The First Six Months

by Penelope Leach

Describes the adjustments new parents face, argues that babies can't be spoiled and looks at how children's personalities develop

Genres: Parenting

131 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Dr. Penelope J. Leach (born Penelope Jane Balchin) is a British psychologist who writes extensively on parenting issues from a child development perspective.

Reviews

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost passed this one by because my baby is already 4 months old and the book is a bit old. I'm so glad I did not miss this delightful book. It is a fast, heartwarming, and affirming read that does not show its age nearly as much as I expected. I'm thinking differently about my interactions with my little babe.

[Shoshanah · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I went through my old children's books sorting the ones I wanted to keep, we also found my mom's old parenting books. Without my mom here, I thought that reading some of the books she must have read when raising me could a way of getting parenting advice from her. Although technically this book was published after I was born, but just before my brother's, so I'm guessing he was the reason she read this one. This is the first of her books I've read, although technically she also had a copy of Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way, which I had already purchased and read on my own.

Except I didn't quite connect with this one. I think I went into it looking for more practical advice, and instead it was more of an emotional read. Even so there were a few helpful tips I picked up. I also really enjoyed the overall sentiment of the book, mainly that you can receive advice and hear what the experts have to say, but you are the only one who is actually an expert on your own unique, individual baby. It's definitely a confidence builder.

I also really loved the format of the book. Every other page or so there are these full size black and photo photos of babies. And actually those photos were probably my favorite part of reading it.

I was a little disappointed that I did quite feel for this book. My mom does have another Penelope Leach book, her more known Your Baby and Child, which I'd still like to read. Funny enough, I hadn't heard of Penelope Leach before I saw my mom's books, but as I've started to read other baby-rearing books I've noticed her mentioned several times. Hopefully the next book of her I read I'll appreciate her the way others seem to.

3.5/5

[Marzia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Il bambino dalla nascita ai 6 anni. La guida essenziale per ogni genitore e per tutti gli educatori" P. Leach: 10
Dovete avere a che fare con un bambino e non sapete da che parte iniziare perché è uscito senza il libretto di istruzioni?
Questo è il libro che fa per voi!
In poco più di 500 pagine riesce a darvi un'idea completa di cosa aspettarsi da quei piccoli esseri che sembrano comportarsi un modo random. Ricco di spiegazioni e consigli utili, è un valido aiuto per riuscire a comprendere le necessità di un bimbo e soddisfarle nel miglior modo possibile per entrambi.
È diviso in cinque macro capitoli in base all'età del bimbo e, in ogni capitolo, tocca tutti i temi principali delle varie fasi ed esigenze del periodo descritto, per poter interagire al meglio e contribuire allo sviluppo di un essere umano sereno e indipendente.
È una lettura che consiglierei vivamente a qualunque persona voglia interagire con i bimbetti o che ne fabbrichi di propri.

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is like being in an empathetic dialog with a wise friend. It doesn’t teach you the day to day tactics of feeding or diaper changing, it instead challenges you to reflect on your role as a parent and slows you down to appreciate the fleeting moment of your child’s first six months.

[Lolakay · Rating 5 out of 5]

an amazing book. i happened to read it the week before i delivered, and it was like a long encouraging talk from a warm friend. i re-read it again the first week after the birth. so affirming. it made my sister (mother of 4) cry.

not all writers of parenting books get it. Penelope Leach definitely does.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very encouraging and informative for new mothers. Fast reading, and well worth it.