Customer Reviews

Attachment Parenting: Instinctive Care for Your Baby and Young Child

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

Not sure where the previous reviewer is coming from. I've read all the Sears books AND the Meredith Small book (all excellent , no doubt about that) and this new book is an important addition to the attachment parenting literature. It is chock full of information that I've never sen or read ANYWHERE else. I am an experienced parent of two and I found myself taking notes and highlighting sections of this book to show other parents. A few examples are the scientific info on natural ages of weaning from anthrpologist Dettwyler, the strong info on the risks of uneccesary bottle-feeding, the unequivocal condemnation of cry-it-out sleep training, the incredible resource lists, the side-by-side comparison of slings, backpacks and snugli/frontpack-style carriers, the info on breastfeeding and working outside the home... I could go on and on.

This is a GREAT book. Read all the reviews :-) And you won't be sorry if you buy a copy for yourself or a friend.

I wish every expectant parent would read Katie's book. I can't remember how old our son was when we discovered that there was a name for the method of parenting that my husband and I had adopted. We just "knew" not to let him cry himself to sleep, to share sleep with him, to let him breastfeed as he needed to, to hold him and wear him and love him 24 hours a day.

And then I discovered Katie's book and she reinforced all of our instincts! Whenever I have doubts (sometimes put upon me by society), all I have to do is re-read certain chapters or pages and it all comes clear to me again: my husband and I are the experts when it comes to our son. We should and will follow our instincts.

Yes, before reading this book, we had all the mainstream purchases: crib, swing, baby bucket, baby bouncer seat, stroller. And we did use those items a few times, but not to the extreme that we've seen other parents, leaving baby alone for long periods of time. Our son has grown into a happy and healthy toddler and we owe a lot of it to being so Attached!

I consider myself an "attachment parent" by most standards (although I prefer not to use the term to describe myself) and can relate to the annoying remarks that I was "spoiling" my twins, only making things "harder" for myself, and "need to put them on a schedule". For me it made sense to feed my babies on demand when they were hungry instead of forcing them to be on a "schedule", and co-sleeping allowed my husband and I to care for and stay close to our babies during the night until we feel they are ready to sleep away from us. I commend the author for writing this book and challenging the "norms" of our society, even though most parents and pediatricians don't feel there is a problem or harm in bottlefeeding or putting a newborn in a crib in a separate room/nursery. After careful thought, I changed my previous review and decided to rate this book 3 out of 5 because at times the author did take on a very preachy, defensive, and even slightly radical tone in some of her arguments that came across as a turn off and didn't take into consideration challenging or unexpected circumstances. I feel that taking a more objective approach in marketing attachment parenting to expecting & new parents who are trying to learn more about it could have toned down the "preachy" nature I and a few other reviewers felt was evident in this book; but that's my opinion. Ultimately, my suggestion is that you use this book as a reference and take what you need from it like any other book in your home library. You don't have to agree with the author 100%, but use the advice to follow *your instincts* as a parent.

This excellent book fills a gap in parenting literature, by providing a comprehensive yet easy-to-read introduction to attachment parenting philosophy and practice. Written in a breezy, conversational style, Katie Granju's book feels like advice from a friend: an amazingly knowledgable friend who draws on a wealth of professional research as well as her own experience as a mother of three. Granju's guide directs the reader to the best resources, techniques and even products available to parents wishing to raise their children secure in parental love and attachment. She distinguishes herself from other authors in the field of attachment parenting and breastfeeding by providing practical help for a great variety of situations, including that of the full time working breastfeeding mother.

The only thing I felt was missing in this enormously helpful book was an index. There's so much information here and it is a book readers will return to again and again, so it would have been nice to make it easier to find specific topics. That said, the detailed table of contents was very helpful.

I enjoyed this book and have used a modified form of attachment parenting for both of my girls. I have seen others parents take attachment parenting too far because they never stopped parenting their children as an infant. Cosleeping and breastfeeding are not producing the "brats" the other reviewers are complaining about. Inadequate parenting in general, in areas other than food or sleep, are much more likely causing such behaviors. Attachement parenting does not mean you refuse to use the word "No" after the child reaches a certain age. This is different for every family, but eventually, No must be said and a deaf ear to the tantrum will prevail. Parents who are failing to do this, are not ruining their child with attachment parenting. The people writing the reviews strongly against the principles in this book need to use a little basic skill I like to call critical thinking. Try reading "Our Babies, Ourselves" which is based on sound experience and research from an ethnopediatrician if your afraid cosleeping is somehow dangerous. Not all parents who use the attachment parenting method are overly permissive parents. Get a clue people.

I honestly believe that this is one of the best parenting books in existence. It gives more information than anyone can absorb in a single reading, and all of it is important. There isn't anything about this book that I dislike. I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Ms. Granju at a conference, and she was just as wonderful as her book.

The book starts out with a chapter explaining what attachment parenting is: Bonding with your baby, breastfeeding, responding to your baby's cues, sleeping with and carrying your baby, and respecting your baby as an individual. There is a chapter on preparing for your baby's arrival - what items you will really need, which ones you can probably live without, and planning to breastfeed. There are also chapters on why you should choose breastfeeding over bottle-feeding, all of the reasons why breastfeeding is so important, how and why you should consider sleeping with your baby, "The Working Parent's Guide to Attachment Parenting", why you should carry your baby, and much much more.

Each chapter of this book includes a section with resources - other books you can read, organizations you can contact, and websites and mailing lists you can join. I found these resources very helpful and wish all books were so complete. Granju includes quotes from real families who AP, comparisons of parenting styles in different cultures, and lots of supporting medical references.

This book is worth every penny and makes a great gift for new or expecting parents.

To the previous poster: I am so sorry for your loss, but to imply that bed-sharing, as advocated in this book, CAUSES SIDS is irresponsible. This book includes a list of important safety considerations in creating a sleep space for your baby. The study the previous poster cited by the CPSC has been soundly debunked by major scientists and news organizations. It was bad science, period.

There is ample evidence to suggest that family sleep sharing is the safest place for a human infant to sleep. The U.S. has the lowest rates of family sleep sharing and the highest rates of SIDS in the world. Breastfeeding on cue lowers the risk of SIDS and attachment parenting promotes breastfeeding on cue.

I am a father of two who has been profoundly influenced by this amazing book. Read it yourself and then decide.

Mark Bailey

What a great book. I didn't think I needed to check it out because I am a five-year attachment parent with two wonderfully adjusted and happy kiddos. However, it was wonderful to revisit my ideals in print and of course great to support Katie, a fellow writer! I would encourage people who want more guidance in moving past family bed to re-read the book with a more open mind. The main tenet of attachment parenting is understanding that children DO move on in their OWN time. Thus there isn't much need to look for a specific date or age at which your child "should" be more independant. Independance grows from dependance, after all. If certain practices aren't working as well (family bed, extended breastfeeding) it is extremely worth-while and necessary to figure out why they aren't working and honor that difficulty. Of course mom's needs are important too and there are many middle roads to take, such as buying a bigger bed or putting a toddler bed alongside the family bed. I too felt the need to get "my body back," as one reviewer put it, after I had nursed both my kids for two years. A gentle segue past nursing involved more solids, lots of holding, talking about nursing, and reminding myself that nursing isn't just for food but also for emotional support. "Weaning," though I hesitate to call it that, came naturally and sweetly. Remember that even if you nurse for four years that is still only four years--a mere blink of an eye in the grand scheme of life, but ever so vital. A job well done, Katie!

After receiving this book I read it within the first 2 days. I found that it reinforces the parenting we were alreading doing with our son (20 months) but also prepared me for the birth and care of our second child (expecting him/her anyday now). It is a great book for parents already dedicated to this parenting style and those new parents (or veterans) searching for the parenting style that makes "sense". Unlike other parenting advice that sets forth set guidelines that all parents, children or babies must follow, "Attachment Parenting" gives parents the lastest research, as well as other parents experiences and observations and then suggests a parenting style that is best for you and baby. Never does the author "prescribe" what is best for your family, instead she allows you to make that informed decision according to your understanding of current research, your own situation and your INTUITION. I encourage all parents to read this. It will either reaffirm the parenting style you have choosen and give you the support to live by it (inspite of others peoples questions or damaging advice) or open your mind to one you may not have considered but may just make sense after you look at it more closely.

Before reading this book, I had heard very little about this type of parenting. After reading the book, I am sold. The book explains the basic beliefs behind the philosophy, with persuasive arguments supporting the point of view. It offers many options for different types of family units and is a fantastic resource book. I spent may hours using the web addresses offered in the book. I highly recommend this book.