Ask Dr. Sears

There's nothing like becoming a parent to make you realize how much you don't know.  It's no wonder that the old cliche about how kids should come with a manual is appreciated by so many new and seasoned moms and dads.  Just when you think you're starting to figure things out, something new comes along and you're left with a feeling that can only be expressed adequately by a WTF!!!

That is where the Sears come in.  Pediatrician William Sears and his wife Martha, an RN, have raised 8 children together and co-authored more than 25 books on just about every topic related to parenting.  The Baby Book, one of their most popular, is a comprehensive guide to just about everything new parents might need to know. 

Other popular books include The Birth Book, The Breastfeeding Book, The Family Nutrition Book, The Fussy Baby Book, and The Attachment Parenting Book, as well as several others. 

Two of the Sears' sons are pediatricians as well; you may recognize Dr. Jim Sears from the hit show The Doctors, and his brother Robert Sears is the author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (Sears Parenting Library),which was released in 2007.

Helping families seems to be the family business.

So the Sears clearly have some credentials.  And that's one of the reasons why I love their website http://www.askdrsears.com/.  I'm also a fan because of their attachment parenting values and the fact that they value practices like babywearing, co-sleeping, and extended breastfeeding as a normal part of parenting babies and toddlers.  Sadly, some pediatricians aren't supportive of these practices, so it's always nice to find one who is.

Yes, even if my relationship with him only exists in cyberspace.  

But even if you're more mainstream and these things aren't for you, you'll still find lots of good information on this site.  You can look in Dr. Sears Medicine Cabinet for information about a variety of over-the-counter medications, and what they might be used for and what the proper dosage for your child would be.  Look in the Childhood Illnesses section when your little one is acting sick and you want to find out what his symptoms mean, or if a phone call to your own doctor is really needed.  Or use the Family Nutrition section when you're looking for answers about how to improve your child's diet.  The website also includes information about sleep, fussy babies, breastfeeding, bottlefeeding, vaccines, and much, much more 

So go explore the website. 

Bookmark it. 

When you face your next parenting crisis, it's a resource you'll be glad to have around.