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This book is a great information guide for any first time parent. It is easy to read and touches on almost every topic. Some topics go in great detail.
I doubt, however, that a book as useful as this that doesn't have those shortcomings exists. The more single subject focused chapters following the month-by-month guide were also useful, but more often in the sense of knowing when to look for further help - that is to say, these chapters were perhaps less comprehensive than needed to cover issues like illness and feeding.
Coming into parenthood with very little knowledge of infants, What to Expect. let me know when to expect certain milestones, how to cope with certain common problems and how to encourage, however slightly, the little one's development.
For me, this was an essential guidebook. For me, though, the book allowed me to follow along, without getting overwhelmed by too much information too early.
This book may be a little haphazardly organized for some. The book provides separate chapters for each month of the child's life covering the normal development of the child and adding several short essays regarding topics that might be of interest around that time period.
My biggest complaints are that the book clearly makes certain assumptions about what constitutes good parenting - essentially living a typical modern suburban American lifestyle - and engages too often in the relentless scare mongering of new parents that is ubiquitous in American childcare literature. Generally good information, usefully presented - worth at least your consideration.
I found everything I needed in this book., in an easy language and practical explications.
Others made my head swim and added to general feelings of overwhelm. Can't say how many times we reached for this one in the first year. A gotta have for the new parents. I didn't want expert advice (until baby arrived and I needed it for specific somethings - in which case what to expect a fantastic resource). Better by far than google for the what the heck do I do when my baby does X, Y, or Z.Getting ready to be a dad, this an other baby books piling up in my house were pretty overwhelming. Only thing that really helped me get ready were collections of stories - Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year the only one I actually made it through. This new one from Moneyball guy Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood seems a good contender from the dad's point of view - recent memory reflections on the experience of becoming a dad, instead of expert advice. For a raw, funny, hopeful as it happens view from a dad, try The Faith of a Child
My 6 month old started sitting up on his own at 4 months, crawling at 5 months, and is now standing.and yes, I wear him like they do in "primitive societies" (rolling my eyes) He is sooo happy and smiling. It is one sided, it is horrible. It is so outdated. DON"T BUY THIS HORRIBLE BOOK. My now 3 year old is an amazing, confident, independent, secure kid. He cries when he needs me, and it is my responsibility as a parent to meet his needs.
It talks about "spoiling" and how the baby manipulates at 6 and 7 months old. It goes against all motherly instinct. Babies do not manipulate. Babies cry because they have a NEED. I cannot even believe how bad the advice is in this book. I cannot stress this enough.Babies become independent when we meet their needs.If we ignore their needs, sure they will self soothe, but they will also lose trust, a very basic sense of trust that they are just learning to develop. I wear my babies everywhere, everyday.
He slept through the night when HE was ready. I never forced these milestones on him. If you let them "cry it out" as this book recommends, they become clingy, insecure and more dependent. I feel bad that this is available to new mothers. He babbles up a storm.
If you meet their needs, they become secure and confident and independent. This book talks about primitive societies and how they carry their babies everywhere, and then states how our society is different and we need to push independence. He does not manipulate me. I wish they would take it off the market.
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