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A review by smashingreads
The New Baby Answer Book: From Birth to Kindergarten, Answers to the Top 150 Questions about Raising a Young Child by Robin Goldstein, Janet Gallant
Did not finish book.
This book does not provide useful or practical advice. Answers are too vague/don't provide a solid response to the questions/provide conflicting advice. It feels like you're asking someonr a question just to have them shrug and say "Eh, you're doing fine. Ignore your pediatrician, family, friends and keep doing what feels right for you"... but if it felt right, you wouldnt be asking the question to begin with..
Ex.
Question:
"When should I wean?"
Answer:
"If you can wait until he is ready to wean himself, the process will be simpler and more natural."
After answer, sharing that NO ONE else may agree with you:
"Friends and relatives ask, ‰ЫПWhat‰ЫЄs he doing with a bottle? Can‰ЫЄt he drink from a cup yet?‰Ыќ The pediatrician may say, ‰ЫПHe doesn‰ЫЄt need to nurse or use a bottle anymore.‰Ыќ Others may comment, ‰ЫПHe‰ЫЄs too big for a bottle.‰Ыќ Negative remarks are directed not just at a child, but at the parents as well."
Don't listen to them.. or you're messing up:
"If the bottle, breast, or pacifier is taken away from your child too soon, he‰ЫЄll probably look for other ways to satisfy his sucking needs."
I understand that it can be difficult to find doctors with updated advice, but I would rather the emphasis be on WHY I should or should not do something instead of on ignoring the advice of my doctor in lieu of this book. This book would confuse me more if I hadn't read so many other baby books..
Sorry, last example:
"When will my baby begin to crawl?"
"Crawling is an important stage in development, and parents watch with delight as their baby becomes mobile. Although some babies start crawling before they‰ЫЄre six months old, most begin between six and ten months, and some never crawl, going from sitting to walking without the middle step. Because children develop at their own pace, each baby will begin to crawl when she‰ЫЄs ready. But if your baby has not begun by the time she‰ЫЄs nine or ten months old, you may want to talk to your pediatrician about her motor development."
Ridiculously unhelpful, right? There are a few paragraphs that follow which tell you what your baby does prior to being able to crawl... assuming your baby will crawl..
Ex.
Question:
"When should I wean?"
Answer:
"If you can wait until he is ready to wean himself, the process will be simpler and more natural."
After answer, sharing that NO ONE else may agree with you:
"Friends and relatives ask, ‰ЫПWhat‰ЫЄs he doing with a bottle? Can‰ЫЄt he drink from a cup yet?‰Ыќ The pediatrician may say, ‰ЫПHe doesn‰ЫЄt need to nurse or use a bottle anymore.‰Ыќ Others may comment, ‰ЫПHe‰ЫЄs too big for a bottle.‰Ыќ Negative remarks are directed not just at a child, but at the parents as well."
Don't listen to them.. or you're messing up:
"If the bottle, breast, or pacifier is taken away from your child too soon, he‰ЫЄll probably look for other ways to satisfy his sucking needs."
I understand that it can be difficult to find doctors with updated advice, but I would rather the emphasis be on WHY I should or should not do something instead of on ignoring the advice of my doctor in lieu of this book. This book would confuse me more if I hadn't read so many other baby books..
Sorry, last example:
"When will my baby begin to crawl?"
"Crawling is an important stage in development, and parents watch with delight as their baby becomes mobile. Although some babies start crawling before they‰ЫЄre six months old, most begin between six and ten months, and some never crawl, going from sitting to walking without the middle step. Because children develop at their own pace, each baby will begin to crawl when she‰ЫЄs ready. But if your baby has not begun by the time she‰ЫЄs nine or ten months old, you may want to talk to your pediatrician about her motor development."
Ridiculously unhelpful, right? There are a few paragraphs that follow which tell you what your baby does prior to being able to crawl... assuming your baby will crawl..