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 So far so good Nov 01, 2009
This book offers a lot of information. What I've read so far is very good. It tries to be objective.
Good Book Oct 19, 2009
They say that babies don't come with manuals, however this is pretty close. If my wife or I have a question, we just open up the book and lo and behold there's my question with an answer.
A Must Have!! Oct 19, 2009
I purchased this book while pregnant with my first son. I am so glad that I did!! I use it all the time now that he is here. Any questions that I have can be easily found. Being a first time mom I tend to question everything and it is nice to have a reference that I can check on to be sure that nothing serious is happening. Would definately recommend this to any parent.
My go-to book on baby basics Oct 06, 2009
This has been the perfect book for me. It provides a clear parenting approach which is based in experience and fact, not just theory. "Attachment parenting" puts the baby first, in a way that sets the child up for success as an adult. Plus, it gives major milestones, skill progressions, and tips on interacting with your baby at each stage, through 2 years. I appreciate that it does this without the fear-mongering that many other parenting books promote. I refer back to the book about once every 2 weeks, to update me on new ideas as my little one progresses through new experiences.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Guilt Inducing, Marginalizes Role of Dads Sep 29, 2009
As a mother of a newborn, I read a lot before having my baby. At first I liked the idea of attachment parenting as advocated by the Sears, that one should be responsive to your infant's needs to form a secure attachment. I know that this is based on research that shows that securely attached infants become more independent children. However, after reading more about the specifics of the Sears' brand of attachment parenting, I realized that this is not the philosophy for me or for many modern parents. I strongly believe parents can form a close attachment with their babies without following many of Sears' ideas. Here are some of my dislikes about this book:
1. Exclusive breastfeeding - Everybody knows that breastmilk is the best for babies. However, in reality, breastfeeding can be extremely difficult for many women. In my own experience, I was in extreme pain when my baby latched, so I tried pumping. All I could get were drops. Personally, I think even if it did work, I would have been unhappy breastfeeding. Formula is not as terrible as Sears would make it out to be (in this two page chart showing why breast milk is better). My son is happy and thriving on formula. This way my husband can help, and my baby has a happy and sane mother. Sears makes it sound as if breastfeeding is really the only way to go if you want to form a close bond with your child. This is nonsense.
2. Babywearing - I have a carrier and I do enjoy using it once in a while. However, if I tried to carry my baby everywhere, my back would hurt like crazy. Quite frankly, a stroller is often a lot more convenient, and my baby loves being in it. I hold my baby a lot when I'm home, so I don't feel the need to carry him in a wrap all the time. Also, often my baby just loves to lie on a blanket on the floor and kick out his legs. There is a story in the book about how Martha carried one of her children to a cocktail party in a wrap. I guess the point was to show that babywearing can free a mother to do lots of things, but honestly, who wants to lug a baby around a fancy cocktail party all night?
3. Co-sleeping - My baby sleeps very well in the bassinet next to our bed. I would be terrified to have him in bed with us all night. It just doesn't seem safe to me with the bedding and possibility of rolling over. When he cries, my husband or I attend to his needs. We usually bring him into bed to cuddle in the morning. I know couples who have done co-sleeping and who couldn't get their kids to leave their bed. This is effective birth control, but not great for the kid's indpendence or for the marriage.
4. Although Sears doesn't state it explicitly, he implies that being a stay-at-home mom is really best for the baby. However, this is not the reality for most parents today. The mother needs to work for financial reasons. We don't need another reason to feel guilty about daycare. My son is not in daycare yet, but he will be. I hear other babies and kids in that daycare enjoy the social interaction with other kids.
5. Sears marginalizes the role of the father. The overall tone is that "Dad can help with this too! Dad can support mom this way...". These days many fathers are equal partners in baby care. My husband is one of them. It's not all about the mom. Some dads even stay at home these days too. Wake up too the 21st century, Sears!
In a nutshell, I believe that one can foster a close attachment to one's baby without following Attachment Parenting principles. I respond to my baby when he cries and I take care of his needs and we have a wonderful bond. I do not need to breastfeed, sleep in the same bed, or wear him all of the time in order to do be a good mom.
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