I think it's important to realize that Brazelton co-wrote this with Bertrand G. Cramer (MD), a shrink, because I'm guessing Cramer had a LOT of influence over what got written in this book. I've read pretty much everything TBB has written and this was very shrink-heavy (as opposed to Brazelton's gentle and positive pediatrician books). Also, this is not really a parenting book, I think it was probably written with clinicians/psychiatrists in mind, but it was on the post partum doula list so I... (show more)

I think it's important to realize that Brazelton co-wrote this with Bertrand G. Cramer (MD), a shrink, because I'm guessing Cramer had a LOT of influence over what got written in this book. I've read pretty much everything TBB has written and this was very shrink-heavy (as opposed to Brazelton's gentle and positive pediatrician books). Also, this is not really a parenting book, I think it was probably written with clinicians/psychiatrists in mind, but it was on the post partum doula list so I dove in. Don't get me wrong, it's brilliant and filled with really good insight, and really, really illuminating, but the. . . bluntness with which it's written can definitely be a little off-putting to anyone not in the field. Some of the chapters were downright cold when describing some of the mothers' "issues" but I suppose they set out to try to help people and bring issues to light, not sugar-coat them. That said, I'd caution new mothers away from this--there's too much, I don't know, bluntness and blame loaded in a lot of the case studies. I mean, it was only written in the early 90s, from what I can see, but mother-blame is definitely out these days, and to read it now was a little jarring. A lot of it was sad, mothers who couldn't or wouldn't look at their babies. . . the descriptions were heartbreaking for me.
Much of the books is the psychology of relationships, between mother and infant, mostly. It sometimes reads like a psychology textbook. Good, basic information is given though, about the Ainsworth (strange situation) study, The Still-Face study, and others. At the least, this will cement into parents' minds just how much influence and power they really have, from the very moment their babies enter the outside world. (show less)

Very good. Klaus/Kennell/Klaus really hit the jackpot on all this. 1. The photograph on the cover is the sweetest little thing I've ever seen; things like this turn my womb into a fricking assembly line baby-factory, know what I mean? Basically they outline ways to get the most out of the "bonding experience" with your newborn, starting in pregnancy, going through birth, and the early aftermath. There are also excellent sections specifically on bonding with preemies and infants with... (show more)

Very good. Klaus/Kennell/Klaus really hit the jackpot on all this. 1. The photograph on the cover is the sweetest little thing I've ever seen; things like this turn my womb into a fricking assembly line baby-factory, know what I mean? Basically they outline ways to get the most out of the "bonding experience" with your newborn, starting in pregnancy, going through birth, and the early aftermath. There are also excellent sections specifically on bonding with preemies and infants with disabilities that you don't encounter very often in mainstream parenting/pregnancy books. Very valuable. This is a very interesting and easy to read book that offers a lot of important information on the emotional side of parenting, and really just kind of "teaches" you how to relate to your baby and get the most out of the experience. I would recommend it to any parents, especially first-timers. (show less)