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mbrandmaier's review against another edition
2.0
Had started reading this before my child was born almost a year ago and then a couple days ago picked it up off the shelf to read the final couple chapters so I can say I finished it and turn it back into the library.
This book contains advice I’d already seen many times before (such as sleep when the baby sleeps) but some of his advice comes across as tone deaf. Take a year off when the baby is born because they need their mama sooo badly? Yeah, someone help me emigrate to a country that cares about working mothers or pay my bills for me and I’ll get right on that. And thanks for reminding me that I didn’t get that privilege. More young people need to have children because the economy? Yeah, because stagnant wages, obscenely expensive childcare, the awful housing market, lack of affordable healthcare, etc. are not any kind of deterrents for people.
This book contains advice I’d already seen many times before (such as sleep when the baby sleeps) but some of his advice comes across as tone deaf. Take a year off when the baby is born because they need their mama sooo badly? Yeah, someone help me emigrate to a country that cares about working mothers or pay my bills for me and I’ll get right on that. And thanks for reminding me that I didn’t get that privilege. More young people need to have children because the economy? Yeah, because stagnant wages, obscenely expensive childcare, the awful housing market, lack of affordable healthcare, etc. are not any kind of deterrents for people.
mmparker's review against another edition
3.0
Good but standard advice wrapped up in a real joy in parenting (which I appreciated) and the gentlest Christian patriarchy (which I did not). You can get all the useful stuff from any decent book - but if you're becoming a parent in southern California in 1980, this is the one for you!
cshcolson's review against another edition
3.0
This book has a very go-with-the-flow attitude which I appreciated. It wasn’t just an overwhelming and impossible list of things you should do for your newborn. There were some things I didn’t love: it is VERY heteronormative and had some religious aspects. There were some suggestions that just seem insane in the current world we live in, like taking your baby on business travel with you, taking a whole year off from work, or moving back to your hometown so parents can help you with childcare. But I’m happy to ignore these suggestions and just pick and choose what I advice makes sense for me and my family. Overall I found it a comforting read going into a scary and unknown situation.
elysecdx's review
2.0
I normally don't write reviews, but I feel like it's important to share some of my reflections on this book because there weren't any "red flags" when I decided to buy it.
I'll just get right to the point-- this book has the same basic information that any other parenting book out there contains, but it also makes a lot of very strong presumptions that you are straight, cisgender, financially comfortable, are in a healthy relationship, have a healthy relationship with your own family, and have a job with parental leave.
Hamilton makes frequent cases for:
1) Why everyone should have a baby even if they don't want one
2) "Why babies need a mom and a dad" (there's an entire chapter devoted to this; nowhere is it ever qualified that "mom and dad" could be substituted with other roles or acknowledged that single motherhood could be a preferable option or even the only option)
3) Mothers should try to take "at least" 6 months of maternity leave
More minor issues: the book also quotes Jordan Peterson (twice) and frequently explains reproductive biology by saying "God designed it this way." (I personally don't have a problem with anyone's voicing of benign religious beliefs, but I do find it jarring to go from a discussion of hormone signaling pathways to "because God said so" within the space of a few paragraphs.)
To Hamilton's credit, I think he makes a relatable and non-threatening case for vaccinating your children that doesn't veer into the "if you don't understand science you're stupid" argument that, to me, just feels alienating and mean.
If nothing I wrote above bothers you, my review is not for you. Go ahead and read this book-- it's fine. My review is for fellow parents-to-be who are uncomfortable taking advice from someone who clearly believes that a family with a mom and a dad who have middle class jobs is the only family worth discussing.
I'll just get right to the point-- this book has the same basic information that any other parenting book out there contains, but it also makes a lot of very strong presumptions that you are straight, cisgender, financially comfortable, are in a healthy relationship, have a healthy relationship with your own family, and have a job with parental leave.
Hamilton makes frequent cases for:
1) Why everyone should have a baby even if they don't want one
2) "Why babies need a mom and a dad" (there's an entire chapter devoted to this; nowhere is it ever qualified that "mom and dad" could be substituted with other roles or acknowledged that single motherhood could be a preferable option or even the only option)
3) Mothers should try to take "at least" 6 months of maternity leave
More minor issues: the book also quotes Jordan Peterson (twice) and frequently explains reproductive biology by saying "God designed it this way." (I personally don't have a problem with anyone's voicing of benign religious beliefs, but I do find it jarring to go from a discussion of hormone signaling pathways to "because God said so" within the space of a few paragraphs.)
To Hamilton's credit, I think he makes a relatable and non-threatening case for vaccinating your children that doesn't veer into the "if you don't understand science you're stupid" argument that, to me, just feels alienating and mean.
If nothing I wrote above bothers you, my review is not for you. Go ahead and read this book-- it's fine. My review is for fellow parents-to-be who are uncomfortable taking advice from someone who clearly believes that a family with a mom and a dad who have middle class jobs is the only family worth discussing.
thisgrrlreads's review
2.0
This was recommended on a podcast and there are some gems, although nothing completely revelatory. There is also some outdated stuff in here, which the podcast host acknowledged—definitely ignore the part about what to do in the hospital and what your partner should do during birth. There’s also just a little bit of old school gender roles in here, not in the early days but in the later assumption of care. And also in women’s ability to just negotiate for more leave. The nearly religious bits also got me, but if those kings don’t turn you off, Dr Hamilton recommends some good ways to soother you’re newborn and to relax and love your newborn without making yourself crazy in the early days.
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