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: The Baby Book by William Sears
Review: This is a nice general reference book for new and experienced parents. I frequently refer to it, and buy it for shower gifts. Some of his advice is one-sided (big on breastfeeding, "wearing" your baby and family bed) but since these are positions I also espouse, I don't find it a problem.

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Summary: Wow
Review: Practically everything you could need to know about infants is in this book. I borrowed this from the library and ending up owing a large fine because I just couldn't part with it. Highly recommended, along with the Sears' discipline book.

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Summary: Love this book
Review: I love this book... it's a great book that promotes nuturing your baby and closeness and bonding...love it!! Even if you don't follow all the information in there it is still a great tool. I couldn't do the co-sleeping because my husband is a wild sleeper but I found a lot of good information in this book. I think the only people that would not like it are feminists that are against closely bonded families.

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Summary: Great book!
Review: There is a lot of good advice and information here! It gives information without giving you a guilt trip. He teaches you how to develop your own instincts when it comes to parenting by knowing your baby. A truly great buy!

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Summary: A Must-Have! The absolute BEST baby book!
Review: This is a great book for all parents, whether this is your first time or your ninth time. Dr. Sears has invaluable advice, and it's great that he uses his own children and his own (and his wife's) experiences as examples. I have read this book cover to cover, browsing through many sections over and over. I don't know what i would have done without Dr. Sears or his excellent website.

As for the people who gave this book little stars or a bad review, i have to highly disagree with their assessment. This book is meant for parents who put their children first and make them their ultimate priority. I mean really, aren't they worth it?

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Summary: 2 Thumbs up!
Review: I really like this book! It is a great resource! Our son is now 2.5 years old and is happy, healthy, and very bright! He is now in his own bed (because he prefers it) and weaned a couple months ago but suggestions in this book have been a great reminder to follow my maternal instinct and my child's cues (and he is thriving because of that). It is so reassuring to see our son growing into a little boy and knowing that following his cues and being attached parents have helped shape him into the great kid that he is.

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Summary: Don't read if you don't want a guilt trip
Review: I picked this book up at a library sale, and I'm glad I didn't pay full price for it. Dr. Sears and his wife obviously feel that fathers simply contribute the sperm and then are supposed to fade into the background, except for bringing snacks to the mother and giving her a break once in a while.

Their anti-male bias is clearly seen in this quote, in the section regarding postpartum depression: "It's no wonder that 50-75 percent of all mothers feel some degree of baby blues (the incidence would be 100 percent if males gave birth and fed babies)." I'm not sure what they mean by that dig, but after my husband read that he tossed the book across the room. The whole book is full of implications that a father is inadequately wired to bond with his kids unless a major effort is made. Maybe that's true for some males, but not for my husband--who was insulted by the whole book. Way to alienate readers.

Also, the chapter on bottlefeeding is a joke. There are many reasons why parents may have to resort to formula feeding in the early weeks, and a stiffly-worded chapter on how inadequate formula is is not helpful to a mom who may already be feeling guilt over not being able to nurse her children. (I speak from experience here.) Some mothers may have had medical treatments that preclude breastfeeding, others have children with major medical hurdles that make nursing incompatible with treatment. He never addresses these issues. Although he does "concede" in his chapter on co-sleeping that "Just as a breastfeeding mother is not better than a bottlefeeding mother," that doesn't negate the feeling that the Sears juggernaut feels any family who bottlefeeds is just plain lazy.

In short, there are some good tips here. I found the Pregnancy Book to be a good resource, but I won't be turning to The Baby Book for more than a few tips on babywearing and sleep issues.


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Summary: Different children have different needs
Review: I loved this book when my first child was born. She was so fussy and colicky those first several months, and the chapters on attachment parenting and nighttime parenting worked great for us. I would breastfeed her at night as she slept next to me in bed, and she gradually moved into her own bed with little trouble.

When my second child was born I tried the same method in The Baby Book that I placed so much faith in with my first child, but became so frustrated. He was quiet as long as he was held, but I could not set him down for a second. EVER. He would cry if I put him down while he was awake. He would cry if I tried to lay him down while he was sleeping. He couldn't sleep unless he was ON me. ALL THE TIME. I couldn't even move at night without upsetting him.

Finally at 9 months of age I threw out The Baby Book and started letting him cry himself to sleep in his own crib at night. It was a nightmare for about 2 weeks, but he got over it, and we both slept soooooo much better. He is a happy, loving, well-adjusted boy today. Really!

Every parenting book has useful information to offer, but each method works differently on each child. Do what works best for your family!