| I'm converted. With my younger children, I read | | | | why the need to justify the alternative? They mention |
| volumes from Dr Spock and T. Berry Brazelton. With | | | | at the beginning that these are 7 tools, not 7 steps; that |
| my two younger children, I had developed my own | | | | you don't have to use them all to be a successful |
| parenting style and the confidence to handle criticism; | | | | attachment parent. I didn't use the baby slinging |
| so I didn't bother purchasing the latest parenting guides. | | | | because I found it too difficult, but I still consider myself |
| I missed out on this gem as a result. This book is a | | | | as AP. They did not spend several pages in the |
| road map for the style that I had instinctually adopted | | | | slinging chapter, justifying why you can still be a good |
| as a parent. I especially enjoyed the Beware of Baby | | | | parent if you don't. Why then the need to write so |
| Trainers; the best advice going. | | | | much about bottle-feeding? |
| But what is attachment parenting? The Sears describe | | | | The most significant and surprising thing that I learned |
| it well in the opening of this tome: | | | | from this book was that despite the apparent |
| Above all, attachment parenting (AP)means opening | | | | differences in style my husband and I both practice |
| your mind and heart to the individual needs of your | | | | attachment parenting just differently. As the mother, I |
| baby and letting your knowledge of your child be your | | | | have utilized most of the tools and clearly identify with |
| guide to making on-the-spot decisions about what | | | | the book, but I always saw my husband as more of a |
| works best for both of you. In a nutshell, AP is learning | | | | disciplinarian type. As I read the book though, I saw that |
| to read the cues of your baby and responding | | | | his style though different was equally AP. The way he |
| appropriately to those cues. | | | | often slept with Emily on his bare chest when she was |
| This book outlines what it calls the 7 tools of | | | | little and even now at three. The way that when she |
| attachment parenting: birth bonding, breastfeeding, | | | | cries he firmly holds her and tells her to calm down. |
| baby-wearing, bed sharing, belief in baby's cries, | | | | The instinctive way he follows her cues whenever |
| beware of baby trainers and balance/boundaries. In | | | | possible but draws the line when as they say in the |
| further chapter, the Sears expound upon each of | | | | book...if you resent it, change it. It was very enlightening |
| these as well as exploring how to make them work | | | | to realize that she was receiving the same basic |
| for you and your child in your unique situation. | | | | message from both of us, just a bit differently. |
| The book is well-written and provides a good balance | | | | This is one of the top resources on the topic and well |
| between the scientific research and the anecdotal. It | | | | deserves that reputation. I recommend this book to |
| uses text boxes effectively to highlight key issues. The | | | | many of my clients. Does it work? The results with my |
| only thing I did not like about it was the justification of | | | | older children indicate that it must...all are responsible |
| bottle-feeding. If breastfeeding is one of 7 tools, then | | | | and contributing adults. Despite my failings and flaws. |