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Summary: As a new mother, this book has been my Bible!
Review: Dr. Sears is a genius! His book is so magnificent and has confirmed the natural parenting beliefs of my husband an myself. Babies are precious angels and providing the best care possible is our job as parents. The Baby Book gives you everything you need to know. Our daughter is one year old and following Dr. Sears' suggestions has worked for us! We have a happy, attached, healthy baby.
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Summary: Great reference and support for my instinctive style
Review: When I became a mother for the first time, I didn't have a name for the way I parented. I based my ideas on what felt right, what didn't hurt me or seem to hurt my baby, what my parents did that I admired. It wasn't until my second child that I heard the term "attachment parenting", and discovered the Sears' book. I learned that many of the things I'm doing with my kids (baby-wearing, extended nursing, family bed) are also being done by a whole bunch of other parents, and that made me feel a lot less odd. I don't need justification for the way I parent, but somehow it does make me a lot less prone to feeling guilty or constantly questioning my techniques to read a book like "The Baby Book", which supports my way of raising my kids. I recommend it to anyone who's instinctively parenting this way, and wants some reassurance. I also recommend it to anyone who's thinking of becoming a parent, and wants a different perspective than the mainstream North American one. Sometimes all you need to follow your instincts is a little encouragement. A small note on a previous review: there is no need to insult other readers and reviewers by stating that "6 months to 1 year" is the normal age to wean. While it may be the average in your circle, it is by no means the worldwide norm. Calling extended nursers abnormal is simply insulting.
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Summary: Open yourself to some different ideas
Review: I think it's important to get a different spin on parenting than the mainstream pediatrician view provides. To that end, this is a must-have book for your personal library. I really like Sears' approach and do a lot of attachment parenting. Unlike some of the commentators you may read, I don't find the book condescending or shaming of parents who don't follow an attachment parenting lifestyle. For example, I weaned my son at 8 months and don't feel less of a parent after reading The Baby Book. Excellent chapter on illness -- one of the best treatments of this topic I have seen -- and another good one on starting solids. Another strength is how Sears' approaches parenting the high-needs baby. I had one and found his suggestions to be highly effective. The weakness of the book, I think, is Sears' reliance on anecdotal evidence to support his views. I'd like to have seen more solid data on some of the claims regarding family bed, extended breastfeeding, and so on.
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Summary: The Only Book That Helps You Parent From Your Heart
Review: This book is the best written about parenting in today's society. Through the media it seems that people are wondering how parents can be so "unattached" to thir chilren. This book helps you lay down an esential bond with your children. The "Norm" is determined by the majority, the majority of the planet's cultures follow this basic parenting philospphy. Dr. and Mrs. Sears are not introduceing a new concept but one that has prevailed throught the world since the dawn of time. It's only recently (within the past 100 years) that weaning children under 2 was introduced and parents leading seperate lives from their children became accepted as normal. This book is parenting by instinct, the inborn natural ability most of us have to raise our children. The spoiling theory is obsolete and buying into it will only hurt the bond between you and your child. It's about time someone came out and said what is truely in their heart about parenting and childcare. This is a refreshing change of pace. I am tired of so called experts saying that if you breastfeed your child longer that 6 months then you're fostering unhealthy attachment. Yet society strugels to understand why we have become so detached with the youth of today. Attachment Parenting I feel is the only way to create a healthy bond with your child that if nurtured will last a life time. Thank you Dr. and Mrs. Sears for having the strength to withstand criticism and write this inspiring book.
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Summary: This book correlates with a mother's natural instincts.
Review: The Baby Book was a welcome relief after such books as What to Expect - the First Year because it's suggestions correlated with my own instincts rather than grating against them. I wanted to give my baby emotional support and help him grow up to be secure. This book not only told me that my impulses were okay, but gave me tips on how to do it. The chapter on the baby sling was a lifesaver. My baby had colic, and the only thing that would comfort him was the sling. I did not know how to use it right away, but The Baby Book has so many suggestions, and pictures too, that it only took me a couple of days to become a pro. This book does not tell you the "right" way to do things. It gives you a range of suggestions, lots of examples, and encourages you to do what is right for your own family. It especially lets you know that you, as the Mom, do have the right instincts and do know what is best. It lets you trust yourself. If you don't feel right about letting your baby "cry it out," or if you would like to hold your baby more but are afraid of spoiling him, or if any of your parenting instincts seem to be out of sync with "everyone else's" advice, then read this book. You will feel so much better about following your natural instincts and developing your own parenting style.
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Summary: Not for everyone
Review: You won't like this book if: 1. You're interested in ending breastfeeding at a normal age of 6mo-1yr, and not doing it all the way through the college years. 2. You understand that all the world's problems can't be solved by shoving breasts in everyones mouths. 3. You're interested in raising a child who doesn't need to be in the room with you when you're in the toilet or having sex with your spouse. Okay, I'm exaggerating, but not much. Any parenting book will usually give you some common sense guidance on simple medical issues, and "how to" stuff, like diapering, bathing, etc... This book does that also. The parenting style, however is too extreme for my tastes (you probably understood that from my lists above). Take ANY BOOK's parenting style with a grain of salt. If you had a happy childhood, use your parents as a beginning guide for parenting style, and build your own style from there. Look, breastfeeding is great, and so is having contact/bonding with your child, but don't go nuts.
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Summary: The "Bible" for first time parents.
Review: This book was one of the biggest influnces on how I cared for my babies. Prior to the birth of my first daughter I had read alot on pregnancy and birth. But after she was born I felt clueless. This book gave me the information I needed on baby care and health, but also helped me to trust my own instincts as a mother. Dr. Bill and Martha have had eight children of their own, so they really speak from experience on parenting issues. I feel that this is the "Bible" for new mothers and I buy it regularly as a shower gift.
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Summary: Generally useful, but skip the heavy-handed theory
Review: This book will can be a good reference for practical matters (calming infants, dealing with illness,etc.) and delivers food for thought on parenting styles, but it's rather heavy-handed in presenting its version of attachment-parenting (AP) theory. The Sears arrived at their principles slowly; Martha worked during their eldest's infancy, and they did not co-sleep until their fourth child arrived. One does not see a corresponding progression, however, from sociopathic ax-murdering eldest to serene, securely-attached youngest. All the Sears kids seem to be fine. I agree with many previously-stated objections. The medical scholarship can be slipshod; I don't like Dr. Sears reliance on his own surveys, nor his unproven assertion that SIDS can be reduced by cosleeping. The Sears tend to wax poetic when it's least helpful, and paint a pastel, soft-focus picture of AP family life, liberally sprinkling the text with adjectives like 'beautiful' and 'natural.' Family life is many things besides that, so 'beautiful and natural' must make room for 'stressful', 'insane', and many more. The Sears divide mothers into two classes, stay-at-home attachment parents and everyone else, treating the latter with pity and condescension. They say that the guilt that working mothers feel is natural and biological, which is total nonsense--guilt is a social and cultural phenomenon. I would advise taking any comprehensive theory with a grain of salt. Remember two important truths: babies have been born and raised in a huge variety of circumstances, and have mostly turned out fine; and that no matter how thoughtful the theory is, real life will throw up numerous counterexamples. That said, the Sears are a strong voice for compassion and understanding, much needed in a world in which we shower our children with plastic junk, but not thoughtful consideration of their natures, desires, needs and hopes. Their tools of attachment parenting have been useful to many, and are a worthy addition to any parent's repertoire.
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Summary: This is the BEST book for new parents! Should be required!
Review: When I read through this book I have to say I didn't learn anything new. The book merely confirmed what I already FELT to be true. Dr. Sears methods of child rearing are basically common sense, rational and natural. His methods aren't for everyone, only the parents who are totally devoted and in love with their children. I am a working mother and it is VERY possible to practice attachment parenting while working, despite what someone in a previous review wrote.
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Summary: The BEST book about childcare
Review: This was my "Bible" when my son was born until he was 2 years old. I found an answer to EVERY SINGLE QUESTION I had. Now, tham I'm pregnant again, I'm buying a copy for my In-laws, as they might be doing some baby sitting. I strongly recommend it.
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