Have you noticed there are a lot of books about babies and how to care for them? Not many of them are less than 500 pages and some are quite a bit larger. With only 117 pages, 25 Things Every Mother Should Know is one of the slimmer volumes available to new or expectant parents. It is co-written in a loving tone by Martha Sears, herself the mother of eight children, as well as a registered nurse and La Leche League leader, and her husband, William Sears, world-renowned pediatrician and author of The Pregnancy Book, The Birth Book and The Baby Book.

This warm book is not meant to be a definitive how-to of infant care. Each brief chapter offers parenting insight from a mother (and father) who have lived through infancy eight times and learned from each experience. Each page reinforces the notion that absolutely no one knows your baby better than you, your baby's mother.

The Sears' make it clear that there is no right or wrong way to parent; heeding baby's cues are paramount, in whatever way they are best met. They advocate breastfeeding, co-sleeping and babywearing as effective methods for facilitating the maternal-infant bond, which in turn eases any concern a mother may have about how well she is meeting her baby's needs. Throughout the book they impart wisdom and practical advice for achieving and maintaining this special connection.

Ultimately, this book is a reassuring and readable guide for parents, especially mothers. It is such a confidence-builder, no new mother should be without it!

About the Author of this review: Betsy Gartrell-Judd is a freelance web designer, writer and mother of two in Ohio.