This work investigates how parental expectations and unconscious behaviors shape the early development and identity of an infant. Bertrand G. Cramer, a noted child psychiatrist, utilizes clinical observations and developmental psychology to argue that parents inadvertently transmit their own histories and desires to their children through subtle non-verbal cues. The book provides a framework for parents to identify these projections, encouraging them to foster a more authentic connection with their child's unique personality.

Experts in the field of child psychiatry frequently cite this text as a foundational resource for understanding the subtle dynamics of early parent-child relationships. Readers often note the clinical clarity of the prose, which makes complex psychological concepts accessible to both professionals and parents.