I am a huge fan of my colleague Dr Vanessa Lapointe’s work and have hosted three visits to Australia by Vanessa from her homeland in Canada. By popular demand, I am making her books available on my website. As well as this book, you may also be interested in her earlier book, Discipline Without Damage.
-Maggie
Parenting Right From the Start
Laying a Healthy Foundation in the Baby and Toddler Years
by Dr Vanessa Lapointe
Through the twin lenses of attachment parenting and the most up-to-date child development research, Dr. Lapointe walks parents through the battlegrounds where problems are most likely to arise for children—sleeping, feeding, toilet training, aggression, sibling rivalry—and she provides appropriate solutions designed to promote connection and growth. Rooted in compassion and understanding, Parenting Right From the Start shows parents how building a firm, caring presence in the early years is one that a child can lean into for a lifetime.
Praise for Dr Vanessa
“This is the book the world has been waiting for.”
– Maggie Dent
“Dr. Vanessa shows the way from worry to confidence.”
—Tom Hobson, author of Teacher Tom’s First Book and Teacher Tom’s Blog
“With warmth, wisdom and strong scientific grounding, Dr. Vanessa brings us back to our parenting heart.”
– Karen Young, heysigmund.com
“Dr. Vanessa’s message that our ongoing development is intricately linked to who our children become paves the way for parenting that is connected, rewarding, and meaningful.”
—Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, bestselling co-author of The Whole Brain Child and No Drama Discipline
Maggie and Vanessa chat about the book
About Vanessa
Dr Vanessa Lapointe is a mum, parenting educator, bestselling author, international speaker, and a regularly invited media guest. She holds a doctoral degree in psychology, and practiced as a psychologist for nearly 20 years, before devoting her full-time energy to connecting with parents and other “big people” around the globe in 2023. Founder of The North Star Developmental Clinic, Dr Vanessa has long been supporting families and children in her developmental clinic alongside her team, and has previous experience in community mental health and the school system
Dr Vanessa is known for bringing a sense of nurturing understanding and humanity to all of her work. Her passion is in walking alongside parents, teachers, care providers, and other big people to really see the world through the child’s eyes. She believes that if we can do this, we are beautifully positioned to grow up our children in the best possible way. Vanessa is the mother of two adult sons, and lives in British Columbia.
www.drvanessalapointe.com
Paperback
272 pages.





