Bringing Up Baby: Three Steps to Making Good Decisions in Your Child's First Years

Wonderful book and very insightful for the new parent. I like how the authors encourage families to take a look at their past to make connections with the present and how they parent. A must read. Other books you may find helpful are: How To Talk So Kids Can Listen, Got the Baby Where's the Manual, Between Parent and Child, Discipline Without Distress, Kids-Parents and Powerstruggles and Undconditional Parenting. Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT Founder, www.TheGoToMom.TV Author, Mommy Confidence: 8 Easy Steps to Reclaiming Balance, Motivation, and Your Inner Diva

As an early childhood teacher educator and new gramma I was very excited to find this down to earth but parent sensitive guide to the perplexities of raising babies. The book is very specific about what parents might see and then do with their child as a result of observation. A positive investigative attitude in parents is valued with developmental characteristics of children as the jumping off point. The reader can't miss the authors' respect for parents and their joy in the baby raising task. I'm glad my gandson's parents have this book as a resource to support them. I have to confess that I use some of the examples in my college classes too.

As a preschool teacher, I am often asked by parents about what books I would recommend for them to read in regards to many different parenting issues. When I came across this book I immediately added it to my list of exceptional books for new parents. It is well written, parent friendly, and full of quality information about developmental issues that occur during a child's first few years. I even purchased a second copy to give to my daughter and her husband who just became parents for the first time. If you are looking for a clear, well written, easily understandable book...this is the one for you!

I would have loved to have this book when I was a new parent. The authors lay out the most important decisions that parents face. I appreciated the straightforward questions presented that guide readers through the process of making thoughtful decisions about parenting. Readers are not told what to do, but rather what to think about. The authors suggest taking a three step approach to parenting. The three steps include: 1. Develop self awareness, 2. Tune into your child, 3. Make sensitive and effective decisions. By taking the three step approach, parents will be better prepared and have more confidence in their parenting. The section on developing self awareness was especially helpful. It explained how our reactions to our children's behavior may have more to do with our assumptions and past experiences than the behavior itself. I also enjoyed the section on temperament and how children respond to their world in different ways. Readers are encouraged to use what they know about themselves and their child to make sensitive and effective decisions to support healthy growth and development. The final section on sharing care with other adults was very useful. It provided reassurance and tools to have a good relationship with other adults in my child's life. I am happy to recommend this book to both new and experienced parents.

Bringing Up Baby offers parents what they need most - help in making decisions that fit THEIR family and THEIR child. It asks parents to look at their beliefs and desires to gain knowledge about themselves. It asks them to learn about their child by watching their child. Instead of taking the advice of an expert, parents can feel confident making tough parenting decisions that are right for their family. While offering plenty of information, the authors do not provide one-size-fits-all answers. The text is easy and quick to read so busy parents can get support without giving up lots of time. The appendix gives typical behaviors and ways to think about typical dilemmas that come up in the first three years of life. I think that parents will refer to this book again and again. It is a welcome addition to the Parent Library at my infant/toddler center.