Often referred to as "America's Pediatrician," William Sears, M.D., called "Dr. Bill" by his little patients, is the author or co-author of more than 30 parenting books including "The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two" and a leading proponent of "attachment parenting."

Dr. William Sears was born in Alton, Illinois in 1940. After his father deserted the family, Dr. Sears found a father figure in his grandfather.

After completing medical school, Dr. Sears received his pediatric training at Children's Hospital Boston, the primary pediatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and later at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada's most research-focused children's hospital. Dr. Sears is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a fellow of the Royal College of Pediatricians.

Dr. Sears is married to Martha, a registered nurse, with whom he has eight children. Four of his children have also gone on and become doctors, including pediatricians Jim, Bob and Pete. His son Matt studied medicine at the University of California, Irvine, when Dr. Sears was an associate clinical professor of pediatrics there.One of his children has Down syndrome.

A frequent guest on television programs including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America and CNN, Dr. Sears serves as a medical and parenting consultant for "Parenting" and "Babytalk" magazines.

Dr. Sears, his wife Martha and his eldest son Jim also provide health information for parents and children at their web site, AskDrSears.com.

In addition to his television appearances and contributions to parenting forums, Dr. Sears also endorses a line of "Dr. Sears Family Approved" foods and vitamins.

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