|
|
|
Average Customer Review
Share your thoughts with other customers
|
|
|
The most helpful favourable review
The most helpful critical review
47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
Answers ALL of your questions
This is THE most useful book you can buy as a first time parent.
It's a kind of Baby-bible really and I would suggest you buy it BEFORE junior arrives as it has lots of useful advice about what you need and what you'll be doing in the first weeks. (And lets face it you won't have time to read books in those early days...)
It's written like a...
Published on 3 Nov 2006 by BB999
|
› See more 5 star, 4 star reviews |
 |
58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
sorry, I don't like this book
I bought this on the strength of the reviews on this site as I was looking for a book about child development. I do not find the format "useful" and "informative", as other people have said, but jumbled and lacking in any depth or order (the layout appears to promote browsing at random, rather than looking anything up). I find the question-and-answer format so...
Published on 20 Jan 2003 by Miss K M Johnson
|
› See more 3 star, 2 star, 1 star reviews |
|
|
47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
Answers ALL of your questions, 3 Nov 2006
This is THE most useful book you can buy as a first time parent.
It's a kind of Baby-bible really and I would suggest you buy it BEFORE junior arrives as it has lots of useful advice about what you need and what you'll be doing in the first weeks. (And lets face it you won't have time to read books in those early days...)
It's written like a list of FAQs for each month of baby's first year, but rather than presenting only one viewpoint or answer, it describes all current views on a subject, gives you the facts then lets you decide what's appropriate advice for YOU and YOUR baby.
Sometimes it's just enough to know that something you're experiencing is completely normal and has been experienced by other people. Sometimes you have questions that seem too trivial to bother the health visitor with so this book provides a useful back up.
It covers health topics, behaviour, and likely development stages for each month. A useful book for dads too - especially in the first few weeks when they can feel like they're reliant on the women-folk to know what's going on (don't know why - first time mums feel as clueless as everyone else at times!!).
The only down-side, and the reason I've only given the book 4 stars, is that it was obviously written for the American market but has been 'Anglified' and almost all of the examples have been re-written to cover English views/laws etc, however now and then you find a bit of the American lingo still hanging around. The examples are still useful though, but you just get a feel that they're not quite as relevant.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
Great book, shame about the index, 19 May 2004
This would be a great reference book were it not for the index, which consistently directs the reader to the wrong page. This is extremely frustrating at times. The content, however, is very informative and comprehensive. I bought this book on the back of owning "What to Expect When You're Expecting", which was my pregnancy bible. As a first-time mum, I've found the book equally as invaluable. As well as the twelve chapters on what to expect month by month, there are excellent sections on baby health, ailments, first aid, baby care, breastfeeding, diet (for baby and mum), and fatherhood.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
A helpful book with lots of useful information, without being biased, 16 Jan 2007
What I like about this book is that it gives you all the information without being biased one way or the other. For example, it gives the pros and cons of dummies, and isn't at all "preachy" about one view point being better than the other, unlike many other books which are pushing the author's own agenda and plan for sleeping/feeding/dummies etc.
The information is presented as questions, based on the age of your baby in months. Of all the books I have, this is the one I look at to get comprehensive information and the full picture on any subject or question, from when to use a highchair, through to what to do if I think my baby has a temperature. I've found it invaluable.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
sorry, I don't like this book, 20 Jan 2003
I bought this on the strength of the reviews on this site as I was looking for a book about child development. I do not find the format "useful" and "informative", as other people have said, but jumbled and lacking in any depth or order (the layout appears to promote browsing at random, rather than looking anything up). I find the question-and-answer format so irritating, you feel you are reading an agony-aunt column where you can guess the answer before you have read it (e.g. "My 3-week baby son has crooked legs. Is he malformed, or will he get better?" - you hardly need read on). I thought there would be new and interesting insights into development each month and suggestions as to how to help promote physical, emotional and intellectual development, but each month, there is a list of similar things: - "he should be able to: sit up" for example, and "he might be able to: say da-da". The following month, the "might be able to" will become "should be able to", etc. It's not really useful. It purports to be a very general book and I think this where its "strength" is, if you like. In other words, it is probably best if you have it on your shelf with your more comprehensive baby books and dip into it just for extra information you may or may not find. For instance, I found some interesting information about arguments for and against and how to introduce a beaker for my baby, but I don't tend to *use* the book to gauge his development or expect it to go into any depth about anything important...
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
If you buy just one baby book, buy this, 23 Oct 2006
This book is essential reading for any new parent. The sections are helpfully divided into each month of your baby's first year, with a format that is easy to understand. I found the 'what your baby should do this month' particularly useful to chart development, and the authors (rightfully so) clearly point out that these are only guidelines, so you don't get too paranoid about what your baby is and isn't doing. The authors present the facts in an unbiased way, and it is fully up to date with current research and parenting theories. This was given as a maternity gift to me by someone else who had read this book, and I likewise bought a copy for another friend, so pleased was I with this book. Useful sections also about first aid and looking after your diet in the postnatal period. Like the book itself says, it really is a parenting book that stands alone.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
This book saved my sanity, 16 Jul 2007
This book was bought as a present for me, after I'd shunned all literature on pregnancy/baby rearing following an initial foray proved confusing and provided conflicting advice. Initially sceptical, I found 'What to Expect...' well written and well thought out. Rather than scare me stupid, which is what other books did, this book reassured me and provided sound advice and tips, and calmed me down when I thought I was going mad with 'what if' worry. Even my mother ("I have four children and three grandchildren and don't need a book...") thought that this was a great reference manual.
In terms of how to read it: in the first few months I avidly read every word, up two months in advance of my little one's age. As both she and my confidence grew, I found I dipped in and out, rather than holding on to it as a lifeline. Do you have to read the months either side of your baby's age? The answer is the same to this question as it is to 'do baby's develop at differing rates?'. The book does not avoid this point, and emphasises it at the beginning of every chapter. The information on illnesses is good, and does not pretend to be a substitute for seeing a doctor. As an indicator of what to look out for and whether or not you should be concerned, it is great. For this reason, it does cover scary illnesses, but then being a new mum is pretty scary, and 'What to Expect...' tries to be measured and calm, whilst pressing that if you think your baby is ill, however trivial you may think it, then call a doctor. After all, you know your baby better than anyone else, and I haven't yet come across a doctor who didn't say they would rather be called for something that turned out to be nothing, than not called at all.
I'm so glad my friend bought this book for me - it's been a great support. Read it cover to cover, dip in and out, but most of all relax, and enjoy your first year with your baby - if I got through it then anyone can!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
Answers everything you wanted to know, 28 Nov 2001
By A Customer
as with the first book in this title, this book explains everything you need to know about your babies first year even those questions you felt silly asking your health visitor. This book is a must for first time parents. The sections are split up month by month and in these chapters are information on what your baby may be doing and not what she should be doing (there is no pressure to conform like other baby books and definetly no lecturing) it also covers every illness possible and how to treat them.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
A brilliant guide for the scary first, first year, 15 April 2005
Good, clear explanations of all the strange things that new babies do in the first year; their physical and emotional changes, what they should be doing at the nth month. It made my first, first year less scary, and thats got to be worth 5 stars.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
A great reference book for new Mums - so glad I got it, 3 May 2002
I have just had my first baby and found this book excellent. As a new Mum I found I was inundated with well meaning advice but found it extremely useful to have a book which discusses all the options and gives a very balanced view and what so far has been sound advice. I found myself reading and re-reading sections which you can't do with advice you get from your health visitor and you can't always remember all the detail first time round. It is laid out month by month suggesting progress your baby may be making at each stage, but I felt under no pressure whatsoever for my baby to be 'fitting in'. The question and answer structure is great and I found it easy to find the subjects I was interested in in the index at the back.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Still the best of the bunch, 13 Sep 2004
Agree with the review below; the index is useless. The other criticism is that the Best Odds Diet was less useful than for pregnancy - I didn't have a clue about how long to puree what etc, so to compensate I also referred to Annabel Karmel's cook book. However, 'What To Expect's diet gems were what to start with and what to avoid (esp. sugar!) and for how long.As for the index problem... Initially we would swear and rant at this book while trying to find information on the current 'emergency' of our wailing babe. Eventually, I cottoned on to browsing through the headings up to 3 months ahead every month, so I did get a good idea of 'what to expect'. I also used those tiny coloured post-it note stickers as I was reading so I could quickly check out current issues when needed (anal but so useful!!). I do recommend you swot up on those first three months while still pregnant, and check out the Part Two chapters... All the sleeping and communication tips were extremely effective, and their advice on building trust is invaluable. Babies are born absolutely innocent and any attempts at (what is perceived as) manipulation are merely testing our responses. Respond to the babe's every whim for the first three months (welcome it to this bizarre world), then start establishing compromises so that us parents can also get back a life - and sleep!! It's hard work, but if you put the graft in initially, it does pay off. As a parent you are also constantly learning, so don't forget to keep referring to this book AT LEAST every couple of months. All the issues my fellow mums stress about are covered here, and it's a bit exasperating hearing their complaints knowing they have 'What To Expect' but can't be bothered to refer back to it and instead rely on out-of-date opinions from some Grans. Ultimately, I found this book very reassuring: it backed up common sense with empathy and gave me a weighty slam-down to some of the crap/lazy advice that proliferates. And it's miles better than any of the other baby books I've come across... Top marks.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Amazon Home
