Acknowledgments

The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking out new lands, but in having a new vision.

Marcel Proust

I am a pediatrician—and I love it. I am privileged to practice a field of medicine where I get to be part-biologist, part-psychologist, part-anthropologist, part–animal impersonator, and most especially part-grandmother.

In this book, I also wear all those hats. I hope not only to show what the best parents in history have done to soothe their babies but also to explain why it works and how to have some fun, too! In doing this, my greatest goal is to teach parents, grandparents, and everyone who cares about babies how to translate their messages of love into the language all babies understand.

This book took a number of years to prepare and may never have been completed had it not been for the support and encouragement of a small group of people, to whom I owe my profound gratitude and appreciation:

• To all the kind mothers and fathers in my practice who allowed me to touch their wonderful children, to be a part of their families, and to learn along with them.
• To my beloved mother Sophie, who taught me to marvel at the beauty and order in the world, and to my father Joe, whose patience is my model and whose selfless generosity sheltered me and gave me the gift of education.
• To my extraordinary wife Nina, my soulmate, who opened my heart and eyes and is my greatest friend, teacher, and compass. To my mother-in-law Desa, who is a unique and courageous woman. And to my daughter Lexi, who graciously tolerated my long hours of work.
• To my teachers Arthur H. Parmelee, Jr., and T. Berry Brazelton. Their brilliant talent for making the complex seem simple helped me learn how to observe and understand children. To the curious minds of Ronald Barr, Julius Richmond, Tiffany Field, Barry Lester, and many other honest explorers of science whose road signs guided me on this wonderful path into the inner world of babies.
• To my colleagues who reviewed this book and so generously gave of their time and knowledge: Marty Stein, Jim McKenna, Neal Kaufman, Sandra Steffes, Constance Keeffer, and Stan Inkelis.
• To my friends who counseled and helped me during the long process of bookmaking: Toby Berlin and Michael Grecco, Laurie David, Eric Weissler, Peter Gardner, Bart Walker, Richard Grant, Sylvie Rabineau, Katy Arnoldi, Laurel and Tom Barrack, Jonathan Feldman, Dick and Lïse Stolley, Carrie Cook, and to my partners and staff at Tenth Street whose support helped make this work possible.
• To the capable help of deputy publisher Nita Taublib, the sharp intellect and pencil of my editor Robin Michaelson, the witty imagination of Jennifer Kalis, and the savvy advice of my agent Suzanne Gluck.

Thank you all!