Martha Sears, Pioneering Advocate of Attachment Parenting, Dies at 83
Martha Vivian Sears (McMenamy)
January 24, 1945 – June 28, 2025
Martha Sears, RN, a compassionate and tireless advocate for nurturing family bonds and co-founder of the Attachment Parenting movement, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 28, 2025, at the age of 83.
A registered nurse, author, mother of eight, and maternal health advocate, Martha Sears reshaped modern parenting alongside her husband, pediatrician Dr. William Sears. Together, they became internationally recognized as the face of Attachment Parenting—a philosophy rooted in empathy, responsiveness, and deep attunement to a child’s emotional and physical needs.
Born in St. Charles, Missouri on January 24, 1945, Martha Sears trained as a registered nurse and later became a lactation consultant, childbirth educator, and La Leche League leader. Her professional training was deeply enriched by her personal experience of raising a large, loving family. Her warmth, practicality, and deep insight into the lived experience of mothers helped millions of parents navigate early childhood with confidence, trust, and compassion.
Martha co-authored more than 25 parenting books with her husband, including The Baby Book, The Attachment Parenting Book, and The Breastfeeding Book. While Dr. Sears often served as the public spokesperson, Martha’s influence was foundational and enduring. She championed gentle discipline, breastfeeding, babywearing, co-sleeping, and staying emotionally connected to children as essential practices for secure attachment and lifelong wellness.
Martha’s work came at a time when many parents—especially mothers—felt torn between medical advice, societal expectations, and their own instincts. She was a trusted voice who validated the intuitive, nurturing wisdom of caregivers and insisted that love, not control, should be the guiding force of parenting.
Martha’s legacy lives on in the Attachment Parenting International organization, founded in 1994 by parents inspired by the Sears’ work, and in the millions of families worldwide who continue to practice the principles she helped define.
She is survived by her husband of over 60 years, Dr. William Sears; her children Jim, Bob, Peter, Matthew, Stephen, and three others; many grandchildren; and generations of parents whose lives were transformed by her wisdom, compassion, and unwavering belief in the power of love.
In honoring Martha’s life, her family invites donations to be made in her memory to organizations that support maternal health, early childhood development, or Attachment Parenting International.
Her gentle strength, fierce devotion, and loving presence will be deeply missed—and forever felt in the arms of the families she helped guide.
RESOURCES
Visit Attachment Parenting International, a nonprofit partner of Kindred World
Read posts, interviews, and listen to podcasts on Attachment Parenting on Kindred