Oxford author Christina Hardyment's wide-ranging writing career began with an article about her collection of historical sewing machines and has included books about Malory and Arthur Ransome. Dream Babies: Babycare Advice from John Locke to Gina Ford (Frances Lincoln, £12.99) is a revised edition of a book she first wrote in 1983 to cheer herself and other parents up. Her point that childcare advice follows social and economic pressures is brought bang up to date.