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

by Sharon Heller (Author) "In the child development classes that I teach, I often ask my students to tell me in what position women have traditionally given birth..." (more)
Key Phrases: fetal tuck, sensory defensiveness, postpartum contact, United States, Berry Brazelton, Margaret Mead (more...)

4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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Touch (Bradford Books) by Tiffany Field
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Baby Massage: The Calming Power of Touch by Alan Heath
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Using a lively array of anthropological and sociological sources, The Vital Touch presents a provocative examination of the reasons why, now more than ever, we need to make consistent physical connections with our infants and children.

Product Details

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1st edition (October 17, 1997)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805053549
ISBN-13: 978-0805053548
Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #114,734 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category: (What's this?)
#95 in Books > Parenting & Families > Family Relationships > Parent & Adult Child

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
In the child development classes that I teach, I often ask my students to tell me in what position women have traditionally given birth. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
fetal tuck, sensory defensiveness, postpartum contact, solitary sleeping, genital play, parental bed, tactile defensiveness, infant day care, infant massage, tactile receptors

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Berry Brazelton, Margaret Mead, Kung San, Strange Situation, Ashley Montagu, John Bowlby, Melvin Konner, New Guinea, Resource Guide, Tiffany Field, Benjamin Spock, Michel Odent, Patricia Wilbarger, Richard Ferber, Alan Sroufe, East Africa, John Watson, San Francisco

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 100 books:

Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin by Ashley Montagu on 7 pages
Child Development by Sroufe on 4 pages
Child Development with Multimedia Courseware CD and PowerWeb by Ganie DeHart on 4 pages
The Continuum Concept (Arkana) by Jean Liedloff on 4 pages
Nighttime Parenting: How to Get Your Baby and Child to Sleep by William Sears in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)

See all 100 books this book cites

5 books cite this book:

Attachment Parenting: Instinctive Care for Your Baby and Young Child by Katie Allison Granju on 5 pages
Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World by Sharon Heller in Front Matter, and Back Matter
Breastfeeding Annual International 2001 by Dia L. Michels on page 115
Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry--Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby by Elizabeth Pantley on page 314
Babywearing by Maria Blois in Back Matter

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz

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The Out-of-Sync Child has Fun by Carol Stock Kranowitz

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Raising a Sensory Smart Child by Lindsey Biel

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Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight by Sharon Heller

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	73% buy the item featured on this page: The Vital Touch: How Intimate Contact With Your Baby Leads To Happier, Healthier Development 4.5 out of 5 stars (13) $11.56
	9% buy Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World 4.4 out of 5 stars (30) $10.97
	6% buy Mothering the New Mother: Women's Feelings and Needs After Childbirth a Support and Resource Guide 4.8 out of 5 stars (4) $14.78
	6% buy Nurturing the Family The Guide for Postpartum Doulas 4.7 out of 5 stars (6) $20.99

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keep your child close and comforted., July 22, 2001

By	Julie Lovisa (Indiana USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There may never be a more profound or amazing book..., August 17, 1999

By A Customer

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.

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this has enlightened us as parents!, June 13, 1999

By A Customer

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.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful book on the value of touch and the cultural development of convenience
Sharon heller has written an insightful book on value of human touch during childhood. She analyzes from various cultural sources how we, Americans, have come to be one of the... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Martine Groeneveld, Author

2.0 out of 5 stars interesting reading
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... Read more

Published 12 months ago by Mom of 3

5.0 out of 5 stars Parental Essential
After reading this book my perspective on babies has completely changed. If only we already knew these things, we would be creating wonderful, happy people by starting with... Read more

Published 19 months ago by L. Schipa

4.0 out of 5 stars Reliable seller
Great seller to work with. Sent item promptly and in the condition it was described to be in.

Published 23 months ago by Courtney W. Engel

3.0 out of 5 stars Independent mom
This book makes a fabulous point on how we need to be closer to our children, however, the rosy picture the author paints of other cultures is not accurate. Read more

Published on May 24, 2007 by Diana M. Thomas

5.0 out of 5 stars Just one word : WOW!!!
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! Read more

Published on April 15, 2003 by Penni

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite parenting book!
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. Read more

Published on February 17, 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
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... Read more

Published on January 12, 2002 by catdogkidsfirst

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful proof that our babies were designed to be touched!
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. Read more

Published on February 1, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the most important parenting guide I have ever read.
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... Read more

Published on December 12, 1998

› See all 13 customer reviews...

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