The Social Baby is the most important new baby book in decades. Babies are born with amazing abilities that have been studied and understood by professionals for years, but this is the first time the information has been demonstrated and presented in such a clear and simple way. Research has shown that, right from the start, babies have complex psychological lives. What might seem, on the surface, random and confused behaviour is, in fact, highly organised. Most dramatic among the baby's abilities, even in the first weeks of life, are their social responses. A central theme of this book is that carefully watching a baby and understanding the significance of the baby's behaviour enables parents to provide the sensitive care that babies need. Each baby is unique. Differences such as the baby being particularly sensitive to changes in her environment early on, or being able to sleep through a party going on in the same room - can have a profound impact on the people who are caring for her.

By watching the subtle, changing pattern of a baby's expressions and movements, and by appreciating the significance of these cues, parents can become aware of the richness of the baby's experience, and can be guided to give the care that is most appropriate. The book deals with sociability, crying and sleep, and is highly illustrated with over 700 video grabbed images of a number of babies from birth to three months. Once read, it will change forever the way the reader will look at new babies. The black and white 'lollipop' used in the pictures is included free, glued into the back of the book.

Click images above to enlarge

About the authors Lynne Murray is Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Reading, and Honorary Senior Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge. She is also co-director of the Winnicott Research Unit. She has been working as a researcher in the area of infant development since 1973. This has included the study of infant social development, individual infant differences, the impact of parenting practices on child development, and the development of NHS treatment programmes to support parents. She has three sons and a stepson. Liz Andrews is a Health Visitor and counsellor. She has worked in the NHS for more than 20 years, and since 1996 as a research Health Visitor in the Winnicott Research Unit in the University of Reading. She has a daughter and a son. Click here to read authors' preface and introduction Authors: Lynne Murray and Liz Andrews ISBN: 1 903275 01 6 tps: 246 x 189mm portrait extent: 176pp plus ends printing: full colour throughout paper: 140gsm matt art binding: cased and jacketed UK price: £14.99 Publ. Date: July 2000 Rights sold: UK, Aus/NZ, Greece © 2000 The Childrens Project.