What to Expect the First Year, Second Ed

this book is great, however I am having a hard time deciding which month my child is in and what chapter I am supposed to be reading. when my child is 3months old (12 weeks) I am unsure whether I am supposed to be reading the "in the 3rd month" chapter or the "in the 4th month" chapter, it is kind of confusing, it would be better if the chapters where labeled with the corresponding weeks old, instead of months. Otherwise this book has a lot of great information.

I have, in the months prior to my daughter's birth and since her arrival four months ago, gone through dozens of baby books, in that desperate attempt many new mothers make to find all the answers and do it all right the first time. This is the book I came up with...of course, I am learning daily that there is no such thing as 'all the answers' and it is impossible to get everything right the first time,epecially considering that there has never been another baby exactly like yours on the earth before. But, despite this discovery, as wonderfully frightening and freeing as it is, I find this book to be a jewel, a comfort, and a real help when I really need some kind of reassurence and guidence. No, it's not perfect, and, of course, it doesn't cover absolutely every question you will ever have about your baby...but it comes pretty close. It's unbias, clear, imformative, engagingly written, and guiltfree. It doesn't condone or condem either breastfeeding or bottlefeeding, it gives the newest information we have on various health issues, including whether it's safe to give a baby younger then 6 months water, and whether the experts think it's healthy to try the 'cry it out' system on a young baby (they don't). All in all, I think this is a great book. I am an attachment parent, so I don't really know what the reviewers who said this wasn't for attachment parenting were talking about...unless they meant an older edition then this one. Anyway, I really reccomend it!

Disclaimer: I can't spell, and I know it...but please realize that I don't have time as a mother of a young baby to go through and worry about that at this time

This book is for the type of mom who doesn't really trust herself, and who wants validations for every little detail that she needs to know about for babies. Not all of the advice is bad, but do you really need it? Why not trust yourself and do what feels appropriate?

Dietary advice, as is typical with pregnancy and child raising books, is terrible. Suggesting for example, to start your baby on a low fat diet early. It suggests avoiding butter. :(

Butter is a sacred food for babies, for example, ghee, clarified butter, is known all over India as a special food to feed infants.
Alot of the advice just isn't right in this book.

Review is by Ramiel Nagel author of Healing Our Children: Because Your New Baby Matters! Sacred Wisdom for Preconception, Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting (ages 0-6) & Cure Tooth Decay: Heal and Prevent Cavities with Nutrition (First Edition)

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 practices and research that is so much more baby-friendly. I like Dr. Sears' "The Baby Book" much better.

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!