What I have noticed about all childrearing advice they never take into account what works for the child. Each baby is different so if one way doesn't work then try another. The advice about comforting a colicky baby is very helpful. As a first time mom to a colic baby I was bewildered.
The advice to talk to my pediatrician helped me to get my baby the help he needed. I thought that there was nothing that could be done but it ended up he has acid reflux. As for the co sleeping and holding all the time. Sometimes my son just wants to be put down and to be on his own. There have been nights where I tried to comfort him to sleep and in desperation put him down and he fell asleep. I bought a co sleeper that goes in the bed and he likes that a lot. When he is six months we will start to put him in his own crib in his own room. But for me he is too little to be out of our room. So he sleeps in his car seat or his co sleeper whichever one he wants too. I need my sleep also!
I like the book and he has some good advice but I am going with my instincts and whatever works for my son.

I'm 35 and have always been pretty much good at things. I did well in college, have a successful career, and a happy relationship. We chose to get pregnant last year and I thought that I could be a good parent by reading. After all-reading things has always been my way to success. I got "The Baby Book" because it looked extremely comprehensive. I had heard wonderful things about William Sears. In fact how could attachment parenting be a bad thing?

In theory everything was great. When I was pregnant I thought yup I will do all that. Of course I would breastfeed, of course I would babywear (the slings are so cute!), co-sleeping seemed just the right thing to do-I would do this and have a happy attached baby. I should have known after reading the section on being a working mother that maybe this book was not for me.

My son is 8 months old. Since he was born it has killed me that I work. I work because I have a mortgage to pay, but I also (gulp) love my career. I however felt horribly guilty because I had to work-until I realized that having a mom who was happy and fulfilled is better for my son than being a mom who stays home and is depressed and mentally stimulated with playgroups and Oprah. (Failure number 1)

Then while I tried really hard to have a natural birth-it didn't work. I ended up needing a C-section after 3 hours of pushing. Not good for bonding according to Dr. Sears-and he was taken away from me and I did not see him for 2 hours. I figured it was better to have a C-section and a healthy child, vs a natural birth and push for God knows how long (AP failure number 2).

I wanted to breastfeed I really did. I knew I might have problems due to past surgery but I tried anyway. I simply did not produce enough milk. A lactation consultant told me I could nurse for comfort-I just couldn't do it. There was no way I would allow my child to suck on my boob if no milk was coming out. Sorry-it was creepy. I did try to nurse with a supplemental nurser-that thing was awful. But either way I was still a sub-par mother because I gave my child formula either at my boob or in the bottle. According to Sears my son won't thrive because his food is dead. (Failure number 3)

The good stuff:

Babywearing-it does calm a fussy baby. Sears recommends doing it 4 hours a day. For me it was impossible due to working but it also hurts! I don't care how good the carrier is 20 pounds on your back, on your front, in a sling eventually starts to hurt! Also-it's really hard to pee with a baby in a carrier-I tried I really tried. However wearing your baby when he/she is fussy does calm them until you are able to attend to them (getting them to sleep). BTW_Sears recommends wearing your baby to sleep-yes you can do it-however he fails to mention that they scream bloody murder upon the transfer from carrier to crib. (I think I get a D in babywearing).

Co-sleeping-I do like this. However my 25 pound 8 month old kicks alot and likes sleeping horizontally. It was nice to get support for what I like to do. I also think that if you choose not to co-sleep that it's OK too. This sort of works for us-however it makes sex kind of hard. You also have to be careful-my little one fell off the bed this morning.

The stuff on first aid is wonderful I also like the development stuff. he seems like a good doctor.

So bottom line-take the parenting advice from parenting experts (child psychologists, people trained in infant development not a pediatrician). Go to the pediatrician for advice on medical stuff.

I purchased this book when i was pregnant with my first and boy am i glad i did! When you are pregnant or a new mom you're still discovering things and haven't chosen a particular parenting style. I always wished to parent from the heart, which i feel is the same as attachment parenting. (i was surprised when i realised that this was actually a parenting 'style')
Dr sears gave a great introduction to baby wearing and I can really say today that the reason i started babywearing(which is the best thing ever!) is because of the chapter in this book which linked to a great website offering tips and where to buy these items. There are great chapters on co-sleeping and breastfeeding.
Dr. sears supports a very gentle way of parenting, where you adapt to your child and listen to their cues. If you prefer a more strict parenting style where the baby adapts to you then I don't think you'll like this book.
For me, I loved it!

This is a wonderful book for new parents. I am pregnant with my 2nd baby and wish I had this book the first time around. If you disagree with attachment parenting, you might not like this book; but if you plan on using babywearing, sleepsharing, and similar techniques to soothe your baby, this is a wonderful resource to have on your bookshelf.

This book is huge! Everything you can think of about a baby is in here! I rented it from the library but soon realized it would take me longer than the rental time I had to read it so I decided to buy it! Its a good investment for you and your baby! I highly recommend this book plus many others by the same authors.

The BEST book to give a new mother: as a shower gift or a MUST READ after her delivery!

This is a great resource book for new parents and caregivers. It gives the basics on childcare and what to expect at different stages in your baby's life. Dr.William Sears and his wife, Marth, a nurse, have had many children themselves, 8!. A hands-on approach to parenting. I use my book all the time. .

...parents who have alienated their kids from themselves from the get-go.

Mothers are mothers, fathers are fathers, and anyone demanding that human biology now conform to societal trends is in need of some basic critical-thinking skills. Well-supported ideas that you don't like hearing are not the fault of the author. Neither is it an author's job to arrange their ideas such that you won't feel guilty.

Grown-ups (including Dr. Sears himself) know that life is full of choices, trade-offs, and most people will find their own way implementing his ideas as they can and are able.

I am a father and don't feel the least bit marginalized by Dr. Sears approach or tone. I'm honestly scratching my head at where people find that in his work.

His ideas are not a formula, something Dr. Sears himself points out repeatedly. But they are profound, and far more important to the health of your child (and the world) than, say, the current presidential election.

Honestly, want to make the world a better place? Read this book.

I passed on my copy. At first I was very impressed by the AP concept. Once I had the baby I realized that a rigid approach like this doesn't work. My baby slept better on his own than in our bed. And he hated being worn the first three months. I held on to the book for factual information about growth and illness but found it too cumbersome to use a reference. I prefer the month by month format which is easier to look up.

The Sears have done an amazing job with this book. It's well organized, easy to read and FULL of important information.

They have shared their invaluable knowledge and experiences gained from their personal and professional lives. After raising eight children they present many different approaches to everyday tasks and focus on how to make those tasks bonding experiences.

I think the book is a must have for any mom-to-be. (My husband and I have read parts together, but overall he would be happier reading more of a manual.)

I will be giving this book as a gift for every baby shower I go to from now on. The first month of my baby's life I spent constantly referring to the couple of books I had, and was frequently disappointed by the vague coverage of such basic topics as crying. My baby was fussy for hours at a time and it wasn't until I stumbled upon the AskDrSears.com website that I felt like I was getting very practical advice. I bought the book soon thereafter and it has been my primary resource ever since. I trust the experience, both as parents and children's health professionals, that the Sears family brings to the book, and I have had great success with attachment parenting.

Like everything else to do with parenting, your mileage may vary depending on your personality, and that of your child. But any parenting philosophy that emphasizes physical and emotional closeness with your baby can be generally relied upon to deliver happy results.

Someone recommended this book to me. I thought it was a kinder, gentler book on taking care of your baby, so I bought it. Well, after having an unplanned caesarian, trouble breastfeeding, and some post-partum depression, I turned to my trusty book for some answers. I realized this book is nothing but Dr. Sears's opinion on parenting.

He recommends wearing your baby until the baby falls asleep. My daughter was so collicky she would cry the whole time. The bottle-feeding section will just make you feel bad about not breastfeeding, which is not so good when you have post-partum depression. I also tried co-sleeping with failure. I would wake up at the tiniest sound she made. After two weeks of co-sleeping, we put her in the crib, where she has stayed since then. Thank goodness because I had to go back to work in three months.

My daughter is now 3. She is independent, happy, healthy, smart, and active and she sleeps in her own bed every night thanks to the AAP childcare book and the Dr. Weissbluth sleep book.

Poor Mrs. Sears! She must be exhausted after having eight children!

I never use this book. I really don't like it.
It is all attachment parenting based and not at all as I would like to approach caring for my baby.
It is all about never letting your baby cry, carrying them with you all the time, sleeping with them etc. Not my style at all.
Would not recommend it

I checked this book out of library when my first child was a baby. I now use AskDrSears.com website. This book is very comprehensive and a good reference book from attachment parenting perspective. I would also recommend to read about other perspectives.

If you need to go back to work then you may find that some ideas are not practical, but overall it is a good book. It talks a lot about breastfeeding, carrying your baby in a sling and co-sleeping. Sears don't tell you that you are a bad parent if you are not following all the ideas, they tell you to find what is best for your baby AND you. If offends you or makes you feel guilty to hear a lot about attachment parenting, then this book may not be for you.

This book is huge and written like a book, not questions and answers, but has valuable info. in it. I'd recommend it to first time parents. It's easy to find exact subjects and has come in handy many times already--my daughter is only 3 months old!

When my first son was born 4 1/2 years ago, I had read the "What to expect" series, and felt pretty prepared. After a LONG ten weeks of colic, my son settled down. At 4 months he started sleeping through the night in his own room (after a few nights of limited crying)and would happily play by himself on the floor for long periods of time, or sit quietly in his stroller while I went about my business. He weaned himself easily by age one and never seemd to miss the breast after that. I remember hearing about "attachment parenting" and thinking, those people must be CRAZY! I would NEVER have my baby in bed, or wear him all day in a sling, or breast-feed for more than a year! I felt very smug, like those people were just too "soft" or weird, or hippie-dippie, that you totally didn't need to do all that, just look at my son! He's doing great, without any of that stuff!

Flash forward four years, and my second son is born. Same parents, same techniques should work, right? The first few weeks were great, no colic! So we thought it would be a breeze, after all, we were experienced parents, we knew what we were doing this time, we'd done it all before. Well, I quickly found out that what worked for my first son just wasn't going to fly with my second. I got out my old "what to expect" books, and "The Baby Whisperer" which I'd found so helpful the first time. They were useless. This stuff just wasn't working with baby 2! He's a very different kid. After totally railing on attachment parenting for four years, I suddenly found myself doing it by default. Then my cousin gave me her copy of "The baby Book", and thank god! I suddenly realized that that's what this baby needed. He needs to be held all the time, needs to sleep near me (at first in a co-sleeper right next to my bed, now in his crib two feet from my bed, and usually at least for part of the night right in my bed) At 9 months old, he still wakes every 3 hrs to breast-feed, and gives no signs of wanting to stop. This book made sense, it seemed logical and really struck a chord with me. More importantly, it worked. Had I tried to follow the advice in the other books, I know we'd all be a lot worse off!

Do I do everything the book says and treat it as gospel? NO! DO I feel guilty when I don't agree with the book? NO! Am I tired? YES! Do I wish my son would sleep through the night? YES! But I know that letting him "cry it out" won't work, and forcing him to be independent too soon won't work either. I also now know that not all techniques work for all babies, and some babies just need MORE. I take the advice that works for me, tweak the other stuff to make it fit, and above all, trust myself to know what is best for my baby AND myself.

While the Drs. Sears do advocate the mother's role over the father's, and strongly indicate she should not work, (which I can see might be off-putting to some) don't be so quick to assume it is biased or old-fashioned. While I completely support women being able work (something they couldn't have done 50 yrs ago) and think that for some women it's the right choice, the biological fact is that (for now anyway), women are the only ones who can physically bear children, and as such have also have the inherent ability to know how to care for them. For me the biggest point this book makes is that maternal instincts are REAL, and there for a good reason, and should be listened to over what anyone (even themselves) says in a book. Babies are only babies for a short time, and their needs are real and deserve to be met. They are not something that should be forced into what is convienient for parents. Everything they suggest in their book is natural and makes logical (if not always practical) sense.

Sadly, our society these days seems to be out of touch with these basic facts, and I think that the people who criticize the Sears' ideas and "attachment parenting" concept (myself included back then) are doing so as a defense mechanism, because deep down we know, under all the women's lib and equal opportunity fathering, that it really is the ideal way to parent. The fact so many people who gave it poor reviews because it made them feel "guilty" should speak volumes to this. Also, if you look at our country's family leave plans, you'll find them shockingly shorter than just about every other first-world country. The same goes for supporting mothers who do choose to be full-time moms. Or stay-at-home dads, for that matter. With work being a more than full-time job for just about everyone these days, and a society that increasingly places little value on family time (check our gov't holidays and average vacation times and work hours next to Europe's and you'll see what I mean) I know that to many this book might seem totally impractical or even ridiculous. But maybe instead condeming it as such, we should recognize it as an ideal to strive for, and do what we can to be better parents, not at the total expense of ourselves, of course, but fully realizing that parenting IS a sacrifice, that our babies and young children count on us to care for them, and despite the pressures of society and work, we need to find a way to make it a real priority, and not an after-thought. This book can help steer you in the right direction, and give you a lot to think about beyond just the valuable info on basic baby care and milestones, by providing a philosophy and practice that gets back to the real root of what it means to be a parent.

The has been our go-to reference in the first year of our daughter's life. My natural instincts told me that the "cry it out" method was not for me, and this book was very affirming. The beauty of Dr. Sears is that he approaches childrearing from a holistic perspective - find what's best for you and works for your family. And don't worry about what anyone else says! In 12 months, we have lost maybe a total of 10 hours of sleep following the advice in this book - and that's after our baby was (mis)diagnosed with colic at 2 months. We have a happy, healthy, baby who rarely cries, and is a great sleeper and great eater. I recommend it to all my friends who are having children.

Its not that think the information in this book is bad. Actually i agree with a good amount of the "attachment parenting" (god I HATE that phrase) practices. I just don't think it should be called a "philosophy". I did breastfeed (although not exclusively because my son was in the NICU for his first week and I my milk didn't come in for about 4 or 5 days) so technically he had formula for his first week and breastfed until about 9 months after that until I got pregnant again and my milk dried up. We did co-sleep until he was about 4 or 5 months.....at which point he got VERY wiggly, we moved him to a crib and we ALL started getting better sleep. I certainly didn't carry him around in a sling all the time when he was an infant...it was too damned hot. But I have a couple of different types of carriers which I am still using (he is 1) and we both love. He didn't love them so much when he was tiny. He mostly wanted to be carried by his Dad in the bjorn. Not by me. Having said that...I'm not against strollers (I LOVE ours), bottles (yes I workd) OR daycare..or working, or formula (if you need it or just want to use it, go for it. Its a CHOICE people).

So don't get me wrong. I don't disagree with their ideas....what I HATE is the way they are presented. It makes me want to NOT do anything of the things they suggest because they are so damned obnoxious. I would feel much better about all the things I do if I hadn't read this book. I LOVE my sling...but I feel self conscious about using it because I just know that people think I'm some obnoxious, "attachment parenting" breastfeeding nazi.....

I'm sure there is good information in this book that I haven't even picked up on because IT MAKES ME SO MAD when I read it. And yes...I feel that way about all their other books too.

I have babies. I don't have a "philosophy" about how to raise them. They are who they are and I'm doing the best I can to figure out what kind of person my baby is and how best to parent him. I'm a mother - what I need is information. I'm an intelligent thinking person...I can interpret the information all by myself thank you. What I do NOT need is a 600 page guilt trip that tells me I shouldn't part myself from my baby until he is 3 and that my husband should just disappear for the first year except for doing the laundry or whatever ridiculous advice they give.

My mother (whom I love and ADORE) who breastfed ALL of her kids even when it wasn't the done thing, who was a fabulous, loving mother thinks it is the most ridiculous book ever written. That's enough for me!

And for overly anxious new parents who lean towards self-inflicted guilt-trips, this could be borderline dangerous.

This is by far, the best book I have read on parenting!! I continue to use it again and again. I love that it is written by a pediatrician, but one that has also raised 8 kids. It is much more user friendly than any other stuff that I've read. I think they should issue this book and The Happiest Baby on the Block to all new parents as they leave the hospital. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

This book is a wonderful resource to consult with any questions pertaining to children under two.

I would absolutely recommend The Baby Book, especially for new mothers. A great gift idea. Down to earth & easy to read. I would recommend any of the Sears' childrens titles, especially The Birth Book, The Pregnancy Book, and this one.

It is very interesting to read, a lot of information. Should have bought hard cover!

Parts of this book are wonderful. The practical pediatric information on illness, feeding, etc. is very straightforward and helpful. And I absolutely love the developmental section and refer to it often.

But as a parenting philosophy, this book has caused me an incredible amount of angst. I *wanted* to be an attached parent, I really did. And Dr. Sears paints such a lovely picture of it here.

But in reality, I've found the approach is extremely unrealistic and impractical. Co-sleeping turned out to be uncomfortable and restless for all of us. Nursing around the clock has left me a fried, exhausted mess. And all the baby-wearing is killer on our backs! All of these things have their time and place, but most parents eventually need to set limits and that's O.K. Unfortunately, Dr. Sears really makes you feel like it's not.

And that's the biggest problem. Once you've read this book, you'll always have Dr. Sears' voice in your head if you do decide to try another philosophy. "Cry it out" is the perfect example. After reading this book, you'll be convinced that letting your baby cry is terribly harmful (in spite of the fact that Dr. Sears has no real scientific evidence of this). So what exactly are you supposed to do a year later when your baby is still waking up to nurse three or four times a night and you have no energy left to be a good parent?

My point is, unless you're 1000% committed to the attachment parenting philosophy, be careful of reading this book. If you do change your mind, you'll be better off without the Sears guilt trips weighing you down.

Parts of this book are wonderful. The practical pediatric information on illness, feeding, etc. is very straightforward and helpful. And I absolutely love the developmental section and refer to it often.

But as a parenting philosophy, this book has caused me an incredible amount of angst. I *wanted* to be an attached parent, I really did. And Dr. Sears paints such a lovely picture of it here.

But in reality, I've found the approach is extremely unrealistic and impractical. Co-sleeping turned out to be uncomfortable and restless for all of us. Nursing around the clock has left me a fried, exhausted mess. And all the baby-wearing is killer on our backs! All of these things have their time and place, but most parents eventually need to set limits and that's O.K. Unfortunately, Dr. Sears really makes you feel like it's not.

And that's the biggest problem. Once you've read this book, you'll always have Dr. Sears' voice in your head if you do decide to try another philosophy. "Cry it out" is the perfect example. After reading this book, you'll be convinced that letting your baby cry is terribly harmful (in spite of the fact that Dr. Sears has no real scientific evidence of this). So what exactly are you supposed to do a year later when your baby is still waking up to nurse three or four times a night and have no energy left to be a good parent?

My point is, unless you're 1000% committed to the attachment parenting philosophy, be careful of reading this book. If you do change your mind, you'll be better off without the Sears guilt trips.

Since it was our first child, I purchased a lot (and I do mean a LOT) of parenting/baby books. This is the only one that you need. It answers just about everything any new parent could ask and offers solid advice. A friend loaned me her copy and after having it for two days was convinced that I needed my own! She referred to it as her "baby bible" and I can understand why--it has helped us answer many questions about being a new parent and having a baby with colic.

With every parenting book, it is nearly impossible to buy into everything the author is saying. Everyones parenting style is unique and a blend of beliefs. This book is firmly rooted in attachment parenting which may turn some off, but offers great guidance and the flexibility to do what feels right to you as a parent. I plan to buy it for every friend who is a mom to be.

I'm a first time mother and have to say I absolutely love this book. The reality is not everything is in a book - every baby is different - but this book gave me a "base" knowledge before bringing home my newborn - and i'm thankful for that. I actually bought this book for two soon-to-be mothers hoping it is as helpful to them as it was for me.

This is a fabulous book and I think it should be given to all new mothers, my baby is now one year old and I wish this had been the only book I had read. It is a book that talks about parenting from the aspect of what's best for the baby, rather than doing things that are beneficial for the parent to the detriment of the baby. I love this book!!

This is a wonderful book with lots of great information in it. I think all pregnant women/new parents should own this book! I definitely recommend it.

It really was everything I needed to know! An essential resource with a wonderful perspective on parenting.

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and after I started reading it, I felt like if I didn't follow what he said I would be a horrible mother with an unattached baby. I bought a baby sling, as recommended in this book, and used it with some limited success. My daughter does not sleep with us, and has slept in her crib from day 1. She is a healthy 9 mo. old and we have bonded well, even though she doesn't sleep in our bed, not even for naps. If you're not going to co-sleep, skip the chapter on it, and know that you're doing the right thing for you and your family lifestyle. I liked the part on breastfeeding and the information on growth and development has been helpful. I use this as one of three books I consult when I have questions. Just remember, you have to do what is right for you, not what someone else tells you.

This book confirms my instinctual desire to hold (wear), co-sleep, believe/respond to cries and nurse my babies. Finding Dr. Sears' books (in addition to other AP advice) not only confirmed how I felt,it gave me and my husband confidence to do "all the wrong things".

My doctor's wife gave this book to me when we had our first child. I have found it a very valuable source of information and it is one of the first books that I reach for when something is happening that I am unsure of.

This is a must read for all new parents and old. Dr Sears has 8 children himself and knows what he is talking about. I like that he promotes attachment parenting as opposed to the old "let them cry" method

I have several baby care books, and this one is my favorite. I did not think it devalues fathers or mothers who work outside the home as some reviewers have suggested. It's a common sense, empowering guide to parenting intuitively. I'm so glad I read this book, so now I know I'm not the only one who can't stand to let a baby cry or takes a baby to the family bed. This book gave the the confidence to follow my own gut when making decisions for my baby, and to ignore well-meaning but misguided advice from others.

Great book- I go to this book every time I have a question about anything! FYI- You don't really need the Sears Attachment Parenting book if you have this one- but I'd recommend Our Babies Ourselves and The Continuum Concept for more about raising babies and attachement.

Great book. You will find yourself going back to it even when your kids are older. Has great charts for dosages for Tylenol, etc that are based on age and weight. I also recommend James McKenna's book Sleeping with your Baby.

While this book is very informative and quite comprehensive I found a common theme that was judgmental. Almost as if the authors were "guiding" you down one path and if you chose another, well, that was a bad idea.
It wasn't anything major but I found it increasingly annoying.

Other than that the book will tell you almost everything you need to know.

Don't take the last two customer reviews seriously. Obviously they were written by husband & wife who are critical of Dr. Sears' expertise and knowledge. This is the BEST book out there for parenting! Most importantly, it includes 'how to's' and 'what's wrong with my child', etc. This is an encyclopedia on how to raise healthy children. I give this book as gifts to new parents, and they LOVE it!!

This a a must have book for all parents of baby's and toddlers. A great read and everything is easy and quick to find. Great written and good read!

It's quite useful in some practical areas, except that I discovered I'm not an attachment parenting kinda person... there's a lot of stuff in there that really doesnt apply to most of us. Authors are a bit holier than thou about baby wearing, and cosleeping...

I'll be a first time mom soon and this book is the first parenting book I picked out to read. It has a lot of good information on baby-care basics, but there are a lot of things that just aren't going to work for myself and my family. A lot of the parenting style (wearing your baby all day long, sharing the same bed with your baby for as long as 3 years) is taken to the extreme. Although it does tell you to find a good balance for you, your baby and your lifestyle, this book is still a little to much for me. I would tell people to read it, but also read other parenting books to find what works best for them. I'm just getting started, but I'm sure there's a better book out there.

This is the best baby book!
I was the librarian for my Prenatal yoga centre and this is the most comprehensive all round book for parents. A must for the thinking soon to be parent with much information on pregnancy and birth with lots to inform parenting choices for early on. This book is intelligent and lateral in its approach to parenting. I wish, I wish, I wish I had this book when I was pregnant!

I bought tons of baby books (at least 6) and this one is by far the best. I now buy it as a present for every baby shower I attend. Dr. Sears and Martha have been my main teachers and models in caring for and raising my baby. I have since purchased 4 more of their books.

Truly complete. If you are asking it, this book has answered it. The author is both professionally and personally experienced. He honors the needs of both the parent and the child in a harmonious and realistic way. You can't ask for anything better than Dr. Sears when you're beginning your family. But this book is the star of the Sears library.

This should be in every new parents home library and public libraries around the country. Is great for those who practice attachment parenting.

This book is well written and comprehensive. There seems to me no issues that the authors have not covered concerning raising and caring for a child. We highly recommend this book as a reference.

My husband's cousin sent us this book as her favorite baby book. I started reading it before my son was born, and was impressed by much of the medical advice. A lot of attention was paid to the importance of breastfeeding and natural birth, which at first did not seem a detriment to the book. However, having experienced difficulty with the birth process, having required a c-section and having had complete failure to initiate breastfeeding, the book now makes me feel inadequate as a mother from day one.

Like many others, I was sad to see the back-shelf treatment of the importance of fathers, both because my husband planned to be heavily involved in raising our child (he is a teacher and will be at home full-time in the summers) but also because one of our very close friends is a superb stay-at-home father and this book marginalizes fathers in favor of the stay-at-home mom.

Their suggestion for those mothers who feel the need to return to their career (because according to the Sears', no family should ever find themselves financially obligated to send the mother back to work) is that they should wear their child to work - not only do none of my working mother friends have a job which would allow this, but for some jobs, this is downright irresponsible advice. Dr. Sears cites that his wife wore all their children to work without a problem (she works for her husband) and wore her child into the exam room with well-child visits, and other staff members were happy to hold the child when she had to attend to sick-child visits. Again, how this is practical in an everyday work environment, I fail to see.

All in all, the medical advice is stellar, I think, but the rest of the book instills feelings of guilt in those who cannot follow the book's directives. I'm sure that attachment parenting, breastfeeding and natural vaginal births works well for many mothers and families, but the book falls short of advice for those of us who tried their best but still fell short.

As a first time mother I have found this book to be a very helpful reference to have on hand.

Dr. Sears ideas are not necessarily run of the mill and they are important ideas to consider. They are child centered. Contemporary brain science research talks about the importance of holding children, focusing in on them, talking with them in full sentences from birth on and that is a way to maximize a child's social, emotional, and cognitive development. It is important for both parents to be involved. Dr. Sears has always advocated bonding with children, holding them close emotionally and physically - he knew that way before brain science researchers proved it. He has great instincts and he'll help you develop and trust your good instincts as well.

This book has been incredibly helpful. As a neurotic new mother I have referenced this book several times to make sure that what my baby is doing or going through is within the realm of 'normal' and this book has never failed to provide me with an answer. I read the first few chapters before our baby even came and it was a sanity saver . . . for example, new babies have different and non-consistent breathing patterns. If I would have not read the ahead of time I would have been freaking out the first few days!

I am also an avid on-line researcher but this book often provided more detailed answers much quicker than my searches on-line for the same information. It is true that the book is very 'pro attachment parenting' but they still provide information on other options so I didn't mind the slight bias.