Customer Reviews
Great gift! 
2008-06-02
Gottman is a genius when it comes to male/female relationships. I purchased this books as a gift for my friend when she found out she was expecting. Unfortunately, we didn't learn of Gottman's writing until after our children were born and we were in marital counseling. I'm hoping this book will help her be better prepared for the permanent changes that happen when adding a baby into a marriage. Maybe they can save the money on counseling :-)
Add it to the baby books! 2007-12-10
We are reading this book together at night, and it's very informative and well written. I like the research aspect, which lends the book credibility. We haven't finished it yet, but the title seems a bit off - it's not as much about intimacy and romance as it is communicating through this new life transition. So far, it's really helpful.
Best gift to our children 2007-11-11
As a therapist and a grandmother, I believe that the best gift we can ever give our children is a good, healthy marriage in which the primary relationship is between the parents. I gave the book to each of my children who just became parents. Gottman is right on target.
Marge Coffey, LCSW
Not for Healthy Relationships 
2007-10-06
I bought this book because I thought it would have tips on how to keep a marriage fun and exciting after a baby and maybe some tips on how to stay sane. But really this book just teaches you how to argue better. It had nothing to do with adjusting after such a big change. Well, there was maybe one chapter toward the end. The rest of it dealt with working through issues couples had regardless of their parental status.
worth reading & good tools for prevention 2007-07-10
I am a fan of John Gottman's work and know that it is respected and backed up with research. This book was definitely worth the read. I chose it to help prevent problems since we don't have any children yet. I haven't found anything else out there like it and would recommend it to friends. It's nice to know there are some guidelines out there for something as specific as spousal relationships after bringing home a baby.
They share some interesting cases and give specific examples that I found comforting and useful. For example, using humor when asking your husband to help with the dishes is much nicer than the sarcasm I would normally use.
Also, I was pleased to see that they inform their readers of the importance of their marital relationship before and after birth on a child's emotional & social development. Very compelling!
My only somewhat negative observation is about the exercises at the end of the chapters. They are a great idea, but I don't know if I could get my husband to participate. I'm just grateful to have their suggestions as I enter this stage of life and will introduce the info to my husband if the opportunity presents itself.
This will SAVE your marriage! A Must READ!!!! 2007-05-25
Congratulations! You have a new baby.
Don’t forget you also have a marriage.
Having a baby is a joyous experience, but even the best relationships are strained during the transition from duo to trio. In
And Baby Makes Three, Love Lab™ experts John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman teach couples the skills needed to maintain healthy marriages, so partners can avoid the pitfalls of parenthood by:
• Focusing on intimacy and romance
• Replacing an atmosphere of criticism and irritability with one of appreciation
• Preventing postpartum depression
• Creating a home environment that nurtures physical, emotional, and mental health, as well as cognitive and behavioral development for your baby
Complete with exercises that separate the “master” from the “disaster” couples,
And Baby Makes Three helps new parents positively manage the strain that comes along with their bundle of joy.
Great book for Parents to Be 2007-03-16
I'm 7m pregnant and my husband and I are extremely excited about our first baby, we are always looking for ways to keep our marriage on track. We are not experiencing any problems, We approach things in more preventative measures, it never hurts to keep educating ourselves. We have been reading this book and doing the excersises so when the baby does arrive and we run into issues we know how to tackle them. I recommend this book to anyone expecting. It serves as a great tool in relationships.
Straightforward, realistic, and useful advice - a good read! 2007-03-08
This book will definitely help couples keep their marriages on track post-baby if both spouses read it, and I'd recommend reading it BEFORE baby arrives and talking about it together. That way, when you're sleep deprived and your life is upside down due to having a new baby in your life and family, you might remember some of the good advice about how to communicate with each other and take care of each other. I really liked the many examples from couples studied, and the research-based nature of the recommendations. You probably won't be surprised at the "no-duh" nature of much of this book, since caring for your spouse and marriage really boils down to communicating well with each other, thinking about the other person, and treating them with respect and love. Kindness begets kindness! Nonetheless, it's helpful to read the data supporting the recommendations and to have these messages reinforced for you and your spouse. Good luck!
