Rating: 
Summary: A good reference tool, that's about it.
Review: This book has a lot of great reference information, but if you're not into attachment parenting, watch out.I practice only two of the five "attachment parenting" tools on a regular basis, and one part of the time. Believe me, when I read this book, I can feel the guilt ripping through me, but it's gone when I put the book down. A lot of people tell me how happy and content my three month old son is, so I must be doing SOMETHING right. "Connecting with your baby early" and "reading and responding to my baby's cues" are the two I practice regularly. I didn't need a book to tell me this was the right way, however. Giving your baby comfort, love, and the best care is only common sense. I found the preachiness off-putting, because while I had natural childbirth (due to the fact that I dilated VERY quickly-I had planned on an epidural), I didn't do full-rooming in. I was too tired (who wouldn't be after childbirth?) and I needed sleep so I could be a better mom to my baby. It worked. This book is dead-set against what I did. Why should I feel guilty for not doing it their way? As for the other three, if you don't want to do them, you don't have to. Don't be put off, again, by the preachy attitude. Breastfeeding and co-sleeping don't work for some people. I had to give up breastfeeding because I fell ill with the flu and wasn't producing enough milk. I bottlefeed and my baby is thriving. I don't cosleep but I don't let my baby cry it out either-again, only common sense. They WILL sleep if you keep them happy during the day. As for babywearing, I do this when possible, but there are times you just can't do it. I can't babywear when cooking or cleaning. Nowhere in this chapter does it say to not babywear, no matter what you're doing. I'm not going to put my baby near boiling water or harmful chemicals because if I don't babywear, he won't become attached to me! That's the message I got from that chapter and it irritated me to no end! Don't use a book to raise your baby. Use your common sense and use the rest of this book for reference.
Rating: 
Summary: Just know what you're buying!
Review: You know what they say about ducks -- if it looks like one and quacks like one... Well, this book looks like a reference book and the cover quacks like a reference book, but it's not a reference book. It is an advocacy manual for a very specific type of parenting, one that most parents find well outside the mainstream. Dr. Sears and his wife are the gurus of "attachment parenting," which advocates putting your baby at the epicenter of the universe... sleeping with him, wearing him around in a sling all day, breastfeeding him every time he whimpers. This all starts from point zero. Natural childbirth and rooming in in the hospital. The Searses don't cotton much to anyone who thinks differently, and that's what really got me. I saw Dr. Sears on a story on ABC News' 20/20. HE had NO humility. There was no softness, no possibility that other ways of doing things might be okay. He said that children raised by attachment methods would be less likely than their "non attachment" counterparts to take part in an incident like Columbine High. Rhetoric and demagoguery like that is normally reserved for politicians, not pediatricians. It was unsuitable and opportunistic, and implicitly condemned all those who parent in a way differently from his method. To the Sears' cultish thinking, any behavior such as letting your child cry it out a bit when he needs to get to sleep, will lead down a horrible slippery slope to terrible detachment from your child. The "detachment snowball," he calls it. Gasp. Supporters of Dr. Sears and his wife love to claim that they are experts because he has eight kids. Well, I don't know his kids. And I know lots of good kids who've been raised in a more moderate fashion by parents who don't need to learn how to parent from a book, and they turned out fine. Not a one of them shooting up a school or anything. Whatever would the Searses think of that?
Rating: 
Summary: Key word here is "attachment"
Review: I dislike this book, although I think it makes some great points about the benefits of such things as breastfeeding. I liked the Searses' book on birth as well: a great resource. Those 2 things being said, this book has a limited usefulness for parents who do not buy into the "attachment" theory of parenting, which my husband and I do not. In particular, I found their chapters on "wearing your baby" and "nighttime parenting" to be ridiculous. In my limited experience (1 child, 9 weeks old at this writing) wearing or carrying your baby around all day leads to an exhausted baby. This is because he hasn't been left alone to fall into deep sleep. The Searses discuss that babies light sleep for a period before deep sleep. What they fail to address is that if your baby is attached to you throughout the day he will keep waking up while in light sleep and never get to the deep sleep he needs. This results in a baby who is screamingly tired by the time you try to put him down at night. Now, just in time, the Searses expect you not to hope that your baby sleeps through the night, but instead to parent him through the night. This involves lots of getting up to spend time with him as he moves through light sleep and possibly opens one eye to see you hovering nearby. All of this certainly lets your child know that you can't live without him, but, as far as getting him the restful sleep he needs, I'm less certain it does the job. My 9 week old son, the kind of baby strangers on the street feel pressed to tell me looks so happy and alert, spent 3 weeks a la Sears, before we realized that none of us were sleeping enough to make 1 person rested. Now, 6 weeks later, he goes into his crib for each nap during the day and for his 7 hours of nighttime sleep with a smile. After playing and being snuggled by his parents for every waking moment, he yawns as we put him down, grateful that the grownups are leaving him to catch some rest. He wakes up cooing to himself, not crying. The Searses seem to think that any method other than theirs results in hours of listening to your baby cry in a fruitless effort to "train" him to sleep; this is not the case. It is also not true that the only babies that sleep through the night are in books; one is sitting next to me right now, listening to classical music and talking to his stuffed lamb. In conclusion, the Searses' parenting theory is not for everyone. If it doesn't work for you, don't be afraid to throw it out and try something new.
Rating: 
Summary: I learned a lot
Review: I am a pretty mainstream mom in a lot of ways, but after babywising my way through two infanthoods, I was ready to make some changes. The Baby Book encouraged me to listen to my mother's heart. It also showed me that I can sleep with my baby, nurse through toddlerhood, and wear a sling IF I WANT TO, and if it's best for both the baby and our family. The Baby Book isn't just for parents who want to adhere strictly to all the Sears' ideas but would be useful to anyone who isn't already married to some exclusive parenting dogma. Use what works and disregard the rest. Both breast and bottle parents can learn from this resource (the Searses in fact bottle-fed their youngest). I find it interesting that this book garners criticism from opposite ends of the spectrum. I think that is a sign of balance.
Rating:
Summary: I wish I could, BUT
Review: I think this book is written for ideal circumstances. I was given this book before my daughter was born and planned to follow it to the letter. Unfortunately, at 4 months I felt like a failure as a parent because what they said was not working for my daughter and I was feeling exhausted. I had to find another way ...
Rating: 
Summary: We love Dr. Sears
Review: This book was my "baby bible" when my first two children were born several years ago. We knew we would use the attachment style of parenting before our first was even born and we were thrilled to find a book that affirmed our decisions along with providing excellent, up-to-date medical advice on just about everything we needed to know about taking care of our babies. Now we are expecting our third baby and will definitely be purchasing a new copy- the old one is dogeared and falling apart from use! If you are a mom who enjoys breastfeeding, wearing and sleeping with your baby this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book For All New Parents
Review: I got this book when my daughter was already 5months old. I had never really heard of attachment parenting, and was amazed when I read the book that everything Dr. Sears suggested were things that I was already doing. These were the things that just seemed natural, right, and made my child the happiest. Just as as everyone is different, the advice given may not be right for everyone, but this is what worked for my family. Beyond the attachment parenting stuff, the rest of the book offers sound info and help - and I am an avid reader who has read every baby book I could get my hands on. I would strongly recommend this book for any parent!
Rating:
Summary: The most detailed & informative book published on child care
Review: This book is truely the most informative book that I have ever read. Child care is a tricky thing & having this book on hand with small children around has been wonderful. It has great breastfeeding details. Breast milk details. Attachment parenting is what this book is about in every way. This book is great for expectant mothers. It is wonderful to begin to read during pregnancy. Not just after baby. I would advise anyone who will be caring for children to read this.
Rating:
Summary: An encyclopedia of valuable information
Review: The title is accurate - this book does cover everything. It's set up in a very easy to read way. The indexing, blocked sections, pictures and clearly bolded titles make it easy to find what you're looking for. Dr. Sears is best known for his position on Attachment Parenting - so if that method of parenting is not your style then take from those sections only what you feel good about, since everything else is helpful to all parents. In the preceding review the reader states "Most Doctors are against the things he suggests" I don't think so. According to this book, Dr Sears' 5 attachment tools are 1- Connect with your baby. 2 - Respond to your baby's cues 3 - Breastfeed your baby (Science supports that this is best for baby) 4 - Wear your baby (in other words, carry him often) 5 - Share sleep with your baby. I'm willing to bet that the only point any Pediatrician would "be against" would be co-sleeping - and as Sears clearly says in his book on page 7 - "Wherever you and your baby sleep best is the right arrangement for you, and it's a very personal decision."
Rating:
Summary: Dr Sears gives criticism a new name
Review: I was unable to breastfeed my daughter because I didn't produce enough milk. it was HEART breaking to me, and Dr Sears seems pretty much set against bottle feeding. His views are very personal, not professional. MOst Dr's( at least the ones I've spoken to personally) are against the things he suggests. You have to be strong willed to read and refer to this book, I am not I guess because alot of things he says, offended me and my ways of raising my daughter- made me feel inadequate. Sorry Dr Sears =( This book will remain in the Yard Sale box.
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