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The Baby Bond: The New Science Behind What's Really Important When Caring for Your Baby (Paperback)

~ Linda Folden Palmer (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Meticulously researched and warmly presented, the most authoritative and persuasive guide to attachment parenting

When it comes to early parenting, scientific evidence points time and again to the bond between parent and child as a critical factor in a baby's health and wellbeing. Backed by more than 1,200 trusted sources, this breakthrough guide reveals the many little-known advantages that only a responsive, nurturing parenting style can provide:

  • Surprising evidence on the benefits of breastfeeding
  • How attentiveness and touch impacts permanent brain development in infants
  • Under-reported facts about how to reduce colic, food allergies, and illness
  • Why sharing sleep is both safe and natural
  • How to reduce future teen-year stress by bonding with your young child early

At the forefront of a passionate, growing movement called "attachment parenting," this warmly presented guide is a rare overview of information too often missing from parenting circles, pediatric offices, and financially motivated product promotions.

Why Attachment Parenting?

  • Cultures around the world that practice more natural forms of parenting have healthier infants who cry much less, toddlers who do not exhibit "terrible twos," generally respectful teenagers, and independent adults who participate in family matters.
  • A well-controlled study found sleeping outside of the parents' room brought 10.5 times the risk of SIDS as sleeping in the parents' room.
  • Studies have shown that infants who receive frequent physical affection have lower overall levels of stress.
  • In the United States and other industrialized countries, the infant death rate for formula-fed infants is twice that of exclusively breastfed babies.

— Excerpt from The Baby Bond —

Most would agree that children probably do not consciously remember the way they were treated during early infancy. Many recount this observation as support or comfort for their ideas about ignoring babies' cries for attention and providing minimal stimulation. Yet, it can be shown that while the specifics may be lost, unconscious memories are developed on the neurological and biochemical level from birth—a baby's brain develops from day one according to its environment. Childhood, adolescence, and adulthood are all affected by this early programming. And, as far as the coveted independence goes, it has been shown that those who receive the most affection early on display the highest levels of independence as adults.

—Praise for The Baby Bond —

"Babies would tell you to buy this book!"
Jan Hunt, MSc | Author of The Natural Child: Parenting from the Heart

"An instant classic. A must-read for all parents. Dr. Palmer's book is the best book on the hard science behind attachment parenting that I've ever read. I wish I had read this book before I became a mother."
Katie Allison | Author of Attachment Parenting

"Well researched and hard hitting…unabashedly tells the truth about so many very important issues."
Denise Pickett-Bernard, PhD | RD, The Journal of Human Lactation

From the Author

"If you're looking for "Baby Matters," you'll love "The Baby Bond." Extensively documented "Baby Matters" won a Silver IPPY award in 2008 and was picked up by the publisher, SourceBooks. It has been updated, revised, and embellished, and is now "The Baby Bond." You can read the many wonderful reviews for "Baby Matters" on its Amazon page in order to gain insight into "The Baby Bond."

If you already own "Baby Matters," a large bulk of the text is the same. If you have one of the earlier editions, I wouldn't purchase "The Baby Bond" unless you have a newborn or young infant with challenges you are going to turn to this book for. In this case, there are lots of small but important details that I've changed my mind a little on, or just written more about, as I've followed the research over the years. I've gone through the book with great detail to be certain that each idea is still current in the science and I've made changes where I found I could bring newer information. I've added informative preemie feeding tables that should help drive home the message about feeding term infants as well. I updated lots of the references for some of the same old words just to keep the reference section looking more current, as pretty much all the messages in my book (originally released in 2001, updated before in 2007) just get re-proven over and over.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc. (September 1, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402226578
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402226571
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #350,614 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #64 in  Books > Parenting & Families > Reference

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More About the Author

Linda Folden Palmer
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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
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 (7)
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars interesting, informative, and intelligent, September 12, 2009
By EmmaJ (La Jolla, CA United States) - See all my reviews
The Baby Bond is and extremely thorough book, focusing primarily on the care of infants and babies, but also addressing prenatal and early childhood care. The author advocates attachment-promoting parenting, and backs this up with well-researched science on human development, physiology, psychology, nutrition, and evolution.

The Baby Bond is footnoted throughout, so that you can look these studies up yourself. However, Palmer distills the information, so that you do not need to be a scientist yourself to make sense of what she writes about. This is not easy to do, and her clear, intelligent prose is refreshing. She doesn't over-simplify, but explains in plain language what scientists have learned, and makes the connections between research results and everyday parenting.

This book is not polemical, nor is it prescriptive- Palmer's practical recommendations are mostly quite simple (with the exception of some of the material on food allergies- in that identifying and dealing with those can be quite challenging). I don't think that we should make our parenting decisions based only on scientific studies, nor does Palmer. But she provides us the information to help parents set themselves up for success, because, as long as we avoid the "detached" parenting "techniques" often promoted by "experts", most of us already have the ability and knowledge to sensitively and effectively care for our babies.

some highlights from this book:
1) babies are biologically and psychologically dependent, and independence comes later. There is no advantage, and quite a few disadvantages, to attempting to make a helpless infant learn to be "independent".
2) human breastmilk is greatly superior to artificial milks (formula).
3) babies are safer, healthier and happier, and grow up to be smarter and more independent if they are cared for in a consistent, responsive way, physically close to their adult caregivers as much as possible.
4) all babies cry, but prolonged, regular crying is not normal. Unexplained crying and inability to be comforted is often a result of food intolerances, frequently to the proteins in cows milk (which can pass through mothers milk)

This is an excellent book and can be a resource for any parent of an infant, any expecting couple, and for healthcare professionals and caregivers who deal with infants and young children. This book certainly gives solid evidence to explain many behaviors and needs of babies (and their parents!), with practical suggestions throughout on how to meet them effectively and simply.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The science behind a mother's instinct, October 1, 2009
When I started reading this book, I immediately thought "Thank you Dr. Palmer!" As a mother, I practiced attachment parenting not because it was something I read about, but because it was my natural instinct. This book is a fantastic compilation of the science behind this instinct, and how varying parenting practices affect babies on a physical as well as emotional level.

I now know why my attachment parenting practices (breastfeeding, cosleeping, nurturing) was beneficial for not only my daughter, but for my own health. As a clinical nutritionist myself, I know the nutritional and health benefits of breastfeeding vs. formula, but this was chock full of why it's beneficial on an emotional level. For example, when I breastfed my daughter for 3 years, I'd get warnings from many people that she was going to become "too attached" to her mom. In fact, it's just the opposite. Because of this book, I now realize the scientific reasons why my little one is well grounded and secure.

I have read many books that speak to the science behind various practices, but are too technical. Dr. Palmer does a fantastic job of presenting the science without making it too complicated, but at the same time, gives the references for those readers who like technical detail.

This is the type of book to have on hand and keep referring to as things come up. Read it through the first time, and then use it as a reference after the fact. I know I want to give this book to everyone I know who is about to have a baby.

While I believe each parent should do what they feel is best for their child, and their family (cosleeping versus crib, breastfeeding versus formula, responding versus cry it out, etc.), regardless of what path they choose, they should have all the facts first. This book presents the facts, so that parents can make informed decisions for their family. It would be a shame to not have this information, and to realize later that you wish you had read this first.

As a clinical nutritionist, I was thrilled to see the detailed and thorough research done in this book on creating the ultimate foundation for health. Too often I see parents come into my office with their children when they are older with certain health and behavioral issues, some which could be prevented with applying the information in this book. I wish all my clients would read this before having children, to give their kids the best chance for ultimate health.

Kudos Dr. Palmer!!!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Clarification from proud author, September 3, 2009
Thank you so much, Mama Bee, for your delightful review. I've tried to create a useful transition on Amazon but don't really have much control to do so. I did post the below (see way below) on my author page, before the book came out, hoping it would help, but it needs to be more prominent (your review will help there).

To me, it's so much not the SAME book, because I put so much hard work and so many long hours into this new edition, and so did my publisher. BUT, yes, while one would want to be recommending this newest version, as it's quite updated, and the last ones are out of print, the message, and large bulk of text, are just the same. If you have one of the earlier editions, I wouldn't purchase the newest edition unless you have a newborn or young infant with challenges you are going to turn to this book for. In this case, there are lots of small but important details that I've changed my mind a little on, or just written more about, as I've followed the research over the years. I've also added some very informative tables to the preemie feeding section that might help one to negotiate with their neonatologist. They should help to drive home the message about feeding term infants as well. I've gone through the book with great detail to be certain that each idea is still current in the science and I've made changes where I found I could bring newer information. I also updated lots of the references for some of the same old words just to keep the reference section looking more current, as pretty much all the messages in my book (originally released in 2001, updated before in 2007) just get re-proven over and over. For more info about "The Baby Bond," visit my website: thebabybond.com

It's been so exciting for me to be discovered by a large publisher, as a small, self-published author struggling over the years for recognition. The embellishments, guidance and support given me by my new publisher, Sourcebooks, have just thrilled me. They selected a new title that they thought would be more descriptive and more friendly (rather than down-beating doctors in the subtitle). I love the new title and new look but it has its plus sides and minus sides as I've been a little worried all along about how to make that transition known.

Here's what I posted on my author page from the start:

"If you're looking for "Baby Matters," you'll love "The Baby Bond"
10:38 PM PDT, July 25, 2009
Extensively documented "Baby Matters" won a Silver IPPY award in 2008 and was picked up by the publisher, SourceBooks. It has been updated, revised, and embellished, and is now "The Baby Bond." You can read the many wonderful reviews for "Baby Matters" on its Amazon page in order to gain insight into "The Baby Bond." "

My wish is to make some small positive contribution to the happiness of new families and the health of our future generations.
Happy Parenting... Follow your heart.
Linda Folden Palmer, DC
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Science, Though Borders on Preachy
I highly recommend reading this book... with a grain of salt. Dr. Palmer makes the science behind attachment parenting clear and easy to understand, which is very helpful for... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Megan Romer

5.0 out of 5 stars An Awesome Book
I wish I had this book when my oldest was born. It was so extremely helpful in validating my instincts. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Kraysmommy

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have!
An amazingly well researched book! Covers so many topics, this is a must have for all new parents. I will be giving this as a gift to my friends having babies for sure! Read more
Published 6 months ago by M. Delaney

5.0 out of 5 stars Scientific proof that it is okay to follow your heart
If you have been looking for scientific proof that it is okay and encouraged to follow your heart and instincts in nurturing/raising your baby, you should check out this book. Read more
Published 6 months ago by believe

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read
This is a must read for any parent or parent to be. The author backs up her research and is very knowledgable. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Momof2boys

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource for Every Parent!
This book is incredibly well-researched and informative when it comes to all aspects of caring for your baby. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mama Bee

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