Easy to read and thoroughly indexed, The Breastfeeding Book, by Dr. and Martha Sears covers everything from the basics of breastfeeding, from how to get the baby to latch on properly to toddler nursing and weaning. The "Consumer's Guide to Breastfeeding Products" is interesting as well as informative. Includes tips and interesting facts in sidebars throughout the text.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. It gives alot of good advice, suggestions, medical tips-how to talk to doctors, what to eat, what medicines not to take, what to do if there are problems nursing, etc. It is loaded with information. But it is also very dogmatic. I'm not a weak-willed person by any means, but when I finished reading this book, I thought "I can never live up to all this. If I only nurse for 6 months, I'll be a failure." That's not the kind of stress a new mom needs when she starts breastfeeding. There were even a couple of times I actually though "Oh God, I can never do this. Why bother?" He also says many times how natural nursing is-anyone who's had problems with latching on knows better. Thank goodness I took a nursing class with my child birth class-it was a calm, realistic reminder that, while women have been breastfeeding as long as they've been giving birth, that doesn't mean it's second nature to anyone. Also, I HATED his suggestion that the baby comfort suck. I don't know any woman who's been able to do this without having bleeding, chapped nipples.
I would suggest this book as a reference-especially the medical information. But I would not read it for comforting suggestions or motivation to breastfeed. ( )

The Breastfeeding Book is the newest addition to the Sears Parenting Library. The book is easy to read and thoroughly indexed. Dr. and Martha Sears cover everything from the basics of breastfeeding, such as how to get the baby to latch on properly, father's role, working and breastfeeding, toddler nursing, and weaning. The authors' logical step-by-step approach is honest and realistic, and makes this a very accessible reference.