Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 27
 Great Insight Into Behaviorial Development And More April 28, 2008
Jon Jay (Seattle)
33 out of 33 found this review helpful
There are so many books on the market about parenting in the first few years of your baby's life. I have read a dozen of them, and was mostly disappointed. The "What To Expect" books, for example, are very wordy, and have very pragmatic advice, but for me lack some "depth". Brazelton's book, by contrast is both pragmatic and philosophical, giving parents much more depth on this subject. I loved reading this book; I found it to be engaging, interesting, and very relevant to raising my 2-year old.
In particular, some things that impressed me:
* The author has great insight into infant and toddler behavioral development (in fact, he has great insight into parental behavior as well). This background gives parents some inclination for what is going on with their child, and is useful in crafting responses to various behaviors that are observed in the early years of a child's life.
* The book is comprehensive, touching on most aspects of parenting in the first three years.
* The book is extremely well organized. It serves well as both a reference, and a cover-to-cover read.
I do agree with other reviewers who have said the author is opinionated. I think this is a good thing -- and I gained more and more confidence in the author's opinions as I went along. Most new parents will do well to have a "starting point" when forming their own opinions. As an example, Brazelton discusses at length the importance of establishing boundaries with infants and toddlers, as this will help the child to feel competent and secure as they continually gain new dimensions of independence which both excites and scares children. But this is balanced with the moderating view that parents minimize negativity by not making big deals of things that don't really matter. This is related to discussion on what it means to "spoil" a child. To this end, Brazelton advises: (1) do sometimes let the child get frustrated when trying to accomplish a new task by themselves -- this is a feeling they're going to have to learn to manage, and (2) establish boundaries so the child has a good sense for his own competence.
Still the calming voice of reason.... January 16, 2007
D. Miller (MI USA)
21 out of 22 found this review helpful
I just purchased the revised version of my favorite childcare book from when I had my other kids (ages 6 and 9). Dr. Brazelton is still my favorite for his comprehensive, authoritative, yet non-judgmental, realistic advice. He has a tremendous understanding of the needs of children, in a way adults typically can't understand. In addition to addressing each stage of development in "Touchpoints", the section on special situations is extremely helpful!!!! I have loved every book he's ever written (Infants and Mothers is my other favorite) and find his advice invaluable and in the best interest of the child! He is a true child advocate and has the most calming voice to listen to....
More than expected October 25, 2007
B. Thomas (KTown, Germany)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
I was still pregnant when I received this book as a gift. I thought it was "hokey" and not relevant to my situation. When my daughter was 8 weeks old, I finally cracked the book open. Wow. Wish I would have done it sooner. It explained my baby's fussy time and other things that was affecting her day. She is now 6 months old and I read ahead to recognize her behaviors and to get prepared to deal w/them. I love this book and recommend it to all new mothers! It is so hard to know what to expect, at least this EXPLAINS what and why they react the way they do!
my favorite child development book August 27, 2007
LQ
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I go back to this book again and again. It's so reassuring every time my son reaches one of those touchpoints - Brazelton's advice is exactly what we need to help us deal well with each stage.
A must-have reference January 10, 2008
Elisa's Mom (Dallas, TX)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I found this book through PBS's "Whole Child" website. I initially checked it out from the library when my then four-month-old daughter resumed crying at night, seeming to regress from the progress she was making. After reading through the book, I realized that she was going through a normal development step, or "touchpoint" as Dr.Brazelton calls it. I've found the author's tips work well with my two children and am especially grateful for his tips on sleep (patting the child's back to settle her down, using a lovie). I've also found that he adopts an understanding tone --- he tries to work with the parents and caregivers regardless of their circumstances (working vs. stay-at-home). The book is now an essential part of our collection.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 27
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