THE EARLIEST RELATIONSHIP: Parents, Infants and the Drama of Early Attachment

by ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 1990

An important child-rearing book by the Dr. Spock of the 80's and 90's--Brazelton (Families: Crisis and Caring, 1989, etc.)--and his colleague, Bertrand Creamier, a Swiss psychoanalyst and specialist in child psychiatry. Child-development experts have long emphasized the importance of the early years in setting a child up for adulthood. Here is a book that dramatizes the development of the relationships between infant and parents from the time the child is in the womb, describing how mother (and father) and infant work at attuning themselves to each other. The mother is bereft at losing the child from her womb? The newborn, now outside the body, flails anxiously, then relaxes as the mother swaddles and holds him securely. The mother is rewarded. The mother looks for a smile, responds with a bigger one, the baby coos. Thus they lead each other into a deep and intense relationship, all in 10- to 30-second bites of time. Discussing the development of attachment and a few months later of autonomy, the authors also explore the expectations and deep-seated preconceptions--some good, some painful--mother and father bring to their baby and the task of parenting The writing is jargon-free, warm and personal in tone. The vivid descriptions of the process by which mother and child come to know each other is as engrossing as a love story. It is a love story.

Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1990

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Addison-Wesley

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1990

Categories: NONFICTION