What Baby Needs (Sears Children
Library) by Christie Watts Kelly
Best Book For Preparing Your Child For A New Baby
The picture-book branch of the acclaimed Sears Parenting Library makes
its debut with these two informative and helpful books for young siblings-
to-be. Baby on the Way speaks to every child expecting a new brother or
sister, guiding him or her through the waiting process. What Baby Needs
tells soon-to-be older siblings about a new babys needs and demands and
suggests ways that they can participate in the new babys care. With
concise, simple, and reassuring text and warm and lively illustrations,
these two books by the foremost authorities on attachment parenting are
must-haves for every child ready to welcome a new baby sibling.
Personal Review: What Baby Needs (Sears Children Library) by
Christie Watts Kelly
Searching for the perfect book for a young child about to become an older
sibling can be a challenge. Some seem to focus on the negatives of the
upcoming changes, others seem to only show babies in a crib or drinking a
bottle. This one provides a warm, honest picture of life after a new baby

and emphasizes that the way the family cares for their new member is the
way the older sibling was cared for as well.
It's wonderful to see natural depictions of a mother breastfeeding her child,
and the simple explanation of how babies need frequent feedings of the
milk in Mommy's breasts is loving and age-appropriate. A calm
explanation of why babies cry (that they're communicating their needs,
from hunger to loneliness) is reassuring to the older child who may be
perplexed by this. I especially appreciated the explanation of co-sleeping--
for those families who choose that option--by discussing how the baby has
been near Mommy's heartbeat for so long and is lonely to be too far away.
Once again, the text comes around to the "just as you did when you were a
little baby" connection.
Possible negative scenarios are averted matter-of-factly by pointing out
ways the older child is welcomed and needed with the new baby, by
celebrating the things he or she can do as the "big kid", and assuring the
child that Baby won't ALWAYS be with Mommy and there will still be some
special alone times with her.
One of my favorite aspects of the book, though, is the involved father. So
many books depict only Mommy caring for the baby and Daddy is in the
background, if present at all. Here we see Dad changing diapers, wearing
baby in a sling, and fully involved with baby care and family life. Hear,
hear!
Dr. and Mrs. Sears also include some helpful information at both ends of
the book on attachment parenting philosophy (though you do NOT need to
be an AP family to find great value in this book) as well as some tips to
help the older child adjust to the family changes.
Incidentally, this is the one book that my 3-year-old daughter requests
repeatedly throughout the day, which also provides opportunities for
discussions about what to expect. If I had one book to share with her
about her coming baby sister, this would be the one.
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