Leach P. Your Baby and Child: From Birth to Age Five. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf; 1978; list price $24.45 (#4 on the 1988 bestseller list of books on child care of the Ingram Book Co, distributors of trade books).
Addressing the effects of nature and nurture on development, Leach covers prenatal development through preschool with particular attention to infancy. Parents' roles, identical for mothers and fathers, are diverse and include controller of environments, model of ideal behavior, nurturer, and instructor. Management methods involve positive reinforcement, ignoring, and active listening; designed to be preventive, corrective, and instructive. Detailed information is given about specific practices including nutrition, stimulatory activities, illness, and education. There is some consideration of environmental forces, parenting difficulties, and the needs of exceptional children. While an intact family is not presumed, material resources are, and presence of a homemaker is advised until children reach three years of age. The text is moderately difficult to read, lacks organization and cross-referencing in the indices. However, the book is supported by numerous photographs and illustrations. The medical content was rated as fair but parents are prompted to seek medical attention appropriately.
