Rating: 
Summary: MOST JUDGMENTAL, FANATICAL BOOK EVER WRITTEN
Review: I wish I could give NEGATIVE 5 stars. He actually writes that if you have post partum depression and need medication, you probably shouldn't take it because then you can't breastfeed and that would make you more depressed because breastfed babies are "better citizens." What a load of crap! First, telling someone with PPD to hesitate to get treatment - is outrageous. Second, saying that breastfeeding is the only way to go (he basically says that) is narrowminded and judgmental. This man should be arrested.
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Summary: My son and I LOVE this book...
Review: I have read and re-read this book many, many times. So many actually that my son has ripped out several pages which are now stuck back in :) His interest in what I am doing is too cute to stifle...even if it means some ripped pages.
I especially appreciate Dr. Sears' strategy when it comes to illness (which is pretty scary the first time and honestly even the second and third time!). He has a comforting and reasurring way of explaining common medical problems (fever, vomitting, colds...) and tells you 'when to worry' and more importantly 'when not to worry' as well as GREAT self-help home care tips. You'll save yourself and your child many pointless trips to the doctor (trust me.) And if you do need to see your doctor, you'll know why and when and how to best inform your doctor.
Additionally, he touches upon almost all of the concerns (baby-care basics, infant development, starting solids, sleep, toilet training...) that we have as parents without giving you any set way of action...he leaves that up to you!
Overall, he has a great style of writing that leaves you, the reader and parent, feeling you have a great (second) pediatrician.
Rating: 
Summary: Guilt Trip
Review: This book has some good advise such as when to call the doctor, what medications are okay for infants and toddlers, but I am on the look out for a book that doesn't make me feel like a complete failure as a parent because I don't want to breastfeed forever and share my bed with my daughter until she's five years old. I actually had to throw this book out because it made me doubt my own instincts as a mother. Also, the Sears advocate allowing your baby to completely run her own life and have her own schedule at the cost of everyone's sanity. My husband and I tried this for 7 months and it proved to be a disaster. Once we found a book that helped us work out a real schedule for our infant daughter she has completely changed into a happy and healthy child. I think this book promotes some good thinking, but all in all it is a diaster because it makes you feel like if you let your child cry for two seconds that you are ruining her for life. I think books that allow parents to relax and trust themselves are a lot more effective. A book that I highly recommend for getting your child on a healthy sleep schedule is Dr. Marc Weissbluth's "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child."
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Summary: Good info, guilt-trips, all mixed together
Review: Some info in this book is really great, but lurking in sidebars and stories are some really serious guilt trips that I'm sure will inspire many a women's study major of the future. For instance, the authors say several times that any sleep arrangement that works for you is OK, but then refer to the "bars" of the crib as if they're prison bars. There's the same sort of mixed messages about moms working outside the home and bottlefeeding. Read this one with the same skepticism you'd give any book that makes a lot of value judgements.
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Summary: Preaching to the choir or the choir leading the preacher
Review: I like this book because it affirmed my beliefs about raising a baby. It appears that people react strongly one way or the other when it comes to the various popular baby books. I would suggest that the books are just information, and that the strong emontional reactions come from the fact that a new baby completely alters your life forever. I think people blame baby books for their own permanent loss of personal freedom. No book will ever truly prepare you for a baby. I guess you really don't grow all the way up until you have to care for a child 24 hours a day. So buy this book and than buy the other baby books and use them for ideas when you are losing it but it isn't the authors fault you brought a kid into the world.
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Summary: They have done an amazing job!
Review: Dr. Bill and his wife Martha have written a very helpful book for new parents and the "hot" topics every new parent faces regarding sleeping, breast feeding, and "spoiling". It reaffirms the instincts that most parents come fully equiped with but don't quite trust because of well meaning advice regarding "spoiling" Trust your instincts!
I have had the pleasure of knowing one of their sons, who is currently a second year resident. The proof is in the pudding. Obviously, their method of child rearing has been very successful. Their son is a kind, generous, and unassuming man. He will make an excellent doctor.
I urge new parents to read Dr. Sears and his wife's books. They have clearly practiced what they preach.
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Summary: Worst Baby Book EVER - Dont waste $ on it if adopting....
Review: I bought this book a year ago in preparation for the adoption of our daughter from China. This is the absolute worst baby book I have ever seen. At least 1/2 of it focuses on breast feeding and makes you feel like an absolute criminal if you don't breast feed. I am surprised the authors aren't advocating a constitutional amendment requiring all mothers to breast feed! Complete waste of money. No practical advice in this book at all. I highly recommend Dr. Spock's book or Baby 411 instead!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Empowering Theory
Review: I think this book truly empowers parents to get to know their baby, and to choose the parenting style that is best for them. The things they advocate strongly, like breastfeeding and carrying your baby for much of the day, have been shown in scientific studies to be very beneficial for children. There are also many researchers who are finding much evidence in support of co-sleeping. However, we do NOT co-sleep, and I feel no guilt from this book. Over and over again he insists, "if you resent it, change it" and "where mom and baby both sleep best is the best solution." He advocates taking weekly dates with the spouse, and emphasizes that moms MUST take care of themselves to take care of their babies. The big downfall to this book is the lack of practical advice. For instance, while he acknowledges that co-sleeping isn't the best solution for some families, he doesn't offer much in the way of other advice. I really recommend supplementing this book with Elizabeth Pantley's No-Cry Sleep Solution (read when your baby is a newborn!!) and Gentle Baby Care. These, especially the sleep book, offer great, hands on practical advice to supplement the responsive, loving baby care theory that Sears promotes.
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Summary: WOHM who supplemented with formula loves this book
Review: I think this book is full of very interesting and useful advice. Granted, I took the advice that applied to my situation and left the rest behind. I can't understand why some reviewers seem to think that they can only recommend books that completely agree with their views. Unfortunately, I didn't buy this book until after my first child was born and I was having problems breastfeeding and getting him to sleep in his crib (and getting no rest myself in the process). I believe that if I had I read this book before my son was born, I would have had a much easier first couple of months. I used much of the advice in the book when my daughter was born and can say that her infancy brought us much more enjoyment and relaxation. Yes, Dr. Sears is a breastfeeding, cosleeping, and attachment parenting advocate, but I consider him in expert in these areas. I much preferred the helpful breastfeeding advice in this book to the damaging breastfeeding advice I found in the What to Expect books. I welcomed Dr. Sears' comments that letting my child sleep with me wouldn't cause the psychological harm and bad habits that the What to Expect books lectured me about. No, I'm not an attachment parent or a stay-at-home mom. I've used more formula than I'd like to admit. However, I found this book useful and informative and not at all "preachy." I've given this book to several expectant mothers and have always been sincerely thanked.
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Summary: Dr. Sears Empowers Parents Not Preaches to Them
Review: Why are people so angry at this book??? Dr. Sears says over and over again to parent with what works best for you and your family. His whole philosphy is that mothers and fathers know what is best for their child. I think he offers a greater range (more than you'ld find in most "mainstream" books) of possibilities that parents can try with their child. Many of his options (e.g. co-sleeping, wearing your baby) have been used successfully for centuries before in our own and other countries. The options are compassionate, empathetic and feel natural once you rid yourself of many of our societal hangups. It is a back to basics book that doesn't require the parents to go out and buy tonnes of baby furniture, equipment and toys to raise a successful child. My child is now 8 months old and we have used many of the ideas in the book. I get many compliments from people I know and don't of how "good" (I like to think "well-adjusted") my baby is. What they don't know is that my husband and I work really really hard everyday putting into practice ideas that work for us from the book. We find many of the child-rearing options to be empowering to us and our child. I'm so glad we bought this book. I don't think me or my child would have the relationship we do now without this book giving me the courage to take back my power to mother with what works best for us. If you want to wake up 3 or 4 times a night to a crying baby in another room, and then need to go all the way into your kitchen to heat a bottle, then trudge down the hall back to your screaming baby this book isn't for you. If you're looking for a better way than this, READ THIS BOOK.
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