When it comes to early parenting, scientific evidence points time and again to the bond between parent and child as a critical factor in a baby's health and wellbeing. Backed by more than 1,200 trusted sources, this breakthrough guide reveals the many little-known advantages that only a responsive, nurturing parenting style can provide: surprising evidence on the benefits of breastfeeding; how attentiveness and touch impacts permanent brain development in infants; under-reported facts about how to reduce colic, food allergies, and illness; why sharing sleep is both safe and natural; and how to reduce future teen-year stress by bonding with your young child early. Why Attachment Parenting? Cultures around the world that practice more natural forms of parenting have healthier infants who cry much less, toddlers who do not exhibit 'terrible twos,' generally respectful teenagers, and independent adults who participate in family matters.