Our Babies, Ourselves
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Product Description
Review
"So packed with compelling information about parenting practices around the globe that the reader may have trouble putting it down."
--"Salon"
"Nothing less than a liberation. For too long parents have agonized...that there is one 'right' way to raise an infant. With engaging wit and profound scholarship...Small opens our eyes to the variety of child-care practices in other cultures."
--James Shreeve, author of The Neanderthal Enigma
"Wise, humane and packed with information."
--Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, professor of anthropology, University of California, Davis.
"In elegant, engaging prose, Meredith Small shows the mother-child relation to be a microcosm of society."
--Frans B. M. de Waal, Ph.D.
--"Salon"
"Nothing less than a liberation. For too long parents have agonized...that there is one 'right' way to raise an infant. With engaging wit and profound scholarship...Small opens our eyes to the variety of child-care practices in other cultures."
--James Shreeve, author of The Neanderthal Enigma
"Wise, humane and packed with information."
--Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, professor of anthropology, University of California, Davis.
"In elegant, engaging prose, Meredith Small shows the mother-child relation to be a microcosm of society."
--Frans B. M. de Waal, Ph.D.
Product Description
Small's thought-provoking combination of practical parenting information and scientific analysis explores why children are raised the way they are and suggests that traditional views on parenting be reconsidered. 16 photos.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Several years ago, The American Museum of Natural History in New York City sponsored a special exhibit of human ancestors. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Several years ago, The American Museum of Natural History in New York City sponsored a special exhibit of human ancestors. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book looks at baby care from the perspective of evolution. It argues that modern life as we know it is a mere blip, a nano-second in the time-scale of human evolution. The perils of living in a culture which has 'progressed' so rapidly in relation to evolution are examined. It is explained how babies born today have the same needs as those born back through the ages to hunter/gatherers, cave dwellers and nomads. The parenting goals for these life-styles emphasise strong attachments, good family ties and a sense of community. Children are seen as an asset, and are constantly protected from dangers. Thus babies' innate needs are for close-contact and continual comfort. Modern Western societies are often at odds with these. They are more geared up to independence and self-reliance, and children are seen as a burden and a tie. With this mis-match it is put to us that parenting can only be as good as a series of 'trade-offs' between parents needs and babies' needs. Real problems occur where it becomes counter-productive for the baby to communicate its needs: where incessant crying can trigger an abusive reaction, because the adult need for space is so out of sync with the infant's evolved needs.
The ideas are very convincing, and very reasurring to parents of babies with healthy expressions of evolved needs. The global perspective is emphasised, and western baby care advice is put firmly in its cultural context. There is no subjective opinion or emotive discourse, but plenty of solid research from which the reader can draw her own conclusions. A particularly fine book to quote at dinner parties I think, especially when the baby won't settle.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What a wonderful book! This is an excellent piece of work covering the new field, ethnopediatrics, which is something that it's about time Western culture had its eyes opened up to. I've always known something was wrong with many of our child care issues, and now I know that I'm right. Please, do our society a favor and read this book, buy it for expecting parents, and tell everyone you know about it. There are things in this book concerning our babies' health that need to be told.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I highly recommend "Our Babies, Ourselves" to any parent interested in an anthropologically and biologically-oriented approach to parenthood, especially motherhood. It provides numerous data on how biology affects the parent-baby relationship as well as the baby's behavior and objectively presents how various cultures (including the United States') worldwide accommodate and/or neglect these biological factors and the impact that accommodation or neglect has on the parent/baby relationship.
I got this book when my baby was 3 months old and for me it confirmed every instinct I had as a first-time mother who knew nothing of raising a child prior to having one. I carry my baby in a pouch any time I can; I breastfeed; I'd let the baby sleep in my bed if I could (my husband and I have a waterbed and it's not safe for babies), etc. All of these behaviors are highly, highly beneficial to babies for specific biological reasons.
This is not a "how to" book, nor does it promote any particular approach to child rearing. It is objective and actually rather academic in nature, yet intriguing and easy-to-understand.
Read the book! It's worth it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A must read book! for all parents
You can agree or disagree with this book but it certainly puts things into perspective. Although it may read as a touch too sociological, it is a simple and easy read that gives to... Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2007 by Anna Triandafyllidou
the best baby book I have read
As the other reviews say, this book give an evolutionary perspective on child care and babies' needs. Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2006 by Sophie K. Scott
Very interesting read
I have had this book a couple of years and have just re-read it. It is very interesting and really makes you think about how parenting has evolved in our, and other, cultures. Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2005 by Exhausted
Read this before any other parenting book!
I agree this is one of the best gifts to a first time mom. I wish I would have read this book before my first child was born. I just wish there was a second volume for toddlers!
Published on 26 Aug 1999
an excellent and thought provoking book
As a first time parent I was unsure about how to handle all the millions of decisions regarding care of my baby and was confused and frustrated by conflicting advice and opinions. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 1999
excellent overview of the influences of culture in parenting
This is an easily read and fascinating book. It points out the influence of American values to raise independent and self reliant children. Read more
Published on 13 Mar 1999
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