The child rearing book that influenced me the most...

... was "The Continuum Concept"

Based on the findings of an American anthropologist
 working with a Native tribe, in South America.

What she discovered was how important

 continual physical touch between mother and child

 were for the baby in the first six months 

This results in a far calmer child

More comfortable in itself

And self-assured

For the remainder of its childhood

And probably life.

than one who is treated in the typical western way

and physically disconnected from the mother

 for most of the day

at this young age.