The Crying Baby

by Sheila Kitzinger

Helps parents interpret a baby's cries and find ways to meet the child's needs, while also dealing with their own guilt, frustration, anger, and exhaustion

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Sheila Kitzinger M.B.E, M.Litt is a social anthropologist of birth and author of 24 books published internationally, most on the emotional journey through this major life experience. At Oxford in the 50s she discovered that the social anthropology of that time was almost entirely about men. She decided she would do research to discover what was important in women's lives, and focused on pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.
Her five children were all born at home. She lectures widely in different countries and has learned from mothers and midwives in the USA and Canada, the Caribbean, Eastern and Western Europe, Israel, Australia and New Zealand, Latin America, South Africa and Japan, and from women in prison and those who have had a traumatic birth experience.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided it was time for a mini-season of Sheila Kitzinger to celebrate her life. I liked The Crying Baby very much. It is illustrated by the brilliant Heather Spears, who conveys so much with a few lines and smudges. Compassionate drawings to accompany Kitzinger's compassionate writing. So many books about babies and motherhood are just games of 'Ain't It Awful' or bustle in and take over in more or less well meaning ways. Kitzinger's book is a cup of tea and a hug and a clean white hankie... and an understanding that what happens next might be different, opposite even, for different mothers and different babies.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it before you give birth; you’re too exhausted afterwards.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book saved my sanity. My first child cried . all . the . time.

As a first time mother, I blamed myself. Why couldn't I understand what she needed? Why couldn't I soothe her? This book helped me understand that sometimes, babies just cry. It helped me gain back my confidence in order to deal with my crying baby and those "helpful" people in my life. Eleven years later, she is a beautiful, brilliant child.

If you have a crying baby, have faith, take heart, and read this book!