Lovely book by a loving, experienced mother of 8

I love this book--I just read it, and I have three children. In this sweet little book, Martha Sears explains in easy-to-read terms the basic ways mothers of infants go about establishing a natural, loving relationship where both individuals' needs are met without creating a tug-of-war environment (which is common these days). Throughout the book, she and her husband, "Dr. Bill," encourage moms (and dads) to enjoy their baby, respect that their children are people with physical AND emotional needs from the day they are born, and lend support to the emotional needs and changes that a mother goes through after having a new baby. There are practical applications throughout, and it's a nice introduction to helping mothers set a firm foundation for the new relationship that is taking shape.

I have been reading for two years on the science and scientific research behind a secure, heathy bond/attachment between parents and children. The Sears' books are valuable assets for families who desire to establish a healthy attachment with their children. Not only are they both medically trained (William is a Pediatrician with years and years of experience; Martha is a trained RN & Lacation Consultant), but they have raised 8 children, 1 of which is a special needs child and another was adopted. Their advice stems from real scientific research as well as their own experience (mothers really DO have instincts!) One reviewer stated that the Sears claim they are the TOP experts on child care in order to make more $, but that statement needs to be qualified. They are "America's #1 Child Care Experts," (maybe because people like their realistic attitudes toward child care), but they say over and over again in their books that parents are the ONLY EXPERTS for their children, and to steer clear of child care "experts" that try to lead you to go against your intuition as a parent. They never claim that by creating a loving bond with their children that parents who practice attachment parenting (AP) will never experience discipline issues--in fact, they have a whole book about discipline ("The Discipline Book"). They do, however, describe clearly that children who have a strong, loving bond (attachment) with their parents from the time of their infancy, are more secure in this relationship, and typically respond more sensitively to correction than children who are not raised in a sensitive, loving atmosphere. These aren't just ideas or philosophies--they have been researched thoroughly over time (beginning in the 1930s), and there are many books (by various doctors, psychologists, and authors) that describe in detail the scientific study that has been done which proves, in no uncertain terms, the relevance of the mother/baby bond and how the quality of this bond affects a person throughout their entire life.

As others have said, this book makes a great gift...It's beautifully illustrated and will bless anyone with a new baby (even if they have older children!)...And I would even suggest that you pair it with "The Baby Book" or "The Complete Book of Christian Parenting and Child Care" by the same authors (so they will have access to more comprehensive guidelines in infant care in addition to the encouragment and simplicity of the "25 Things..." book.)



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Wonderful shower gift or gift for new mom!

A friend of mine gave me this cute little book shortly after I had my first baby, and I have really enjoyed dipping into it for short shots of gentle wisdom, inspiration, and advice. It's perfect for a new mom because the chapters are informative but really short--no huge time commitment required. There are 25 chapters--each with a title that's a "thing" that's helpful for moms to realize, like "You can solve breastfeeding problems," "You really do have intuition," "You don't have to be perfect," and "If you go back to work, you'll still be the person most important to your baby." Then the chapter has some information and practical advice related to that topic. For example, the chapter on going back to work includes the great idea of starting back to work on a Thursday instead of a Monday, so your first "week" is very short and easier for both mom and baby to deal with.
One more thing: the book is small and lightweight, so moms can read it while breastfeeding. Being a chronic multitasker, I loved this aspect!



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The Searses, how I dislike you, let me count the ways

Who decided that William and Martha Sears were "America's Top Baby Care Experts?" Perhaps "America's Top Baby Care Book Series Marketing Machines" would be more accurate. Any time people proclaim themselves to be a Top Expert about something, look with a suspicious eye - William and Martha certainly do, at other experts who espouse a different viewpoint than theirs. There are some good things in here, like Martha urging moms to take time for themselves and to remember that you and dad are still husband and wife, even though things are different now. But it's awfully easy for new moms to get sucked into their attachment parenting philosophy, and to believe statements that the Searses present as gospel truth, although there is no research to back it up. I don't recall the "cutting edge research" that the previous reviewer mentioned; instead I remember Dr. Bill saying that if you practice AP, basically you won't have any discipline issues when your child is a toddler because the two of you are so in tune and the child will want so much to please you. Sure, this sounds great to a new mom, but it is such a load of crap. Plus, while they do include a section that says that there is no perfect mother, and that's okay, I feel that they believe anything other than AP will lead to a level of parenting non-perfection that is unacceptable and guaranteed to turn out insensitive ax-murderers.

Steer clear of yet another tiresome rehashing of attachment parenting; the only guarantee here is that there will be more money in the Searses wallets.

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