Jane Nelsen

Some excellent advice, but at times it is just all a bit too lovey dovey. By this edition, there is basically no discipline involved at all, and even logical consequences are out the window. The best info here IMO is the insistence that the parents must in all cases keep control of their emotions and not escalate conflicts. Once this happens, all bets are off and the child is in control.

From the Prologue, I knew this book was going to be memorable. I remember how I felt when I was expecting my first baby. I felt excited, happy, apprehensive and impatient for the arrival of my baby. I like the section about Setting The Stage For Baby, it asks you to think back to when you saw your newborn's face for the first time and how you felt. My first time seeing my baby's face for the first time was one of amazement that a 6 pound 9 1/2 pound little person had come out of my body. show more Next came the examination to make sure he was OK, 10 fingers, 10 toes etc. It asks How Will I Know What To? Just about half the parents have asked that question. Here are more questions we as parents have asked ourselves, Do I spank my child or not, How to communicate with an infant who doesn't understand words and How to handle a defiant toddler? This book would have been so helpful to me back in 1964. The section on Nursing brought back fond memories of bonding with my baby girl that still exist to this day. She's grown and have children of her own but she's still my "baby girl." There are questions at the end of each chapter to help you along. Every new parent should have a copy of this book, it is just full of information that a new parent and a great grandma like me can use with my great grandchildren. Parents, this is a book that will show you that you are not alone and other parents are going through the same thing you are. Thanks to Jane Nelson, Cheryl Erwin and Roslyn Ann Duffy for this book, it will help many young mothers.

I received a complimentary copy from Blogging For Books for this review. show less

As far as child development/parenting books that give advice go, I strongly prefer the Positive Discipline series. I probably feel that way because I already think most of what they say. I think in general, that's a good way to judge a parenting book. Once I know that the book is already "on my side" of various issues, I can trust it a bit to offer new ideas. Positive Discipline is my favorite for that.

These are great books. Though I don't agree with absolutely everything that the authors recommend and some of the language is very warm and fuzzy, it is a great book to read. The book talks about important child psychology information that many parents may not know about child's temperment and is always a good reminder that children should be treated with respect and kindness and that discipline is meant to teach the child not to punish. I checked out all the different versions of the book show more and quickly found that there is not much point to reading all versions since there is quite a bit of overlap. show less