What's new?

By viewing your colicky baby as "hurting" instead of "crying," you’re more likely to show empathy instead of regarding crying as an annoying tool babies use to manipulate their parents into holding them a lot. Learn to tell colic facts from myths in Dr. Bill and Martha's latest column, Helping Your Colicky Baby.

Have you read all of Dr. Bill and Martha's answers? Check out their newest answers to questions about extended nursing, the relationship between dental problems and night nursing,bonding with a 5-year old, vaccinations and the difference between a vaporizer and humidifier.

Columns

Your 2-week-old baby stiffens his limbs, arches his back, clenches his fists, draws up his flailing limbs against a bloated, tense abdomen and lets out ear-piercing shrieks. If he could speak, he would yell, "I hurt and I’m mad." As the intensity of Baby’s cries mount, your frustration escalates, and you feel helpless in determining the cause of his distress and alleviating your baby’s pain. He’s inconsolable, and you’re both in tears. You hurt together... Then, as mysteriously as the fight began, around 3 to 4 months of age, it stops, and life goes on. Your baby seems none the worse for wear, and you close one of the most difficult chapters in life with your new baby. That’s colic. Read about how you get through colic in Dr. Bill and Martha's Helping Your Colicky Baby.

Book excerpts

Martha Sears is not only a registered nurse and certified lactation consultant, she's also a mother of eight children. Her book, 25 Things Every New Mother Should Know, is straight talk about what you need to know as a new mom. Read an excerpt from the book -- co-authored by Dr. Bill -- here.

Q & A

New this week: Dr. Bill and Martha have answered these new questions:

See the latest questions Dr. Bill and Martha have answered:

How can I get my family to support my decision to nurse past one year?

My breastfed baby needs major dental work. Do I have to night wean her?

I recently quit my job to stay at home with my 5-year-old. Is it too late to connect and bond with my child?

What is the difference between a vaporizer and a humidifier when it comes to relieving my baby's stuffy nose?

What vaccinations do you recommend for a baby? Do we have to get them all?

Have a question for Dr. Bill or Martha? Ask it here!

Community Discussion

"I wondered if anyone knew of any good books to read on AP. I LOVE AP and I don't care that people are critical and not supportive of our parenting, DHs family especially hates the fact I still breastfeed and that he co-sleeps and that he is constantly with us, that we have never left him with a babysitter, etc. but I know that this works for us."
From the Attachment Parenting message board.

For more interaction, check out our, family bed board, breastfeeding board, and our breastfeeding e-mail list!

Want to discuss issues raised by Dr. Bill and Martha? Head to the Sears Feedback Forum!