The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two (Revised and Updated Edition)

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Summary: Best Book Possible for New Parents
Review: I just had my second child and pulled this book out again. After 5 years, the book is still the best resource for Parents that I have ever read or used. This book saved us during our first child and also reduced our stress by its ease of use and resource information. You will find everything you need to know about your baby's actions, illnesses and how best to cope. It also presents its information without making the reader feel dumb or incompetent. Read and enjoy!

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Summary: The Baby Book is my Baby Bible!!!
Review: Dr Sears validated every natural instinct I had! This is not like any other baby care book, full of psychobabble. It is a book that helps a new mom, unsure of herself, to have confidence in what her heart tells her to do. I follow my heart by nursing my daughter (now 29 mo), sharing the family bed, and following all the clues she gives me as to what her needs are. She is the most happy, secure, intelligent, confident, loving, gentle, at-peace-with-herself child! This is the way nature intended children to be! Read more about it on my Instinctive Parenting page! Enjoy!

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Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This book confirms and reassures my instincts. As a new mum I was unsure of a lot of things, and not confident about some things like co-sleeping etc. It was so great to get info. from such a respected doctor amd parent. This book covers everything you may need to know, and puts the baby first. It is sensible, doesn't panic the parents, has tons of information and just "seems right". If you only get one book get this one!

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Summary: My Baby Bible
Review: This book is so wonderful! I went into the book store looking for a book that (believe it or not) mentioned the fact that babies make lots of noise when they sleep and explained why. Well, "The Baby Book" did just that! Then I went on to reading about "attachement parenting" and decided that was the way I was going to raise my child. I am sleeping with my baby, breastfeeding my baby and wearing my baby. In fact, I wear the sling when I go to the Pediatrican. That way, when my daughter gets her shots or is not feeling good, I can put her in the sling and she feels happy again. I have had so many people come to me and ask me about the sling because they can see what a happy baby I have when she is in it. I go on to brag about this book and "attachement parenting" and tell them that it is the best way to go. I have so much trust in Dr. Sears, that I wish I could ask him questions about little problems, such as leaving her with grandma, so that my husband and I can go out! That is why I am here @ Amazon.com, looking for another Sears book. Cause he and his wife are a terrific team. I just wish he did online questions and answers. Buy the book, it is the best!!

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Summary: Toss What to Expect in the Trash!
Review: After reading What to Expect When You're Expecting and feeling frustrated and guilty when their advice didn't seem to be working and just didn't feel right to me, I picked up The Baby Book while browsing in the bookstore. Eureka!!! I found that this book met me exactly where I was and validated that the way my heart was telling me to raise my son was right on target!! Guilt and fear lifted off my shoulders, I tossed What to Expect in the trash! So much of the advice in these two books is on opposite ends of the spectrum. But Dr. Sears' book is supported by YEARS of sound scientific studies that are not just promoted in his book. The AAP just recently endorsed co-sleeping with infants a few weeks ago! It is too bad that What to Expect's advice on baby slings, grazing and crying it out is so outdated and misinformed. The BABY BOOK is all you'll ever need!!

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Summary: The must-have book for first-time parents
Review: I found this to be the best baby care book that I have read, and I have read through many since having my two children. The sections on infant development stages are absolutely excellent( very detailed!), the chapters on food and diet realistically lay out what your infant or toddler needs to eat every day ( not some far-fetched diet that your child would never really eat), and the chapter on common medical problems is incredible- finally someone has the guts to tell you the correct Tylenol dosage for a 3 month old infant!! I'm not so sure I buy into the extreme babywearing idea that they advocate, mainly because my first child was not into the idea at all, and I also did not follow the baby sleeping with Mom and Dad bit, but all in all this is an awesome book that covers the whole spectrum for new parents- even a great comparison of breast pumps on the market! The first child care book you should buy- forget "What to Expect...".

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Summary: The only baby book to have in your house
Review: This is the only baby book I have in my house. I've tossed all the others. When my baby was 4 months old I found _The Baby Book_ and came to realize there was a name for the way I was raising my child, "Attachement Parenting". I was reasured that what I was doing was RIGHT. All the other books went againts my own instincs...ie: letting baby "cry it out". Whenever I'm in a bookstore I hand _The Baby Book_ to new mothers or expectant mother who are browsing and tell them it's my baby bible. Thank you Dr. Sears

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Summary: Happy Baby, Happy Parents
Review: Dr. and Mrs. Sears' have raised 8 children of their own, including one high needs, one with Down Syndrome, and one adopted. They've tried both mainstream and attachment parenting styles. This book is the culmination of their many years of practical and professional experience - he is a pediatrician, she is a nurse and childbirth educator. Their basic philosophy can be summed up as: knowing your baby, meeting your baby's needs, and trusting your instincts. We have met a lot of families with babies since having our own daughter 8 months ago, and we can truly see a difference between the attachment parented ones and the rest. Not only is there a different quality to the attachment parented babies - some extra spark of life - the parents also are happier. Instead of constantly fighting and struggling against their children, attachment parenting leads to a harmonious household full of trust, love and mutual support. Other good books to look for are the Sears' The Pregnancy Book, The Birth Book, Nighttime Parenting, and The Discipline Book. Also Tine Thevenin's The Family Bed and Barbara Coloroso's Kids Are Worth It! Bill and Martha Sears may challenge many of mainstream society's beliefs, but if you read this book with an open mind, you too can learn something valuable. Try it. Your baby will thank you

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Summary: Mixed Review
Review: Dr. Sears' book contains valuable discussions of contemporary parenting issues that cannot be found in other standard parenting books, including a comprehensive discussion of breastfeeding techinques and chapters on "baby-wearing" (using a sling) and on "nighttime parenting," including sharing a bed with your baby. As first time parents interested in these subjects, we found the book very useful. Unfortunately, the book is marred by three serious flaws. First, Dr. Sears -- although including frequent mention of the role of fathers (which many books do not) -- appears to believe in the "natural" primacy of the mother-baby relationship. Our baby's father felt quite slighted by many of Dr. Sears' comments in this regard. Further, Dr. Sears' views simply do not reflect reality in many modern households. In a similar vein, Dr. Sears' book contains a strong subtext that it would be better for the child if its mother did not work outside of the home. Second, Dr. Sears is rather cavalier in his use of medical studies. When they support his theories, he refers to them extensively without mentioning contrary studies and results, no matter how well-accepted. When study results do not support Dr. Sears' views, he tosses them aside by suggesting that one can find a study to support any theory. Third, Dr. Sears' tone is so didactic that the parent who chooses not to follow his advice runs the risk of feeling guilty. In short, the book contains valuable advice that cannot be easily found elsewhere, but the first-time parent would be wise to take Dr. Sears with a grain of salt!

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Summary: This book made all the difference for us!
Review: Dr. William Sears took all the weight off my shoulders wondering if I was doing the right things. His philosophy is right on target for having a happy baby and a happy household, no matter the challenges. I really like how thorough he is regarding medical problems and challenges - especially his chapter on fevers (I have read it a few times at 2:00 AM!). His book has given me good knowledge and helped me communicate with our pediatrician better