Heh. Cindy, I never had the slightest hesitation about calling a doctor when Jo was a kid. She looked or felt sick, boom, I was on the phone. If they thought I was neurotic, tough shit. This was my kid.

And yep, I agree with Amy, too. But I still am curious about how she came across Penelope Leach, in the welter of seven million books on attachment parenting and Breasts Rool and the rest of it: accident, or rec?

X-Post with Bureau:

Do we have any suggestions for a name for the new Great Write Way? "Volume II" or "Second chapter" are the obvious.

"Chapter Two: Twice upon a time..."

I don't know. I used Spock, because my own mother did, and she didn't kill me (and because she gave me the book at my baby shower). Lots of times, the pedi gives recommendations for sensible books.

where, after all, did you find out about Penelope Leach?

Hmmm. You've got a point there. And now I don't remember. Could be someone recommended her, or I seem to remember maybe seeing her on TV or something? But I've had her book since Jake was a baby -- 13 years now. She is that perfect balance of laid back and wise -- a lot of "not to worry, baby's supposed to do that" is in there.

And you're right about recs, too -- although there are friends I'll take them from, and some I won't, based, of course, on what I know about their parenting (or whatever the subject is).

although there are friends I'll take them from, and some I won't, based, of course, on what I know about their parenting (or whatever the subject is).

But that's my whole point! Observation, real life looking, can tell us the "what NOT to do" as well as the "what to do", and they're equally necessary, surely?

I used Spock, because my own mother did, and she didn't kill me (and because she gave me the book at my baby shower). Lots of times, the pedi gives recommendations for sensible books.

And, there you go: recs by people you know and trust on the subject of your kids.

The real problem is when people are not equipped to or are not comfortable enough to decide what is good advice/recommendation and what isn't.

Serial: can we finish this thread off soon, please, auteurs? Becaue I'm at Kinko's and I want to be here for the new thread and this is costing me a quarter a minute...

Observation, real life looking, can tell us the "what NOT to do" as well as the "what to do", and they're equally necessary, surely?

Yes, yes, that's it. I'm not being clear because a tiny person keeps opening the fridge and taking out the chocolate syrup. Grrr.