Pinter & Martin Why It Matters

Research shows that "normal" infant sleep is not what most experts claim it is. In fact, many of today's sleep "problems" with young babies and children predominantly occur in the developed world. In Why Your Baby's Sleep Matters, renowned gentle parenting expert Sarah Ockwell-Smith demonstrates how nurturing babies at night helps their brain development, and covers the topics every parent of a new baby will need to know about, including naps, SIDS, night weaning, and coping with your own exhaustion - and even dealing with advice and criticism from others.

Many women know, and research confirms, that having an experienced female birth companion who is neither a health professional nor a part of their social circle can have a tangible positive effect on their experience of childbirth. Why Doulas Matter is a comprehensive discussion of how a doula can offer expectant and new parents information and practical and emotional support to improve their experience with birth and early parenting.

Evidence continues to increase on the practical and emotional benefits of babywearing, both to parents and their children. Among many other benefits, babywearing can help parents bond with a new baby and facilitate both breastfeeding and the care of the baby's older siblings. Babywearing also has benefits for society at large. Children are more securely emotionally attached, and there is evidence of a link between the reduced incidence of postnatal depression and babywearing.

Pinter and Martin's Why it Matters series offer succinct, balanced and evidence-based introductions to the topics that affect family life in the 21st century. The Politics of Breastfeeding, first published in 1988, described how big business and vested interests influence the intimate relationship between mothers and their babies to the detriment of all, rich or poor, in the West or in the developing world. In Why the Politics of Breastfeeding Matter, the central ideas of the politics of breastfeeding are distilled into a concise form, making it the perfect introduction to understanding the complex forces that govern what many think of as a simple choice to breastfeed or not.

How and when babies eat their first solid foods can be an exciting stage for new parents, but it can also bring confusion and anxiety due to conflicting advice and opinions. When should babies have their first sold foods? What should it be? How much? Is milk still important? Does any of this really matter? Why Starting Solids Matters aims to help listeners find answers to these questions by exploring the science behind the headlines. It provides a gentle introduction to the importance of the first year and beyond for the development of long term healthy eating habits and weight.

In the 21st century, women are supposed to have a choice about where they give birth. But when that choice is home, women often encounter obstacles, despite robust evidence that birth at home is safe, beneficial, and should be available for women who want it. Why Home Birth Matters is a clear discussion of the reality of modern home birth which aims to show how the home environment supports and powers the birth process, while encouraging parents to consider how it might work for them. 

In the 21st century, it can seem that mothers are blamed and blame themselves for everything, as they struggle to manage their multiple identities as mothers, lovers, sisters, and daughters. Why Mothering Matters is a nuanced and revealing discussion of how it can feel to become a mother in modern society. It calls for better recognition of the work of motherhood and better support for women and families as they learn what parenting looks like for them.

In modern maternity systems, one in four women have their labor induced. Why Induction Matters provides a comprehensive, evidence-based guide to this common intervention. The induction process is explained in detail, and reasons for offering induction are discussed. Options related to inducing labor or choosing to wait are explored, and women's experiences are included throughout. The book aims to help parents make their own informed decisions about induction of labor.

A startlingly large number of women who want to breastfeed have to stop before they are ready, leaving them feeling a range of negative emotions, including grief, anger, guilt, shame, and frustration. They often blame themselves. But in a society that places little value on breastfeeding and mothers' feelings, their painful stories are often swept under the carpet to the detriment of women's mental health and experience of new motherhood.