Maternal care is now thought to be impractical and a luxury for those who can afford it. Thus, many women need to defend their right and responsibility to care for even the youngest of babies.

Dr. Kawasaki, a pediatrician and stay-at-home mother of two, asserts in Mothering with Breastfeeding and Maternal Care that current attitudes toward mothering have not evolved naturally. Over the course of a century, child-rearing experts, sociologists, and feminists have made systematic efforts to undermine the importance of a woman's role in the home.

Dr. Kawasaki offers compelling reasons for parents to think seriously about the unique role women play in their children's lives, particularly in early childhood. She argues that the priceless benefits of breastfeeding and hands-on maternal care help to ensure the optimal growth and development of young babies and children.