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Summary: This book was just right for our family!
Review: I found this book to be the most valued in our library on baby care and parenting. I had my daughter in the sling whenever she was fussy and needed to be held, and I was able to use my 2 hands for something else that needed to be tended to! With the advice in this book, I have become more confident in my parenting, not feeling like a bad mom when someone would tell me I would spoil my baby and that she would be constantly on my heels. I have proved them all wrong! My daughter began crawling at 5 months, walking at 9 months, and much to everyone's surprise, she is a very independent toddler! I believe this to be the bond of trust that attachment parenting has given us. I also was glad to hear that my instincts about her sleeping in our bed was accepted! This was the only way any of us could get any sleep after she was born by cesarean. I was able to breastfeed her right in bed with us without having to get up and go fix a bottle then go back to bed. This book should be given to every expectant mother at her baby shower! It gives wonderful information to those mothers who are insecure about trusting their instincts! Bravo Dr Sears & family!
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Summary: A Baby Care Guide with Preachy Attitude
Review: Although we very much subscribe to the attachment parenting principles outlined by Dr. Sears in this guide, we were irritated by the preachy undertone throughout this book. Dr. Sears is working against 50+ years of conventional "wisdom" about child-rearing and that may account for some of the book's self-righteous tendencies, but after awhile a person gets tired of being scolded. Some of his science is questionable (for example, "women have 'mothering hormones' and 'sex hormones'"). I also believe he puts WAY too much pressure on already stressed-out mothers, while letting fathers off the hook. While he makes a few token nods to involved fatherhood, the emphasis throughout is mother, mother, mother. Some of his suggestions are also flat-out unrealistic (e.g., wear your baby in a sling several hours per day--I have a bad back, and my baby does just fine in a stroller). And, if you've ever been through labor and delivery, his scenario for the "good childbirth" is a joke (and obviously written by a man, who will never have a labor pain in his life). Early in my mothering career, Sears' advice had me so panicked about responding quickly to my baby that I once ignored an urge to use the bathroom myself before nursing him. Well, you can imagine the result, and it was not pretty. After that I realized I had to trust myself more and the "experts" less. I'm educated and intelligent and resent Sears' "talking-down" approach, and my husband feels left out by Dr. Sears' ignorance of the father's role. In short? Buy Brazelton or something else instead. This book makes a great case for attachment parenting, which I believe in, but when I want a quick reference answer to a parenting question, I want it without preachy attitude--even when it is an attitude I agree with.
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Summary: The BEST book in my parenting library.
Review: I have read dozens of books on babies and parenting, and this is my absolute favorite. I find myself refering back to it again and again, many more times than any of the other parenting books on my shelf. It not only provides great information like you might get from an outstanding pediatrician, but it also provides a perspective that lets me have confidence and joy in parenting. Any time one of my friends gets pregnant, this is the first gift I give her.
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Summary: If you want to "wear your baby" buy this book!
Review: I wouldn't recommend this book unless you are certain that you share in the Sears extreme attachment philosopy. I bought this book more for the technique advice and less for the philosophy, but the philosophy aspect leaks into everything so it hasn't been much use for us. The Sears believe that in order to really love your baby, you must constantly cater to their every desire (regardless of needs). I think if most parents followed this philosophy they would go insane after a couple of months. A baby should be a wonderful ADDITION to a family and not take over as the center of the world. Too many kids are growing up self-centered as it is and this book definitely encourages you to head your baby in that direction. My advice, go to the bookstore and really preview books before buying them. It's pointless to buy a book like this unless you are totally committed to this philosophy!!
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Summary: Fine if you agree, but not a balanced view
Review: As long as the reader understands that the Sears' are vigorous promoters of a particular point of view, this book can be useful. However, those who want to explore more than one perspective on childrearing should choose "What to Expect the First Year" and/or Penelope Leach's "Your Baby and Child." For example, the Sears' advocate "baby wearing" uncritically, but "What to Expect the First Year" details both the potential advantages and disadvantages of carrying your baby for many hours a day. A baby who's not given enough time to roll around and explore what he or she can do physically may have delayed development of motor skills, and it's also possible for a baby to overheat quickly if "worn" on a warm day, both things you don't learn from the Sears book. Similarly, the other two books' sections on baby feeding are more comprehensive: they're much more willing to lay out potential pluses and minuses of both breast and bottle feeding, though they do recommend breastfeeding when possible. The Sears' discussion of bottle feeding borders on fearmongering: referring to formula feeding as in some sense still "experimental," when hundreds of thousands of babies (and now grown-ups) have done fine for more than fifty years unecessarily scares women who can't breastfeed, for whatever reason. I agree with the other reviewers who have said that this book tends to promote guilt rather than trust in ones' own instincts.
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Summary: My favorite baby book - for moms and dads
Review: I love this book and have read most of the basic baby books. Dr. Sears with a little help from his wife RN Martha provide a comprehensive guide from newborn to age 2. Dr. Sears does have an agenda, he prefers nursing, responding to babys needs etc. He also outlines a style of parenting he calls attachment parenting, a style which sets out to promote "attachment" as a means to connect and navigate challenges such as having a colicky baby and other discipline issues. I don't agree that he steers people away from bottle feeding or working. In fact he includes chapters on both bottle feeding and how to promote attachment when you are working etc. I do buy this for new moms because I also believe he provides wonderful encourgement for moms (and dads) to connect with baby and really does a good job including the fathers role and expanding it. I also recommend his book on Discipline.
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Summary: Guilt Parenting
Review: This book is tremendously judgemental towards all parents who do not agree with Dr. Sears' "attachment-parenting" style. The tone of the book is that of an over-bearing tyrant who insists that parents follow his advice at all costs (despite the fact that even he admits that you should not take all of the advice that you are given too seriously...that, of course, being the advice offered by people who do not subscribe to the "attachment-parenting" theory) even if that advice is in contrast to your own beliefs. Most new parents are nervous and unsure of how to handle their newborn and seek out advice from family, friends, and professionals. Dr. Sears is one such professional but, unfortunately, the advice comes at a cost...that cost being your faith in yourself to know what works for your family. One must keep in mind while reading this book that Dr. Sears has very specific biases (for instance, he seems completely opposed to bottle-feeding and relentlessly condemns parents who bottle-feed their children) and it seems to be difficult for him to separate fact from his fanaticism. The one chapter that is missing from the book is one on "a mother's instinct" which will tell you what is right for you and what is right for your baby.
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Summary: Made me feel guilty!
Review: I loved Dr. Sears's pregnancy books, but this baby book made me feel a little guilty sometimes. I enjoyed the baby wearing information and agree with the general idea of attachment parenting; I just couldn't do all of it and really wanted to. Even though I wanted to sleep with my baby, it never seemed to work. There is a great variety of information that really is useful for the two years it claims to be a guide for. I especially find myself turning to this book for nutrition information and the developmental charts. On the whole I like the book, but prefer Penelope Leach's book because it has a better variety of options presented from which the reader can choose. Dr. Sears advocates a certain way of doing things, which is fine, but I think a better choice, at least for a gift to someone expecting, is a book that presents more options for the new mother.
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Summary: The Best Baby Book
Review: I have read many parenting books. THis book is far the best. I have 9 months old baby who is healthy and happy. Everywhere we go, people tell us how "well adjusted" he is. It's so easy to travel with him. I truely believe this book has allowed me to become a loving and caring mother who understand my baby's needs. Everytime we go to see our doctor, she asks us if we have any questions. We never do! All our medical and parenting questions are answered in this book!
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Summary: Martha Stewart Style Parenting
Review: This book is really great, but unfortunately I found myself enjoying it more as an ideal than practical advice -- like reading Martha Stewart's Living. Who has the TIME to raise their child like this. I'd love to devote myself to baby 24/7, but what about making a living (or for SAHMs, just making dinner or washing the laundry). Responding to your baby's emotional and physical needs is important, but sometimes baby has to sqwack for a few minutes or the stew is going to burn!
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