WHAT TO EXPECT THE 1st YEAR is a comprehensive and practical month-by-month guide that clearly explains everything parents need to know - or might be worrying about - in the first year with a new baby. Featuring dozens of Q&A sections, as well as a first aid guide and charts on monthly growth and development, feeding and sleeping habits, this is the only book on infant care to address both the physical and the emotional needs of the whole family. Covering the most up-to-date knowledge, both medical and developmental, WHAT TO EXPECT THE 1st YEAR is, above all, down-to-earth and reassuring - and an invaluable aid for all parents of new babies.
Is our baby eating enough? Is this much crying normal? How do I know when she is really sick? This hefty, 671-page guide to your baby's first year is brought to you by the creators of the bestselling What to Expect When You're Expecting. The three authors, all mothers themselves, are calm, clear, and encouraging as they tackle the first year of child-rearing, month by month. The easy-to-absorb, chronological format includes sections such as "What Your Baby May Be Doing," "What You Can Expect at This Month's Checkups," "Feeding Your Baby This Month," "What You May Be Concerned About," and "What It's Important to Know."
Part Two addresses special concerns such as illness, first aid do's and don'ts, the low-birthweight baby, the adopted baby, becoming a father, and sibling relationships. You'll also find discussions of breastfeeding and bottlefeeding, selecting a physician for the baby, diapers and clothing, safety, and many ways of stimulating the baby's development. The recipes for babies and toddlers in Part Three are useful, as are the recommended home remedies; charts on common childhood illnesses; height and weight; and the thorough index. (A particular strength of the book is the authors' careful attention to diet and nutrition for both mother and baby, incorporating the American Academy of Pediatrics' latest recommendations on infant nutrition.) While some of the authors' perspectives are controversial (such as whether to let your baby "cry it out" or not), this book remains one of the most comprehensive resources for new parents as they toddle through their baby's first year.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Not my cup of tea:
I dislike this whole series of books. The author spends too much time making her beliefs sound like facts in some areas (like against co-sleeping and for "crying it out") and then pandering to both sides (like bottle feeders and breastfeeders) in other areas in an obvious attempt to sacrifice the best baby advice for coddling to readers who may not have gone the path that's best for baby and don't want to feel bad about it. The advice is more along the lines of my mother's generation than the current... more info
A great resource!:
This book was essential to helping me get through the first year. It has so many tips and supports available. I had it at my fingertips many days!
Great Baby Shower Gift:
I have given this book as a baby shower present a number of times, and it always appears to be greatly appreciated. You can only use so many onesies, and this is a gift that will keep giving and giving. It is in encyclopedia format, thus it serves as a good quickie guide. Most new mothers won't have the time to read a book page by page, and with this layout they will not need to. This is a very practical, outside-the-box gift. Highly recommended.
A little too much:
I expected to find everything in here, How much milk I should pump to feed my baby, how many times does a 3-months-old has to eat, for how long?? But I couldn't find those answers... I don't know if the book is too big to read and when you have a baby you have too little time... or the writes expect you to read it while you are pregnant.
Although it has some useful information, not sure if I will recommended to a friend.. I think all the information you want to know is in the Internet.
