Considering development to have multivariate determinants, the authors address child-care issues from womb to adolescence. Parents' roles include controller and arranger of the environment and instructor and guide; identical across parents' gender. Management methods depend on applied behavioral theory, usually reinforcement and punishment. These evolve with the developing child, and are designed to be preventive, instructive, and corrective. Detailed advice is given on a range of child-rearing topics such as immunizations, illnesses, thumbsucking, diaper changing, and toilet training. The social context includes consideration of parents' vulnerabilities, the effects of divorce, sibling rivalry, and the needs of exceptional children. Parents are assisted in finding needed resources and there are no presumptions of family structure or material resources. The reading level is moderate, the book well-organized; thorough and systematic in its coverage of a diverse range of topics. It is indexed in detail. The authors assume no prior knowledge of child-care. Medical content was rated as excellent.