“Your Baby’s First Year” is a guidebook by the American Academy of Pediatrics, covering every aspect of infant care. With more than four million copies sold, the book is now available in Georgian.

The translation and publication were carried out jointly by "Mrcheveli Medical Center" and "Karchkhadze Publishing".

 

About the Book

Translators: Nato Kvaratskhelia, Lela Zangurashvili

 

“Your Baby’s First Year” is the most frequently recommended guidebook on all aspects of infant care, trusted by both pediatricians and parents. With over four million copies sold, the book is now available in Georgian, prepared with the involvement of the professional team at "Mrcheveli Medical Center", making it adapted to Georgian reality.

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the most authoritative organization in the U.S. in the field of child health, presents this comprehensive resource, “Your Baby’s First Year.” The book includes:

• Prenatal and newborn care guidelines, with a focus on maternal nutrition, exercise, and pregnancy examinations.
• Stages of physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development, as well as vision, hearing, speech, and motor development.
• The latest research on early brain development and how infants and toddlers think.
• A complete health encyclopedia covering injuries, illnesses, and congenital conditions.
• In-depth discussion of nutrition: breastfeeding, its benefits, techniques, and challenges; guidance on bottle feeding and introducing solid foods; the latest recommendations on nutrition, food allergies, and early obesity prevention.
• Advice on choosing childcare programs, facilities, pediatric clinics, and doctors.
• Modern safety standards related to first aid, sleep, immunization, car travel, toy safety, and creating a safe environment at home, in the yard, or during bathing. It also provides recommendations for preventing drowning, suffocation, poisoning, burns, falls, and more.

“Your Baby’s First Year” is a reliable and modern essential guide for every parent.

 
Preface

“Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis.”
“Times change, and we change with them.”

What remains constant is that children are born, and parents always have questions and need advice.

There was a time when information on pregnancy and child care could only be obtained during a doctor’s visit. Childcare literature was intended exclusively for “specialists,” filled with medical terminology that was difficult for non-physicians to understand.

Back in 1946, American doctor Benjamin Spock wrote “The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care.” In it, all the “secrets” once reserved for specialists were written in plain, accessible language. The book revolutionized people’s perceptions, proving that many childcare issues could be resolved without a doctor’s visit—simply with the help of a “good book.”

Since 1946, many childcare books have been written following Dr. Spock’s principle: explaining everything in clear language for everyone. Today, there are also many other sources of information.

Medicine, like all branches of science, continues to evolve. It is necessary to keep up with new knowledge, introduce innovations, and replace the old with the new. In these conditions, it becomes especially important to select and share reliable, well-verified information.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization committed to disseminating solid, evidence-based knowledge. That is why the book “Your Baby’s First Year” is exceptionally trustworthy.

We hope this book will support you in caring for and raising your child.

Irakli Rtskhiladze
Pediatrician, Clinical Director
Mrcheveli Medical Center