Rating: 
Summary: The only way to go!
Review: After a rocky start with our first 'high needs' baby we discovered the Sears' 'Fussy Baby Book'. The book and the parenting approach they described was fantastic,actually enabling families to enjoy being with their babies. We are now enjoying the first weeks with our second child and consider 'The Baby Book' essential reading. I wouldn't bother reading anything else now.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for every parent
Review: Just a word of warning before you buy this book, it is extremely pro-breastfeeding and might make moms of bottlefed infants feel guilty. I wasn't aware that the authors favored the family bed approach either, which I disagree with. I almost felt I should feel bad for making my baby sleep in her own crib. Also, they recommend buying a sling for baby to be carted around all day. I understand babies, especially newborns, should be held a lot, but toting around an 8 month old ALL day seems a little extreme to me. This book is the opposite of Gary Ezzo's Babywise approach, which I also find fault with. I really recommend What to Expect the First Year, which is not so biased.
This book does have excellent information on caring for a newborn, infant development and common health problems. Unless you are parent that shares the same views as the Sears', you might not want to read it. It left me feeling inadequate for not breastfeeding a full year and selfish for not taking my child to bed with me. I know I am doing a good job raising my child but others may not be as confident.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Everything You Need to Know
Review: When may wife I were handed this book we were sure that everything we would ever need to know must be in the book given it's size. Well it turns out that we were correct, at least there has been nothing we have not be able to find yet. Being new parents we needed a resource guide, so by both our purchasing and gifts we now have a rather large collection of pregnancy and early childcare books. This book has turned out to be one of our favorites. The main underlying parenting method the authors use is the attachment parenting method. For us, this seamed like the best way to go. The method is a gentle approach to parenting that stresses bonding with your baby, not harsh parenting more akin to a prison guard approach then a parent. We feel that their approach makes us more relaxed and able to trust our instincts - we love our child and want the best for her. We are thinking that it may be a good idea to supply copies of this book to our parents so they understand why we do the things we do compared to the way they handled situations. The book is more then this, it is a comprehensive baby care book that provides a wealth of information on treatment of illnesses and infant nutritional requirements. It is well put together and it is very easy to find what you are looking for. The information is spelled out in a clear and easy to read method. The illness chart is very helpful with detailed descriptions that were as reassuring as it was helpful. Given that the authors' are a husband and wife gave them a solid background for the advice presented in this book. My wife and I both enjoyed the viewpoints of both the mother and father. The book is even good to buy before the birth as it has information on preparing yourself and your home for the new little one. Overall the book is well worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: OK, but not friendly to working mom's...
Review: This book seems to have some great advice at times, but the author's attitude towards working mothers is extremely biased against them. It made me question if he has ever had to face reality, financial or otherwise, and therefore made his other assumptions questionable. He is also pro-family bed, which is not a concept in which everyone is in favor. If you can overlook these two biases, it is a pretty good book.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of excellent information
Review: What I most enjoy about this book is that it has a little bit of information on almost every topic I've been curious about during the past year. Whether it is burping, diaper-changing, baby-proofing, insect stings and everthing in between I find myself referring to it constantly. There are diagrams and charts that are very useful. I would also recommend The No-Cry Sleep Solution and The Happiest Baby on the Block.
Rating: 
Summary: The Attachment Parenting Source
Review: This book has been good for me. I'd never even heard of attachment parenting before I got this book. It would be easy here to pass opinions on the subject, but I will try to remain focused on the book. If you believe that children are to be respected maximally, if you believe that babies cannot be spoiled, if you are totally opposed to hitting children, if breastfeeding, cosleeping and babywearing appeal to you, you'll definitely love this book (his rigid opinions, and folksy style of writing notwithstanding). Though I do not cosleep, my child was weaned at 4 months and I do not have the luxury of staying at home with her until she grows up, I still found this book enlightening. It made me consider some things I'd never considered before. I honestly believe i am a more effective mother than I would have been had I not read the book. True, I was inclined to this child centered type of parenting from the get go, but I did some things differently than I would have done without the information gleaned from the book. If you are not inclined to these principles AND you have the least bit of an open mind, I suggest that you read the book, too. I gave it a 4 because I do not like all of the folksiness. I also think it doesn't do a good job talking to people who may not be able or willing to implement ALL attachment parenting principles.
Rating:
Summary: Most Baby Friendly Approach / Gentle Parenting Style
Review: I loved this book! After reading many baby, breastfeeding and parenting books, this is by far my favorite. The gentle approach to parenting affirmed what I already felt in my heart was the correct way to respond to my baby. A great find after feeling guilty that my child did not fit the mold given in other baby books (he nursed more often & sometimes slept with me). I also loved the detailed descriptions of developmental milestones and play suggestions. I felt that many of the suggestions honored my baby as a person and allowed me to see him as a unique person who didn't need to fit some pre-prescribed format. For those who are not comfortable sleeping with their babies,take what you like and leave the rest.
Rating:
Summary: Not As Good As Other Resources
Review: I asked for this book after my daughter was born, but never really got much use out of it as I did some others. It didn't seem to be as detailed on some topics and on other topics, I didn't always agree with the philosophy. If you are looking for only a few books to use as a reference with a new baby, I would suggest alternatively "What To Expect The First Year" and "Your Baby Week by Week" which I ended up using much more.
Rating:
Summary: Baby Bible Must Have!
Review: I am a first time mother who has already read a library full of book on pregnancy, breastfeeding, parenting etc. This Book is by far the best to turn to on any of my concerns my daughter is now 10 weeks old and I have turned to it from everything about attatchment, breatfeeding, allergies...the list goes on. I would highly consider this book for anyone who is having a baby.
Rating: 
Summary: Dr. Sears---the moneymaker
Review: While the idea of "Attachment Parenting" may work for people with adaptable babies, it won't work for everyone. For those of us who put our marriages before our children, cannot carry a baby in a sling 24 hours a day and feel that sleep is a necessity for both parents and baby, this book offers nothing but guilt. Mind you, all of the very strong opinions in this book have no research or citations behind them. I feel that Dr. Sears takes advantage of parents at the most vulnerable time of their lives. It is even more interesting to note that Dr. Sears, a "staunch" supporter of unrestricted breastfeeding, has a website that is sponsored monetarily by one of the leading formula companies. He claims that he needs funding to keep his site up and running--I find it all very curious. On top of that, most of his books offer the same info.--he just titles them differently and charges another fifteen dollars. You be the judge.
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