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This book is written for the young, intelligent mother, to help her both to regain her lost self-esteem and to ward off the intruders between her intuitive self and her infant. Dr. Winnicott recognizes the fact that advice, interpretation, and admonition may disturb the mother-infant equilibrium which consists of waves of subtle shades of feelings, empathy, and nonverbal understanding. He feels that 'ordinary devoted mothers', capable of uncomplicated 'know-how', will not read this book, will not want to 'know' on an intellectual level. There are passages in the book in which Dr. Winnicott encourages the mother to ward off a certain type of interference from professionals and friends. And there are a few passages in which he appeals to husbands to support their wives and to permit them the temporary withdrawal they need for the task of infant care. These are of great value for parents and specialists in this field alike. One can only hope that Dr. Winnicott will go on to expand the above points.
As a whole, the book comprises the author's views on infantile and maternal feelings. Though addressed to mothers, it has, except for such parts as mentioned above, more value for child specialists dealing with mothers than for the mothers themselves. It deserves a very special place of honor in 'well baby' clinics, pediatric offices, and schools of medicine, social work, and nursing. Dr. Winnicott's unique emotional approach to infants and their mothers has a dynamic and contagious effect upon the reader. The content varies from lucid chapters describing what is going on in the infants' bodies to a few ambiguous and at times obscure passages delving into the unexplored area of very early thought processes. One wonders whether some of the anthropomorphic presentations of what is going on in the infants' psyches may not have the unintended effect of confusing and frightening instead of reassuring. Most of the time, however, Dr. Winnicott offers wisdom, encouragemen