The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I heard about this book from someone I follow online and was immediately intrigued.
"Bringing Up Bebe" is a nonfiction book that follows one American journalist as she raises her children in France. Pamela's husband is Parisian, and the pair moved to France to begin their lives. After having her daughter, Pamela learned quickly that the French approach to parenting is entirely different compared to Americans. Motherhood itself is treated entirely differently as well. This book presents some of the highlights Pamela learned during her first few years of motherhood.
One of the topics that interested me the most in this book was the discussions on food. Children are not fed a different "kid friendly" diet, they are presented the same food their parents are eating, in the same way the adults are eating. If the child does not want to eat that item, they do not have to, but they will not be given a different food. I love this idea that there is one meal, and the family ALL eat together. I think this gives children the opportunity to explore better foods earlier on, and they develop into "better" eaters overall.
Another notable topic was the discussion surrounding sleep. French babies tend to sleep through the night by a few months old because their parents know how to read their cues. I am sure for a new parent it is hard at first to discern between different baby cries, but the French have mastered the art of knowing when a baby needs soothed back to sleep and when baby just woke up for a moment between sleep cycles.
One section that had me screaming "yes" was when the author was comparing French children specifically to New York City parenting in regard to tutors and after school activities. One French mother the author talked to pulled her child out of activities because it did not fit into her schedule, which is not uncommon. Something that has become very common in America is this idea of competitive parenting and constantly having your child tutored in obscure topics. A child only gets to be a child for a very short time, so shouldn't they just get to enjoy it?
I do not think there is one right way to parent, but I really resonated with this book and the ideals that French parenting presents.
"Bringing Up Bebe" is a nonfiction book that follows one American journalist as she raises her children in France. Pamela's husband is Parisian, and the pair moved to France to begin their lives. After having her daughter, Pamela learned quickly that the French approach to parenting is entirely different compared to Americans. Motherhood itself is treated entirely differently as well. This book presents some of the highlights Pamela learned during her first few years of motherhood.
One of the topics that interested me the most in this book was the discussions on food. Children are not fed a different "kid friendly" diet, they are presented the same food their parents are eating, in the same way the adults are eating. If the child does not want to eat that item, they do not have to, but they will not be given a different food. I love this idea that there is one meal, and the family ALL eat together. I think this gives children the opportunity to explore better foods earlier on, and they develop into "better" eaters overall.
Another notable topic was the discussion surrounding sleep. French babies tend to sleep through the night by a few months old because their parents know how to read their cues. I am sure for a new parent it is hard at first to discern between different baby cries, but the French have mastered the art of knowing when a baby needs soothed back to sleep and when baby just woke up for a moment between sleep cycles.
One section that had me screaming "yes" was when the author was comparing French children specifically to New York City parenting in regard to tutors and after school activities. One French mother the author talked to pulled her child out of activities because it did not fit into her schedule, which is not uncommon. Something that has become very common in America is this idea of competitive parenting and constantly having your child tutored in obscure topics. A child only gets to be a child for a very short time, so shouldn't they just get to enjoy it?
I do not think there is one right way to parent, but I really resonated with this book and the ideals that French parenting presents.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Minor: Toxic friendship and Classism
andyreadsfantasy's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook, which I thought was pretty good. I enjoyed Druckerman’s observations. I wish she would have talked more about the child psychology instead of just talking about what was observed. Yes, she tried to understand the “French” reasoning - but usually there is a psychological explanation for what she was talking about.
I thought this book gave some good practical observations, especially about sleep and food. Probably not best to blindly do everything exactly as she says, but Druckerman definitely gives some good food for thought. If you are a new parent, I would recommend this book.
I thought this book gave some good practical observations, especially about sleep and food. Probably not best to blindly do everything exactly as she says, but Druckerman definitely gives some good food for thought. If you are a new parent, I would recommend this book.
shawna_jo's review against another edition
4.0
I can see why this book would rub some people the wrong way, but I enjoyed it. I am under no impression that the US is the best no matter what and in every category, so I enjoyed learning from another culture. Do the French have it 100% figured out? Probably not, but there were lots of little nuggets of wisdom I will be taking with me as I begin my parenting journey. My main takeaway? "Chill out," as the Americans would say. In an age of helicopter parents, overscheduling kids, and being terrified of doing the wrong thing, this book gives you permission to chill. Take a pause before you rush to your crying baby. Are they just between sleep cycles, or is there really something wrong? Let your kids make mistakes, fall down, etc and let them learn from that situation instead of rushing in to prevent any negative emotion from ever happening. Let your kids be kids. Do they really need a scheduled activity every evening or would they learn just as much from playing or reading on their own? While I am talking the big talk now, I am sure I will still have some of those gut instincts to jump in immediately as has been engrained into US parenting culture but hopefully, I can remember to just "chill" when baby gets here.
slolee's review against another edition
4.0
This was a well-written book from an interesting perspective. A memoir of sorts of an American woman, married to a Brit and all of her children are born in Paris. When the Parisians start asking if her baby is "doing her nights", she quickly learns it is not an insult but a genuine question, as most French babies sleep through the night by 6 months AT THE LATEST.
The author had plenty of people and material in her life to be able to contrast French families, blended families and all out American families with children. While she succumbs to some of the French parenting ways, she neither admits that they're 100% perfect (or foolproof) and also easier to do when in France, or Paris. Convincing your child that they don't need a snack is easier if the other children aren't having snacks either.
The French parenting she covers is philosophical and practical: she talks about how the French view their children differently and how that affects how they raise them, she researches the "cadre" or framework they set up and what is their view of "strict". On the practical side, she discovers how they get babies to sleep their nights so earlier, to be able to identify Camembert cheese from Brie at an early age (and it's not because they're snobs), to be respectful and not through food.
The UK title of this book is "French Children Don't Throw Food". I found it almost as interesting that the Brits have more in common with Americans when it comes to parenting ways than with the French.
The author had plenty of people and material in her life to be able to contrast French families, blended families and all out American families with children. While she succumbs to some of the French parenting ways, she neither admits that they're 100% perfect (or foolproof) and also easier to do when in France, or Paris. Convincing your child that they don't need a snack is easier if the other children aren't having snacks either.
The French parenting she covers is philosophical and practical: she talks about how the French view their children differently and how that affects how they raise them, she researches the "cadre" or framework they set up and what is their view of "strict". On the practical side, she discovers how they get babies to sleep their nights so earlier, to be able to identify Camembert cheese from Brie at an early age (and it's not because they're snobs), to be respectful and not through food.
The UK title of this book is "French Children Don't Throw Food". I found it almost as interesting that the Brits have more in common with Americans when it comes to parenting ways than with the French.
notesonbookmarks's review against another edition
4.0
I actually rather liked this look into French parenting and the reminder that our kids are capable of much more than we currently give them credit for. even since starting this book a week ago, I've made some "french" changes to my parenting (fewer snacks, firmer limits and more freedom within those limits, asking both boys to "wait" and encourage patience in them both). of course, what I really want is to move overseas, but having a deeper glimpse into some of these strict but also free range parenting tricks will suffice for now!
luisvilla's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of good ideas in here, but also lots of personal anecdote. Given that time is precious, probably best off reading the "100 ideas" at the end, which are great, than the actual book.
librarianinacardigan's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.0
The author feels like someone I would never want to interact with in real life. While the book was interesting at times, the author herself is just an insufferable person who doesn't seem to understand what the "middle-class" in America actually is now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism