Wonderful book and gentle alternative to some of the incredibly harsh parenting books out there! - Rated 
I wish I'd had this book in my baby's first two months, which I spent wondering "why won't he let me put him down?" (didn't know about slings) and "why won't he sleep in his cot?" (didn't know about co-sleeping). What I particularly love about this book is that the style - it is like a handy reference guide - is so *mainstream* and yet the ideas it puts forward are still - in Western society - so "out there".
I wanted to answer some of the concerns from other reviewers too. Carrying your baby in a sling much of the time (although only until baby can crawl, which comes so, so, so quickly - too quickly!) does not cause a bad back if you have an ergonomically designed sling. For this though I do not like the Sears' suggested sling (a one shouldered ring sling - doesn't give you a bad back, but can cause a sore shoulder if you forget to swap sides!) and would recommend considering something like a mei tai, that goes over both shoulders.
You'll be breastfeeding your baby until they're school age? Well, did you know the World Health Organisation recommends you breastfeed for a *minimum* of two years and continue after that as long as mutually beneficial? This suggestion really isn't *that* out there you know! However the book does also include a chapter on bottle feeding with love.
The only thing I wasn't convinced on was the weaning information. I think it needs to take into account the recent work done by Gillian Rapley on Baby Led Weaning.
Otherwise - excellent - and I loan my copy to all pregnant friends.
Its worked great for us - Rated 
My daughter is almost 1 now, and we've followed the basic principles of this book. It's not a set of rules or allocation of time in 10 min slots like some baby books, but gives you the confidence to listen to what your baby tells you he/she needs, and explains how to tell. The section on breast feeding is very informative, but easy to read when you don't get a lot of sleep in the early weeks, but its not preachy and there is a section on bottle feeding if that's what you decide.
My daughter is now nearly one, I still breast feed and she sleeps next to me, (from 7 till 6 when the alarm goes off, so I get a full nights sleep). She's a very happy toddler and not at all clingy.
This is a great book, all the information you need, in easy to understand language, and really comes across as common sense. The authors are parents to 8 children so they really have been there themselves, unlike the baby trainers who get paid to look after other peoples babies for a month at a time, but don't have the experience of loving and bonding with children for life.
Definitely worth reading even if you don't want to follow all the suggestions.
A refreshing change from the usual baby books - Rated
I bought this book about 2 weeks before my, now 3 month old, daughter was born. I didn't get round to reading it before she was born and didn't have much time to read after she was born so I wish I'b bought it sooner.
It covers everything you need to know for the first 2 years of your child's life in an easy to use quick reference style. Also there is some information on preparation for birth, details of attachment parenting (which is the style of parenting introduced by the Sears), and lots of detail about breastfeeding which I've found very useful.
It is very biased towards attachment parenting but they make it clear that this approach can be flexible. For example, whilst co-sleeping is recommended by attachment parenting they clearly state that this doesn't suit everyone (in fact I wanted to co-sleep with my daughter but found that neither of us slept very well so I've opted for a bedside cot as they suggest and this works very well).
The Sears have a wealth of experience in childcare and it is clear in this book that they are caring sentitive people who believe mothers should follow their instincts and 'listen' to their babies.
What I think I like best about this book is that it makes me feel confident that what I am doing naturally isn't wrong. For example, I love holding my baby while she is asleep which seems to be forbidden by many experts. I doubt I'll look back and think 'I wish I'd held her less'. I also love breastfeeding her to sleep, rocking her to sleep and reading this book made me realise that nightime parenting can be a joy rather than a chore (I have certainly had many lovely moments holding my daughter in the middle of the night while the house and neighbourhood was still and dark). I don't feel I have to apologise for having my daughter in bed with us (as so many mums I've met do).
The book has a useful breakdown of you child's development from birth to 2 with details of games etc. to enhance development. There is also a chapter on weaning and details of problems you may encounter in toddlers.
Another book which I've found useful which provides a slightly more balanced and objective approach is 'what to expect in the first year' but this book is definitely one that I will keep coming back to.
Not impressed - Rated 
Having all ready brought up two children (now 20 and 17) I am about to become a Foster carer, and thought I should get some up to date information ........... I read all the reviews before I bought this book, on this and many others and was convinced it would be a good buy. How wrong can one be? Maybe it's my age (just 46), but who wants to carry a baby around all day in a sling? (back ache), Have it sleep in your bed (crush it), and "keep your nightie on for 2 weeks"!! - Yeah, right, so who will do the school run?? !! I am going to save it for my 20 year old daughter, who has just left home - it is probably the "new way forward"!! or some thing...............
Focusing on the Child - Rated
The battle of the parenting bible is fierce and the territory becomes more heated as new "gurus" enter the fray (witness the Martin's maternity consultant and her new / old 'let them cry' approach). What is so refreshing about the Sears Baby Book is that, for the most part, they allow that you may not want to follow all their advice all of the time - you don't HAVE to have the baby in bed, they simply offer a number of reasons why it might be a good idea. A previous reviewer has suggested that the book is no help for parents who don't have all the time in the world to parent their children; it seems to me that the Sears are under no illusions that most parents have to work to survive and I found that their child-focused approach REDUCED the amount of colicky crying we had to endure, reduced the number of night wakings and has generally helped to make our child the happy and loving person she is today. The Baby Book also provides a series of excellent activities to encourage your child's physical and mental development as well as practical advice on all the ills and ailments the parents of a young child might expect. Invaluable.
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