and dangerous medical practices。 Incredible。 Empowering。 Puts confidence of children's health back into parents - where it belongs。 Thank you Dr。 Mendelsohn for this wealth of knowledge。 This book truly has cemented my belief in the body's amazing ability to self-heal and without the interference of unnecessary and dangerous medical practices。 。。。more
Josiah
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I was probably 11 or 12 years old， reading in bed late at night with the dimmest of lighting。 My parents came in to see why I wasn't asleep like I should have been， and told me that reading in such poor light was going to ruin my eyes。 I happened to be reading this book and on the very page I was reading， the author said that reading in poor light wasn't going to ruin my eyesight。 Naturally， I was quick to share this "illuminating" insight with my parents。 Obnoxious Brat: 1。 Parents: 0。 I was probably 11 or 12 years old， reading in bed late at night with the dimmest of lighting。 My parents came in to see why I wasn't asleep like I should have been， and told me that reading in such poor light was going to ruin my eyes。 I happened to be reading this book and on the very page I was reading， the author said that reading in poor light wasn't going to ruin my eyesight。 Naturally， I was quick to share this "illuminating" insight with my parents。 Obnoxious Brat: 1。 Parents: 0。 。。。more
Helena
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Generally good but not very helpful in specific situations。 Also anti-vaxx。
Lily
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All parents and people who are going to be parents （as well as educators） should read this book。 It will reveal some difficult things and choices that should be considered for your children。
Nicole Fisk
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Every parent should read this book！ It’s amazing （and sad） how little has changed in 35 years-it’s still VERY relevant and useful。
Layal Al-yousef
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This is an amazing book for all parents/parents to be。 It’s a wonderful reference for parents trying to take a more natural and organic approach towards raising a child without all the unnecessary medical intervention we see quite often。 Dr。Robert （the author） is a great example of a pediatrician that we lack nowadays， he addresses almost all types of childhood diseases as well as accidents and the right way to deal without taking any extreme measure such as antibiotics， he also emphasizes on pr This is an amazing book for all parents/parents to be。 It’s a wonderful reference for parents trying to take a more natural and organic approach towards raising a child without all the unnecessary medical intervention we see quite often。 Dr。Robert （the author） is a great example of a pediatrician that we lack nowadays， he addresses almost all types of childhood diseases as well as accidents and the right way to deal without taking any extreme measure such as antibiotics， he also emphasizes on prevention rather than intervention。 As a parent who has seen her child go through a lot due to unnecessary medical intervention， I highly recommend this book， a must read for all parents and such an eye opener 。。。more
Tamara Andriasyan
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Крутейшая книга。 А за этот абзац автору особый респект:"Психиатрия — столь эфемерная наука， если ее вообще можно назвать наукой， что специалисты очень часто не могут прийти к общему мнению в отношении диагнозов。 Экспериментально доказано， что психотерапевты и психиатры соглашаются между собой примерно в 54 процентах случаев。 Это настолько близко к закону случайных чисел， что с тем же успехом можно обращаться за советом не к дипломированному специалисту， а к таксисту или слесарю"。 Крутейшая книга。 А за этот абзац автору особый респект:"Психиатрия — столь эфемерная наука， если ее вообще можно назвать наукой， что специалисты очень часто не могут прийти к общему мнению в отношении диагнозов。 Экспериментально доказано， что психотерапевты и психиатры соглашаются между собой примерно в 54 процентах случаев。 Это настолько близко к закону случайных чисел， что с тем же успехом можно обращаться за советом не к дипломированному специалисту， а к таксисту или слесарю"。 。。。more
Jared
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Another breath of fresh air when everyone seems to think pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical sponsored/funded universities and their minions know what's best for our children。 Another breath of fresh air when everyone seems to think pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical sponsored/funded universities and their minions know what's best for our children。 。。。more
Danielle Montour
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Contains some outdated material， but easy enough to read and does has some valuable information。
Mayra Sanchez
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Dr。 Mendelsohn did an amazing job at explaining the different illnesses our children can get and how to properly care for them。 I like that he gives us parents the power to make decisions and heal our children without having to run to the hospital every time our child is sick。 He gives detailed explanations that are easy to understand。 We are so used to taking advice from doctors without question but it’s important for us to ask questions about side effects and other options。 Keep in mind this b Dr。 Mendelsohn did an amazing job at explaining the different illnesses our children can get and how to properly care for them。 I like that he gives us parents the power to make decisions and heal our children without having to run to the hospital every time our child is sick。 He gives detailed explanations that are easy to understand。 We are so used to taking advice from doctors without question but it’s important for us to ask questions about side effects and other options。 Keep in mind this book was written in the 80s and Dr。 Mendelsohn died in 1988; therefore， it is obvious that there are things that have changed。 I highly recommend this book！ 。。。more
Hotspur
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Excellent。 I have a Molierian fear of doctors， but have luckily had no real medical issues in my forty years。 And why？ Because I intuitively followed the advice of Dr。 Mendelsohn without knowing it。 Never going to the doctor or hospital unless it was really serious; not settling on one doctor （especially for shoulder and back issues where doctors are more than happy to cut you up） until I found advice I thought was reasonable; and staying away from their cocktail of prescriptions as well unless Excellent。 I have a Molierian fear of doctors， but have luckily had no real medical issues in my forty years。 And why？ Because I intuitively followed the advice of Dr。 Mendelsohn without knowing it。 Never going to the doctor or hospital unless it was really serious; not settling on one doctor （especially for shoulder and back issues where doctors are more than happy to cut you up） until I found advice I thought was reasonable; and staying away from their cocktail of prescriptions as well unless necessary。 I have seen way too many people in my life blindly follow the quick diagnosis， pop the pills， do the surgery， and I am aware of only a few who were better off for it。 Of course， this is within reason （this is a book about when to take the child to the doctor and their issues， not about cancer or heart disease， or other serious issues）。 。。。more
Adrianne
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Same as just about everyone else。 I got a lot of good information， but some is outdated。 I’d love if someone took on writing an updated version of it with new research。
Alix St Amant
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I don’t agree with all of his thoughts but his overall message is incredibly important for parents to understand。
Alethea
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34 years old and still valid。 Well written for the lay person to digest。 Sensible and full of welcome advice。 I only wish I read it before I had my children。
Karen
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Overall a good book although dated。 It would be interesting to know what some of the data of more recent data is。 There are definitely things I don't agree with， but overall there were a lot of good points in the book。 I think there is definitely something for everyone in this book。 It was written by a pediatrician and he isn't necessary pro-doctor but he's not anti-doctor as well。 He goes over how many childhood diseases can be treated easily and safely at home but there are somethings that do Overall a good book although dated。 It would be interesting to know what some of the data of more recent data is。 There are definitely things I don't agree with， but overall there were a lot of good points in the book。 I think there is definitely something for everyone in this book。 It was written by a pediatrician and he isn't necessary pro-doctor but he's not anti-doctor as well。 He goes over how many childhood diseases can be treated easily and safely at home but there are somethings that do warrant a doctors visit。 The book also warns of doctors being over-eager to treat symptom because they feel like parents want them to do something so they prescribe treatment that could be more harmful than the disease。 I'm glad I read it and I would recommend it to all moms。 。。。more
دعاء الدريس
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