Customer Reviews

The Vital Touch: How Intimate Contact With Your Baby Leads To Happier, Healthier Development

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book while pregnant with my first child three years ago. It's eye-opening to contrast the United States with other cultures that promote almost constant contact with their babies. The author shows how our society's emphasis on placing our babies in "containers" (strollers, pumpkin seats, swings, etc.) instead of holding them more often, leads to sensory deprived, more isolated children. There is information on the benefits of the close contact of breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and helping your children become securely attached (think Dr. Sears.) This book is a wonderful comparison between the laid-back childrearing practices of most of the rest of the world and prudish America. You won't want to put your baby down after reading about the wonderful benefits of the vital touch.

Breathe a sigh of relief and never second guess yourself or your loving, instinctual, attachment feelings again. If you've ever wondered which of the "expert" parenting methods are the "right" ones, read "The Vital Touch" not just for one more insight, but to follow the one expert that counts -- you.

how exciting it is to find a book that supports your "maternal instinct" as a way of parenting,when there are so many experts out there trying to guide us on dealing with common american childcare problems such as sleeping through the night and colic,whereas in sharon hellers book she compares our society with that of less advanced more primitive cultures and she finds that fussiness & colic & sleep problems are in fact as american as apple pie.this book has enlightend us as parents to do what we feel is important (massage,parental touch) all supported quite favorably according to the research done by sharon heller as having a profoundly positive affect on our infants. this is a "must read' for any parent.

I am a psychologist, specializing in work with children and families. I'm currently not working, because I'm staying at home with my two daugthers. I have read countless books on the subject of babies, children, families, etc., and have found this book to be the most incredible I've ever read. I truly believe this book will make a difference in your life, and the lives of your children. It's worth every penny, and then some.

The Vital Touch affirms every nurturing instinct within me. Heller's convictions have given me the courage to parent "from the heart" and to care for my child in ways that are counter cultural within the United States. She brings wisdom from families, villages, cultures around the world to us so that we might rely on healthy and loving alternatives to the American absolute values of independence and self-reliance. She gives new parents permission to create an environment of tender care, interdependence, safety and reassurance for our infants and toddlers that will enable and empower them to become confident, self-assured, peaceful adults. I recommend this marvelous book to every parent (and grandparent) of a young child.

This book was great for refuting those that try to tell me to put my baby in her own bed at night, use a playpen, stroller, etc. instead of being in touch contact with me most of the day. When my second child was born he had pneumonia and was in NICU for a week. He was hooked up to all kinds of sensors and under an oxygen tent. Whenever I would go in to see him and touch his back, his vital numbers would go way up. He knew I was there and responded positively to my touch. They slowly went back down when I left. :-( Touch is vital and this book shows why.

This is an AWESOME book! I bought this due to subject, and reviews. Keep in mind I LOVED my social anthro. class in college! LOL! But seriously, it reinforces our "attachment" choices, but not based on someones opinions, but based on evidence based research! It shows our culture verses more contact oriented cultures. We are suffering. Or, actually, our children are! I love Dr. Sears, but this, well, this is exactly the reinforcement I needed. I read so many "co-sleeping CAUSES problems" or you NEED to start a loose schedule, or your children will not be well adjusted", that they were clouding my decisions-making me doubt my choices. But OK, here is a concept, we ARE animals. And yes, many moms have jobs, but that doesn't mean you can't make better choices that will benefit the child. Time for America to stop thinking in the vein "oh, if you hold that baby too much, you'll spoil it". Uhm, DUH! You'll feel better if you need reinforcement for current "contact parenting" and you will get some solid knowledge about how you are attached to your child can affect it socially, emotionally and physiologically. This, I think is a MUST read for anyone wanting some true knowledge about the basics in the way we conect with our children.

Part 1: The Power of Touch
Chapter 1 Parenting in the Machine Age
Chapter 2 Newborn Harmony
Chapter 3 Holding Holds Babies Together
Chapter 4 The First Connection
Chapter 5 Rock of Love
Chapter 6 Sensory of Nourishment

Part 2: Out of Touch
Chapter 7 Container Craxy
Chapter 8 Sensory Overkill
Chapter 9 The Body Forbidden
Chapter 10 Breast or Bottle?
Chapter 11 Co-sleeping Taboos
CHapter 12 Crybabies

Part 3: Getting in Touch
Chapter 13 The Self-Reliant Supermom
Chapter 14 Finishing Touches

Some of the many topics discussed in this book:
Independence vs. Interdependence
Bonding
Touch and Growth
Why Massage Creates Magic
Attachment: THe Mother
Father's Role
Influences on Attachment
Newborn Sensory Preferences
Childhood Sexuality
Breastfeeding Benefits

I just recently re-read this book after it had been sitting on my shelf for a few years. It was very interesting to me to read about how other cultures raise babies and children. Definitely sparked my interest to read more on this topic. What I was disappointed in was the way the author seemed to brush off the importance of breastfeeding. This was surprising after she made a point of discussing how it is carried out routinely and for extended periods in other cultures. Quote from page 169: " Of course there's no harm in bottle feeding, if we find this a more comfortable arrangement than nursing, or if we have no choice. Whole generations of infants have grown up on bottle milk and survived well enough." (Heller, 1997) Hmmmmmm, La Leche League would be all over this statement.

Great book. I learned so much and have a new appreciation for why babies crave being held and touched so much.