inthecommonhours's review
4.0
I regret having given my copy away; I find myself wishing for it at 4 am when you want to ask your doctor if (fill in the blank) is normal. It's embarrassing with the third child to have already forgotten so much of what to expect that first year (when do we need to be watching for that first roll?)...
aovenus's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of good resources and information. If you only have time to read one book in baby's first year, this is a good one.
bamahnken's review against another edition
4.0
I read all of the beginning and ending chapters, plus “The First Month” chapter in What to Expect the First Year. This book really does give you a lot of information, and I can’t imagine the authors left anything out. I didn’t really like WTE When You’re Expecting because it felt preachy, this one feels more matter of fact to me (aside from breastfeeding, which they try to stay neutral on but it’s very clear they are pushing you to do it).
I plan to breast feed so those chapters were definitely necessary for me. What I didn’t like was after I got through the very intense breastfeeding chapter and finally onto “The First Month” I was then taken through breastfeeding basics and Info once again. I just wish it was all in one place, especially since some of it became unnecessarily repetitive.
I do love that there is a chapter for each month. A friend of mine used this book and read about each month right before going through that month with her baby, and I think that’s the best way to tackle it so that the most appropriate information is what is fresh on your mind as you go through it.
I don’t know if you’re ever truly “ready” to have your first child, but after reading most of this book and planning to read it throughout my baby’s first year I at least feel more confident and know a little more of “what to expect”. 4/5
I plan to breast feed so those chapters were definitely necessary for me. What I didn’t like was after I got through the very intense breastfeeding chapter and finally onto “The First Month” I was then taken through breastfeeding basics and Info once again. I just wish it was all in one place, especially since some of it became unnecessarily repetitive.
I do love that there is a chapter for each month. A friend of mine used this book and read about each month right before going through that month with her baby, and I think that’s the best way to tackle it so that the most appropriate information is what is fresh on your mind as you go through it.
I don’t know if you’re ever truly “ready” to have your first child, but after reading most of this book and planning to read it throughout my baby’s first year I at least feel more confident and know a little more of “what to expect”. 4/5
katepiccolo's review
2.0
I need a research based infant development book that cites studies. I don't believe anything. Sigh
bravelass85's review
4.0
This book was helpful for the first few months and then we knew our own child and didn't feel the need to consult it much more after that. It's a very general walk-through and is best used on a monthly basis to read ahead to the next month and get a sense of what you are in for. I found the book to be very objective and practical.
steph_84's review
3.0
Mostly fine but unnecessarily gendered, some bits seem old-fashioned and other bits seem a bit American. For Australian families I prefer Baby Love by Robin Barker, but have used What to Expect as a reference book rather than reading cover-to-cover.
erikars's review
2.0
Stylistically, I would have given this book 1 star, but I did learn some useful information, so that ups it to two.
I had two problems with this book. The smaller is that this book is well organized but badly structured. Everything is clearly labeled. Sections are concise. But the overall structure of the book is kind of random. Each monthly chapter has some special topics that it goes in depth on, but those topics could have really gone anywhere in a 4 month time period. Thus, their actual placement in the book becomes rather arbitrary.
The larger thing I dislike is that the book really focuses on risks and avoiding them. The advice is fairly sound, but if you took it all to heart, you would be constantly obsessing about how the world is going to hurt your child. As parents, it's important for us to understand what risks are worth protecting against actively, which are worth more passive protection, and which are not worth worrying about.
Overall, I do not quite regret reading this book, but I'm glad that I skimmed much of it.
I had two problems with this book. The smaller is that this book is well organized but badly structured. Everything is clearly labeled. Sections are concise. But the overall structure of the book is kind of random. Each monthly chapter has some special topics that it goes in depth on, but those topics could have really gone anywhere in a 4 month time period. Thus, their actual placement in the book becomes rather arbitrary.
The larger thing I dislike is that the book really focuses on risks and avoiding them. The advice is fairly sound, but if you took it all to heart, you would be constantly obsessing about how the world is going to hurt your child. As parents, it's important for us to understand what risks are worth protecting against actively, which are worth more passive protection, and which are not worth worrying about.
Overall, I do not quite regret reading this book, but I'm glad that I skimmed much of it.
alosaurus's review
4.0
If I had a question, it was always addressed I this book. Easy index, format, etc. made it a really helpful resource.
kerryann's review
5.0
I kept this in the bathroom and referred to it constantly for my first child. Very, very helpful.