Noting that during the first 2 years of life, children form attachments with caregivers that profoundly affect their emotional lives, this book presents a relationship-based reflective approach to help professionals who work with families of young children to nurture those crucial bonds, giving parents the support and guidance they need. The book provides an in-depth look at emotional development from birth to 24 months, examines challenges to effective parenting, and presents vignettes that demonstrate appropriate interventions. The chapters are: (1) "It's All about Relationships: Principles for Guiding Parents"; (2) "Laying a Strong Foundation: The Building Blocks of Emotional Development"; (3) "Heart to Heart: Strategies for Guiding and Supporting Parents"; (4) "Getting To Know You: The First 3 Months"; (5) "Let the Games Begin: 3 to 7 Months"; (6) "Expanding Horizons: 7 to 12 Months"; (7) "Venturing Forth: 12 to 18 Months"; (8) "Me, Myself, and I: 18 to 24 Months"; (9) "Parents Are Babies Grown Up: How Parents' Early Emotional Experiences Influence Caregiving"; (10) "What Parents Bring: How Parent Characteristics Influence Caregiving"; (11) "Families Matter: How Family Circumstances Influence Caregiving"; and (12) "Weaving a Safety Net: How Communities Support Caregiving." Appended are descriptions of attachment disorders in early childhood. (Contains 377 references.) (KB)