Rating: 
Summary: Excellent if badly organized info; poor info on vaccine risk
Review: This is an excellent resource for parents who seek information about attachment parenting as well as general info on safety, nutrition, etc for the first two years. The Sears use first-hand experience as parents of seven children as well as clinical theories and medical expertise. I have found many of their suggestions extremely useful. The book suffers, however, from a very confusing organization of chapters; themes seem to repeat themselves in unlikely places; some info which should appear at the beginning of the book is saved for the last chapters. The lack of logical order of topics makes it hard to find the information you need quickly, and this sometimes discourages me from picking up the book (like most parents of small children, my time for reading is extremely limited). My biggest criticism of the book is the dismissive way that Dr. Sears treats the increasingly controversial topic of routine childhood vaccines; while national (DPT, etc) and local parent groups who oppose routine childhood vaccinations and who question their effectiveness, safeness, and necessity are fighting for the right to make informed decisions about WHICH vaccines, if any, they choose to expose their children to, Sears just dismisses these pertinent and concerned questions as "confusion" which he then tries to clear up with about ten lines of paternalistic reassurance. Parents have good reason to question the administration of routine vaccinations to their children: many of the illnesses are eradicated in the U.S. and only transmitted by the vaccine itself--polio--;! or are so rare that they hardly warrant the attendant health and immunological risk to the child--diptheria; or they are illnesses caused by having sex and using drugs--hepatitis B; or illnesses that are not life-threatening and actually help to strengthen the child's developing immuno system--measles, mumps, rubella--and now chicken pox. Since there are not now, nor have their ever been studies on the long term effects of vaccinations on our children--medical researchers all over the world have suggested links between vaccines and SIDS, brain tumors, lukemias, immuno failure, asthma, allergies, etc--I find it arrogant and disrespectful to give so little time or thought to the discussion, and to assure rightly concerned, intelligent parents that the growing numbers of parents who are questioning vaccines are "confused." The bibliography of medical research that questions the routine administration of vaccines to infants and young children is vast, as is the number of American parents and alternative health care providers who refuse to accept blindly the recommendation of pediatricians who ignore the growing body of research on the subject. Sears is obviously a caring physician and father; he owes it to himself, his patients and his readers to inform himself on ALL sides of vaccine research (not just on the orthodox research, funded primarily by pharmaceutical companies, which supports the traditional view and practice) and present the pros and cons more accurately. This discussion is crucial at a time when vaccines for non-threatening childhood illnesses like chicken pox have become mandatory in some states and when the pharmaceutical companies are reported to be testing up to 44 new vaccines!
Rating: 
Summary: My parenting "bible"!
Review: This book is brilliantly written by the parents of 8 lucky children! Dr. Sears shares his years of wisdom as a father and a pediatrition, and helps us to learn how to nurture our children and give them the love that they want and need. This book is filled with excellent advice, and I have been refering back to it constantly for about two years now. My 18-month-old son is happy, healthy and smart, and I owe at least some of the credit to the Sears family! Let this be your parenting instruction book - forget the rest!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting , informative and BIASED!!
Review: This is a book that is filled with information on everything from feeding to diapering to getting the baby to sleep. My baby nurse suggested it to me. It is totally biased against anyone who does not breast feed! If you don't plan to breast feed this is not the book for you. It has tons of information on breast feeding followed by a chapter on bottle feeding. The first 4 pages on bottle feeding talk about how formula cannot compare in any way to breast milk. Hopefully everyone out there realizes feeding your baby is a very personal choice and informational books should not be filled with opinions!!
Rating:
Summary: This book stands out above all others
Review: Out of the many available books on pregnancy, birth and parenting, this one not only covers it all, but is a plethora of information that I have found no where else. It asks you to trust yourself and don't let others change your mind about what you FEEL is the right way to raise your child.ie-sleep sharing, picking up baby etc. It is bizarre how so many rigid uncaring theories have developed in the last century. They go against every natural feeling. Forget them - read this book. It's all you will need!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book. If buying just one baby book - this is it.
Review: I read through the other reviews. I am a full time working mom. I went back to work at 9 weeks. Because my child was MOSTLY bottle fed during her 3 week stay in the hospital after birth (She had meconium aspiration induced pneumonia), she ended up with nipple confusion. So i'd say she gets 50% breast milk and 50% formula. Yet, despite the fact that i'm a working mom who doesn't exclusively breastfeed, I did NOT find this book to be annoying or lacking in compassion. Sears paints one version of an ideal parenting style. I don't believe anyone has all the answers. We have to go by instinct, experience, and of course, solid sound advice. I follow attachment parenting as best I can under my particular circumstances, because my MOTHER did so. They didn't call it that in 1965, nor did they really advocate it - but she did it, and she continues to do it as my child's care provider during my work-day. I found Dr. sears's ideas to be a cold refreshing drink of water. He encouraged me to follow my instincts as a parent. So much of the literature that i've read has made me feel badly about things that instinctively seem *right* (co-sleeping, picking up baby whenever she cries, spending lots of time holding baby) and whenever I get into that funk, I pick up his book and I feel great. I think my sister brother and I are excellent products of attachment parenting. I hope my daughter feels that way about herself when she grows up!FWIW - I am a full time working mom who partially breastfeeds, and who is an atheist. Yet I am able to read through this book and find common ground without finding Sears to be judgemental or lacking in compassion.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Overall Philosophy: Some of It Is Unrealistic
Review: I generally enjoyed this book. It was full of useful information regarding establishing breastfeeding, dealing with common infant problems, etc. It was also a quick, enjoyable read. I liked the anecdotes. However, as a breastfeeding mother who is going back to work in 2 months, I found some of it unrealistic. They recommended wearing a baby in sling to work and breastfeeding on demand. Nice idea, but, how many employers do you think would actually go for that? A lot of employers still aren't crazy about the idea of breastfeeding moms pumping at work, but less actually bringing the baby to work. As for the problem of continuing to breastfeed and work, instead of a good solid chapter of juggling work and nursing or how to continue to work and attachment parent, the book advised moms to simply stay at home if possible. It asked questions like, "Do you really need the second income from mom?" I thought that was a bit insulting to many working moms in our society who truly love their kids, but need to work. But,not to criticize it too much, I agreed overall with the Sears philosophy about picking baby up when she cries, spending lots of time with her etc. But isn't that common sense?
Rating:
Summary: W o n d e r f u l !!
Review: A big fat book full of practical, realistic advice for parents. This is a book you'll refer to constantly. Dr. Sears tone is always friendly and calming. He'll help you feel better about following your instincts and help you sort through everyone else's 'helpful advice'! I'd also recommend two books that Dr. Sears wrote the introductions to: Kid Cooperation (How to Stop Yelling, Nagging and Pleading) and The Perfect Parenting Dictionary of 1000 Parent Tips BOTH are by Elizabeth Pantley.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the money!
Review: It's a big book filled with information that you need during the first two years. It't the kind of book you'll refer to over and over again. For after age 2 read Dr. Sear's - The Discipline Book and Elizabeth Pantley's - Kid Cooperation (How to Stop Yelling, Nagging and Pleading)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Resource Guide - the parent's ped. book for today!
Review: The style advocated by Sears matches development and brain research. It is a great resource for the intelligent parent that wants to take time to build a relationship with their children. Perfect encyclopedia of tips on handling problems for first time parents. A must buy.
Rating:
Summary: It should be titled, "The Baby Bible"
Review: We LOVE this book. It has answered many late night questions about everything from teething, to sleeping through the night. The information is straight forward, and doesn't make you feel like a bad parent if you make a mistake. They also include information you didn't know you would need. Example: buying the first shoe, what pain reliever to use, how to relieve constapation. We also agree with the Sears' philosophy of 'wearing' your baby as much as possible. It has made a world of difference to our daughter. Buy this book and good luck!
|
