Rating: 
Summary: Great Ideas but PLEASE get other views as well
Review: I started my pregnancy with the Dr. Sears pregnancy book and also read the breastfeeding book and I loved his natural, gentle approach to everything so I registered for The Baby Book. I devoured this book and loved everything I read. I felt so confident going into parenthood! Then I had my baby and I was shocked to find I was completely unprepared in some ways. I followed some dangerous advice about not supplementing her with formula while my milk was coming in and she ended up in the hospital dehydrated and with dangerously low blood sugar. The day we left the hospital I bought the American Academy of Pediatrics book "Caring for Your Baby and Young Child," and this is my new bible for illnesses in my baby. It is much more thorough, and I feel comfortable knowing this is what is reccomended by a community of professionals instead of one Dr with one philosophy. Anther example, we tried the family bed until she was five months and we never let her cry for a second. At four months old she was fussy, clingy, and was sleeping less that ten hours a day. I finally broke down and bought "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." After some gentler approaches and limited crying it out she will only sleep through the night (12 hours) in her own bed because our moving wakes her, and she gets about 13-15 hours of sleep a day. She is happy every morning and much more playful and engaging, and our bond is even stronger. My point is that you really need to find your own approach to problem solving the ups and downs of parenthood, and this book will only present you with one method. I still practice attachment parenting, but I also respect my child's needs to sleep and to play on her own. I love Dr. Sears and Martha's loving approach to parenthood, but I have developed my own loving approach now thanks to the input I have gained from other professionals in the field.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for some things.....
Review: As an involved father, I thought that it would be good idea for me to read the same references that my wife did. I was disappointed after reading Dr. Sears' book. According to this book, my role in the care and rearing of my child is relegated to being secondary to that of my wife's, "Father creates a supportive environment that allows mother to devote her energy to the baby (pg.8)". The role that I am to play in my baby's care is defined in pages 8, 43, 272, and 350 (paperback edition) out of a book that has 689 pages. To his credit, Dr. Sears does provide some good practical advice on some childrearing issues, which is why I would give it 2 stars. However, I find the overall tone of this to be extremely patronizing and to be totally dismissive of the fact that fathers are sometimes the primary caregivers to children. This book has a very strong bias towards the traditional mom-stays-at-home-and-father-goes-to-work household. If some families decide to follow this template, by no means would I criticize them for following what they believe to be the best for their children and families. I do not have a bias against this. However, what I am also rather upset about (in addition to my relegation to a secondary role in my child's upbringing) is Dr. Sears' subtle and backhanded criticism of as well as lack of support for families that do not follow the traditional route. Given his pediatric practice, the number of books that he has written, the boards that he is on, it is obvious that Dr. Sears himself has devoted very little time personally to the raising of his children and instead, has given the majority of the child-rearing duties to his wife. Despite being an RN, I cannot believe that Mrs. Sears worked much professionally, given that she is the primary caregiver for 8 children. Being a physician myself, I know that there is no way that Dr. Sears can accomplish all of his professional duties and discharge all of his responsibilities and still have a great deal of time for directly caring for his children. Personally, I chose to take a position where I could cut back on the number of days that I work so that I could take care of my daughter while my wife can pursue her career as well as be a good mother. This arrangement has worked well for all of us. But had I not reassured my wife that it would work out, she would have had a huge amount of unneccessary guilt engendered by this book with its biases and hidden agenda. I feel sorry for mothers and families that read this book, didn't have the options that we had, and felt incredible guilt that they were somehow shortchanging their children. Perhaps Dr. Sears' family does not need two incomes, but I know many families do (an idea he pooh-poohs on page 374)and they make hard choices. The last thing that these families need is an authority figure that either openly and subtly disapproves of their choices.
Rating: 
Summary: Court Order child has over nights with father
Review: Just wanted to know at what age should a child be away from her mother for overnights with her father that she has visits with him every other weekend and she crys she doesen't want to go with him now over nights are going to start do u think she is old enough to go we don't please let me know what age is right for her to leave her mother. She is only 15 months.
Rating:
Summary: Who said babies don't come with instruction manuals???
Review: I recieved this book as a shower gift 3 weeks before my first son was born. Being a registered nurse and the oldest of five children, my youngest sisters (twins) being born when I was 16, i thought i knew just about everything i could know about raising children. I was pleasantly surprised to find a wealth of information about child rearing contained within the covers! This book is well indexed, making it easy to find information within the chapters. It is written in a conversive, easy to follow style with beautiful illustrations. After reading through newborn development (after which i am reading as my child grows) i found myself referring back almost daily to review or just to check information. It was an invaluable resource during those first few uncertain, exhausting and nerve wracking weeks.
After delivering a 10 and 1/2 lb. baby, i was subject to much doubt from family and friends that my body would not be able to provide enough nutrition for my child to thrive. The Sears gave me the support in this book to trust nature and continue breatfeeding without formula supplementation. My husband and i are now confident new parents, happily practicing attatchment parenting...breastfeeding, babywearing (I own 3 slings!!) and sleeping with our beautiful 14 lb.,25 1/2 inch long, 2 month old son.
I don't follow everything the Sears recommend (we use a pacifier- A LOT) and breastfeeding wasn;t always a peice of cake ( i had to pump for a week and put my baby on breastmilk in an bottle while my nipples healed) but childrearing isn't supposed to be easy and the Sears stress finding the system that works best for YOU AND YOUR BABY. Anyway...it's a wonderful resource, I highly recommend it and I'm buying it for my friends and family who are expecting!! HAPPY PARENTING!
Rating:
Summary: If you buy only 1 baby book, buy this one!
Review: I have 3 children and this is without a doubt the best, most comprehensive book on children and toddlers. It describes the social, emotional and physical milestones of your infant and toddler in great detail. The writers, Dr. William Sears and his nurse wife,Margret, have had 8 children and the book's vast information is made more fun to read with their personal and humorous annecdotes. I appreciate hearing how they dealt with situations from both the mother and father's view points.
My second child had colic, and I really needed that section on how to help him, and my whole family through it. I cherished this phrase, "Studies have shown no lasting physical or mental damage from colic on the infant, however the same can not be said for the poor parents."
One of the couple's children has Down's syndrom so there is a great section on special needs babies, as well as twins, premature infants, ect. Very comprehensive!
They really encourage attachement parent by listening to your intuiton about comforting your child, feeding on demand, co-sleeping, and they give plenty of information to back up your choices to in-laws or others.
The illness chart is invaluable, this book helped me show my Dr why my 3 week old's rash was not just newborn acne, it's detailed description helped me explain myself and receive appropriate treatment for her.
I like how there are no absolutes in this book, they tell how to attachement parent even if you must go back to work, or are unable to breastfeed.
The toddler nutrition section is fantastic, from how to make sure your child is eating healthy, and tricks to encourage eating at that on-the-go-constantly stage.
I did not have this book with my first child, and went with my intuition about demand breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and wearing my handicapped daughter. I purchased this on advice for my second and really used it. I wish I had had it for my first, I would have felt less guilty for my parenting choices, knowing the studies that show how those choices make for a happier, more secure and confident child/adult later. Now I continue to refer to it for my 3rd child.
Yes it is a big, and not cheap book, but for the vast amount of easy to find and read information, covering several years of your child's life, it is the best investment you'll make.
One suggestion, buy it a few months ahead your due date, as it has information on preparing yourself and your home for the birth, as well as great advice from hour and day one your your new little one's life.
Rating:
Summary: The best peace of mind I have ever purchased
Review: This book is the best book on babies I have ever found. I was on bed rest for 2½ months prior to my son being born so I had plenty of time to research. This book sits on my son's dresser and my husband and I refer to it at least once a week. It covers everything from pre-birth through age two, and I have not had a question that it did not answer - or at least tide me over until I heard from my pediatrician. Also, it is especially helpful if you child is sick or not acting as they usually do. I give this as gift to all of my friends expecting little ones.
Rating:
Summary: Great resource for medical care!
Review: As a lesbian mom of twins who are in full time daycare, I agree with the criticisms that some other reviews have. Twins only get a paragraph here & there, and "alternative families" get even less attention. However, I still recommend this book 100%, because baby care isn't about me, it's about the baby! What I use it for the MOST is how to monitor medical concerns, when to call the pediatrician, how to communicate with doctors, what questions to ask, what information to give, what my options are, etc. And, he gives non-medical alternatives like chiropractic and homeopathic suggestions! I think it makes me a better consumer in our (US) health care system. The "trust your maternal instinct" message is loud & clear, and that is the best advise out there. I also like the approach that parenting is 24-hours, and babies aren't "convenient" so we shouldn't expect them to fit into our adult world. I like the positive spin they try to give to high needs babies. The Searses seem down to earth to me, and they don't buy into a "victim" approach of overscheduled, stressful lives, or forcing independence and education on very small babies, or buying educational junk to stimulate babies instead of just reading to them. So, that's my 2c worth! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Follow your instincts
Review: The "reader from San Jose" represents an opinion very different from attachment parenting. Frankly, that person doesn't sound too "happy and harmonious" to me. William and Martha Sears are the first to say that if anything you're doing is completing exhausting and frying you, look for ways to take care of yourself. They never advocate being martyrs. They know that children will pick up on extreme stress in their parents. My two little children (3-1/2 and 1-1/2) have received a relaxed form of AP. My husband and I did what worked for us. Our children are happy, intelligent, sensitive, and definitely not spoiled. I'm guessing the reader in San Jose had a baby who responded well to scheduling. Some children do not. And that's one of the key differences between AP and Ezzo-like methods: the Searses never advocate a one-schedule-fits-all approach. They advocate a loving, instinctive, and responsive approach. Babies are individuals, not robots. I believe that for the most part, William and Martha Sears have the approach that will yield the most positive results.
Rating:
Summary: Touchy-Feely And That's The Point
Review: OK, like most baby books it's a little didactic--as if there's some special wisdom the rest of us are missing--but on the whole a lovely book that promotes good, sound ideas for responsible, hands-on parenting, with great respect for the boundaries. Not for Penelope Leach people or Moms who feel their children can do no wrong. I just finished the funniest and most incredibly fresh book on parenting, "I Sleep At Red Lights: A True Story of Life After Triplets," by Bruce Stockler, an incredibly warm, wise and literary journey into fatherhood.
Rating:
Summary: The best peace of mind I have ever purchased
Review: This book is the best book on babies I have ever found. I was on bed rest for 2½ months prior to my son being born so I had plenty of time to research. This book sits on my son's dresser and my husband and I refer to it at least once a week. It covers everything from pre-birth through age two, and I have not had a question that it did not answer - or at least tide me over until I heard from my pediatrician. Also, it is especially helpful if you child is sick or not acting as they usually do. I give this as gift to all of my friends expecting little ones.
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