The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two

This book is a parenting powerhouse. William and Martha Sears deliver a thorough, compassionate, and research-backed guide that truly covers everything a new parent might face from birth to age two. From treating illnesses to understanding developmental milestones and sleep routines, this book is incredibly detailed yet still readable and reassuring. What I appreciated most was the balanced approach—it’s not just medical or clinical, but deeply empathetic, encouraging a strong parent-child bond. The Sears' focus on the baby’s five essential needs (eating, sleeping, development, health, and comfort) makes this a go-to reference for almost any question that arises. It is a bit hefty at 689 pages, but that’s because it truly leaves no stone unturned. A must-have for new parents or even experienced ones looking for updated, nurturing advice.

I have 3 children and this is without a doubt the best, most comprehensive book on children and toddlers. It describes the social, emotional and physical milestones of your infant and toddler in great detail. The writers, Dr. William Sears and his nurse wife,Margret, have had 8 children and the book's vast information is made more fun to read with their personal and humorous annecdotes. I appreciate hearing how they dealt with situations from both the mother and father's view points. My second child had colic, and I really needed that section on how to help him, and my whole family through it. I cherished this phrase, "Studies have shown no lasting physical or mental damage from colic on the infant, however the same can not be said for the poor parents." One of the couple's children has Down's syndrom so there is a great section on special needs babies, as well as twins, premature infants, ect. Very comprehensive! They really encourage attachement parent by listening to your intuiton about comforting your child, feeding on demand, co-sleeping, and they give plenty of information to back up your choices to in-laws or others. The illness chart is invaluable, this book helped me show my Dr why my 3 week old's rash was not just newborn acne, it's detailed description helped me explain myself and receive appropriate treatment for her. I like how there are no absolutes in this book, they tell how to attachement parent even if you must go back to work, or are unable to breastfeed. The toddler nutrition section is fantastic, from how to make sure your child is eating healthy, and tricks to encourage eating at that on-the-go-constantly stage. I did not have this book with my first child, and went with my intuition about demand breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and wearing my handicapped daughter. I purchased this on advice for my second and really used it. I wish I had had it for my first, I would have felt less guilty for my parenting choices, knowing the studies that show how those choices make for a happier, more secure and confident child/adult later. Now I continue to refer to it for my 3rd child. Yes it is a big, and not cheap book, but for the vast amount of easy to find and read information, covering several years of your child's life, it is the best investment you'll make. One suggestion, buy it a few months ahead your due date, as it has information on preparing yourself and your home for the birth, as well as great advice from hour and day one your your new little one's life.

This book really covers everything about babies. It's been an excellent resource for me. It covers everything from the first day you bring baby home, to teething and feeding, etc. The only thing to be aware of is that Dr. Sears has a lot of strong views on parenting that might not appeal to everyone. Things like having your baby sleep in bed with you aren't always accepted with open arms in today's society. But I have to say that his methods really worked for me and my son.

every new parent should have this book. william sears is really experienced both personally and professionally, his are the only books i trust with my child's life! he gives the greatest advice, and like in the birth book, he tells you to trust your instincts and do what you feel is best for you and your family. things like, sleeping with your baby. how can something that was done for generations, and is still done in other countries of the world, suddenly be so bad? so if you feel its best for you to sleep with your baby, do so! as a breastfeeding mother, i find that it is easier to function the next day if i can just latch him on and go back to sleep. i dont worry about squishing him, but i dont drink, and i dont take medicines that would make me drowsy. as for getting them into their own bed eventually, we have him sleep in his crib during the day for naps, and we have hope that when he doesnt need to nurse at night he can go back to his crib at night. but basically, trust your instincts! attatchment parenting is something that i felt instinctually since i had my baby, and others seemed to thing that you can spoil a newborn. "let him cry" they say. as a parent of a newborn, you are flying by the seat of your pants, and just trying the get as much rest as you can. those people telling you that responding to your baby's needs makes him spoiled dont know what they are talking about. DONT LISTEN to people whos advice goes against what you feel inside. that is the most important thing as a new parent, to follow your instincts! you have them for a reason! and dont let anyone tell you that breastfeeding your child isnt enough. they create their own supply, how could breastfeeding not be enough! babies have fussy periods, and during growth spurts it seems as if they could eat forever, but dont give up just because people are telling you that they need cereal or formula. my baby is 3.5 months old, and he doesnt need anything but my milk. everyone told me he needs cereal, he needs formula, wow, poor babies before there was formula. poor babies in other countries who dont have access to formula! they must be starving to death! come on, breastfeeding is supplied by demand. you can do it! HIGHLY recommended for every new parent!

Beautiful book with so much to read n learn. love it

Das Buch ist einfach wunderbar! Mit so große Liebe geschriebn, und man findet Rat für jede Angelegenheit. Sehr emphelenswert. Aber ich finde es nicht toll, dass Amazon mich um die längere Rezension zwingt. Nächstes mal werde ich gar nicht schreiben.

As with all pregnancy and baby related products, everything is very personal. I read nearly all the baby books and found this one to be closer to how I wanted to raise my first child. Nobody expects you to take EVERYTHING that the Sears' say to do - you take the bits that you like and the bits that work for you and your child. There are no schedules or strict regimes. This is an easy book to read that doesn't make you feel guilty if you don't do them - there are suggestions for things and reasons behind them and I like the approachable manner it has been written. Until I read his book I was discouraged from co-sleeping with my baby for fear of suffocation. How wrong I was. The first decent night's kip I had was when she fell asleep with us and she stayed that way for nearly 3 months until she moved to her crib next to our bed. I also now use a sling for walks instead of taking her in her pram. Again, this is something that wouldn't suit everyone but for 8 weeks she cried if I so much as thought about putting her down so it suited us and she's now a contented happy little 5 month old that will happily play with her toys on the floor. I was also made to feel guilty by people (including health visitors!) when I told them that I demand fed but this is something that's encouraged by the Sears' - again, my daughter only cries now when she's hungry or has a very good reason! I'm pleased that I trusted my maternal instincts and used what worked for us. I truly believe that a big reason she is a contented baby is because I didn't start her on strict schedules or leaving her to cry herself to sleep - I'm really pleased that I got this book and it'll last for up to 2 years with any little things that may pop up. It has become my encyclopedia for general things that arise along the way so I'll be topping up my knowledge of weaning in a couple of weeks (which also has some excellent suggestions to find out what flavours your baby likes) and then moving on to the next chapter! I would strongly recommend this book to any first-time parents who (like me) have no idea what happens when you get home from the hospital with a baby! It's an easy read and a good way to having a contended baby...I just wish I'd got it before having my daughter and not waiting for 8 weeks!

Libro molto ben scritto, pratico, non noioso, con immagini e molto completo. Tra i mille libri in commercio sull'argomento, è il mio preferito. Ha tanti spunti e suggerimenti che non sapevo, e mi ha preparata tantissimo all'arrivo del mio primo figlio.

Arrived quickly and was exactly as described. Happy with the product