From the founding editor-in-chief of Babble.com, a complete and completely reassuring guide that will show parents how to abandon their insecurities, trust their instincts, and enjoy raising a happy, considerate child.What's the right way to parent? Venture into any playground or online message board and you'll find as many opinions as there are adults present. Every subject -- from sleep training to time-outs to pacifiers -- has its supporters and detractors, and every viewpoint can be backed up by a truckload of research and statistics.
It's enough to reduce a new parent to tears, if the 3 a.m. feedings and endless recitations of Goodnight Moon aren't doing that already. Yet there is a way to end the madness, to calm your fears, and to make those precious early years a source of joy for both of you. Ada Calhoun, a young mother herself, infuses Instinctive Parenting with the smart and candid approach that earned Babble an ASME nomination for General Excellence Online and close to two million readers. Her simple yet profound advice: Find what works for you and your family and ditch the anxiety and judgment.
Everyone wants to do what's best for his or her child, yet the fact is there is no universal "best." Whether you start solids at four months or eight, whether you co-sleep or Ferberize, whether Junior's mac'n'cheese is dayglo orange or 100 percent organic matters a lot less than other parenting books -- and other parents -- might have you believe. What does matter is providing the few absolute essentials (love, food, shelter) while teaching your little one how to be a kind, responsible human being. With its compelling mix of entertaining, hilarious fi rsthand accounts and refreshing common sense, Instinctive Parenting will show you how to do that -- and even show you how to retain your sanity, your friends, your sense of humor, and your personal life in the process.
Industry Reviews
"From the delivery room to the playground and beyond, Ada Calhoun bravely defies the cult of perfection today's new parents must endure. No bossy, patronizing advice given here, "Instinctive Parenting" simply encourages parents to rely on their own good judgment and trust themselves (and each other) to raise their children -- not perfectly -- but perfectly well." -- Kathryn J. Alexander, coauthor of "Easy Labor: Every Woman's Guide to Choosing Less Pain" and "More Joy During Childbirth"
"I love this book. It's smart, funny, and easy to read. More importantly, it's an advice book that 1) won't stress you out, and 2) is worth its weight in gold." -- Kathleen Hanna
"Thank you, Ada Calhoun! "Instinctive Parenting" injects sensitivity, smarts, and a welcome dose of sanity into the often-overwrought process of raising kids. Prospective parents: Never mind What to Expect -- this is What You Need." -- Pamela Paul, author of "Parenting, Inc."
"The book I've been desperate for has arrived -- a common sense and compassionate approach to helping parents navigate the task of raising a child. Most importantly, it reminds us we are not alone and that we can trust ourselves." -- Lili Taylor
"This book is light and funny and also very wise and wonderful." -- Tara McKelvey, author of "Monstering"
"Why did I ever worry about motherhood? I read this book and was instantly cured!" -- Lisa Crystal Carver, author of "Dancing Queen"
"With "Instinctive Parenting", Ada Calhoun has captured the zeitgeist of the postmodern American family in the uniquely compelling voice that has made her the brightest star in the new generation of parenting writers. I loved this book and can't wait to hand it out to all of my pregnant friends." -- Katie Allison Granju, author of "Attachment Parenting"
