I enjoyed this book even more than the classic What to Expect While You’re Expecting. I think it was because there were a lot more surprises, questions, doubts and fears when the little guy actually joined us! The reason I gave it a rare (for me) 5 star rating was for 2 main reasons:

1. how it is organized. It is organized month by month so you can read as your child grows over the first year. Each month touches on several very relevant issues pertaining to the child at that age — developmental milestones, food, sleep, etc. Information is easily digestible in small sections or question and answer.

After the 12 months chapters, there are extra chapters outlining things such as common illnesses, first aid and family wellness. They are also broken up into manageable sections.

There is so much information in these books that almost every question you had (or didn’t!) is asked and answered. While I chose to read it through (mostly) from cover to cover, it’s probably more intended as a reference book where you can look up anything you need to know in the Index.

2. The second reason I rated it so highly is because it is not promoting any one particular parenting philosophy. With so many contradictory parenting books, blogs, Facebook groups, etc., becoming a parent is more confusing and overwhelming than ever before. This book steers clear of that. It offers lots of information coming more from a medical, researched position - advice much like what your doctor might tell you. When making suggestions on sleep, or introducing food, for instance, there are always a number of options and strategies provided so the reader can figure out what feels right for him/her.

As a fiction lover, it’s funny that I’m selling this book so hard but as a nervous new Mom, it gave me some much needed clarity and confidence. I recommend it as a no-nonsense, trustworthy resource for any new parent.

Книжка побудована переважно у форматі "питання-відповіді", а також різні інформаційні блоки. Мені інформація була дуже корисна і цікава!
Крім питань безпеки і базової медицини- книжка переважно не дає аж надто категоричних суджень, зате дає багато ідей, орієнтирів і толкових порад.
Раджу всім молодим батькам!

The bible of first year parenting. An authoritative book on developmental milestones. Full of "how- tos" with plenty of answers to "what-ifs". An invaluable resource and go to book for first time parents. “If you can laugh, you’re less likely to cry.” Answers nearly every question that you can think of - and many that you didn't know that you needed to ask. I doubt that we would have survived our first child's first year without it. “Worried about spoiling your newborn by always responding so quickly to those cries? Don’t be—it isn’t possible to spoil a baby in the first 6 months. Responding promptly to crying won’t make your baby more demanding—in fact, quite the opposite is true. The faster your newborn’s needs are met, the more likely he or she is to grow into a more secure, less demanding child.”

I started reading this book when my daughter was in the NICU after being born two months early and it has been one of the most helpful parenting tools ever since. When she arrived so much earlier than expected, I was so overwhelmed and didn’t have a clue what to do. This book provided so much relief to those stressors because it literally is like the ultimate parenting guide with what to expect, month by month for the first year. I’ve been reading each chapter a month or two in advance from when she’s turned that age and it’s been so helpful to get an idea of what to expect! I highly recommend this to any new or expecting parents!

Did not like the tone of this. And when I read that you shouldn't buy your baby yellow or green as a gender neutral option "because many babies can't pull off those tones" I was out.

Babies don't come with instruction manuals, but if they did, it would probably be this book - which is a beast of a read filled with monthly data/milestones to expect, medical information, and tons of feeding advice. I was overwhelmed reading it, but I'm glad I have it on hand for the future. I also realized that I KNOW NOTHING as a new parent AND WHAT AM I GETTING MYSELF INTO?!, but at least there are books like these that provide tons of important info.

I like the month-to-month chapters. I also like that she lists milestones by the percentage of children that reach them by that age (90%, 75%, 50%, and 25%).

This is a solid reference for standard, American, AAP-approved parenting advice during the first year of a baby's life. It covers nearly every topic that is likely to cause parents of a new baby worry. However, its chatty but clinical addressing of issues can become either overwhelming (especially early in that first year) or irritating (later in the year as one gains her own parenting sea-legs). It is large on caution against any and every possible hazard, which may be a safe way for the authors to handle things, but at some point means that it is an insufficient reference when the practicalities of everyday life kick in and you need some common sense advice.

Now as a first time father I have had the luxury of modern day technology to be able to search a question on literally anything I might wonder or worry about my soon to be (now born) son. Getting this gifted by a close friend before his birth kind of made me curious but also made me hold out a bit since it’s so brought up as a guide for the first year since I feel like I was a kid. But I truly am so thankful for this wonderful tome with sure lots of common sense knowledge, but also a surprising amount of useful and backed tips that actually I can attest to that some have worked, so this ended up being quite the interesting night time dad watch duty read for the last week or so and I too will probably see myself recommending this to the next new parent I know in my own life just to give it read/chance.

*third edition*

Useful info, not in love with writing style.

Imho, since it's touted as a guide, it's far too long, contains too much blah blah and way too few pictures.

In literature, ok! I love me a great long book. But when trying to squeeze in one-two chapters a month while breastfeeding a growing baby, some photos would have literally saved this book thousands of words. The cute little puns are a nice touch when you start, but by month 9 I'm rolling my eyes to the ceiling.

Most info is solid but there are those contradictions every now and then (no salt for baby, but go ahead and serve her hard jack cheese). Or it will mention something in month 6 that isn't fully defined or explained till month 9.

If I had to choose again, I'd pick a shorter, more practical book.

Few things here. This book is, in some ways, informative. BUT, most of what is in this book is what I would call "common sense." The fact that you feel the need to write a book about it is quite sad.
There is WAY too much bias in this book. From something as simple as child discipline to the more serious firearm safety in homes. First of all we are a Law Enforcement family. Guns are going to be a thing here but safety will always be Number One. There is NO ONE I trust more to protect the life of my son than his dad. Who has gone through vigorous training and is WELL equipped in the handling of a firearm AND how to properly keep it from wondering young minds with curios hands.
Heidi Murkoff's naive and blatant ignorance is quite insulting. Also, I'm going to discipline my child how I see fit and in a way that works for our family. You're one job in writing this book should have been to enlighten. Maybe instead of telling us out right "Dont do it," you should be focusing on how we Could do it in a safe manner. Options, not outright decisions for us. Having a firearm in the home is "leaving the possibility of very real tragedy." You're argument is invalid. EVERYTHING poses the possibility of tragedy to a BABY. Water, where a baby can drown in a tub or little pool, knives, toys, strings ...Food! A freakin adult can choke on their own food and die. (Not common but proves the same point.) You should have focused harder on informing the public about safe storage, how to teach your child to stay away from something dangerous and why.

This was a complete waste of time and money. Thank you for not helping in any way.

Honestly you could find the SAME information, without bias, on Google. Do NOT waste your money.

Now a grandma, it was good to review those milestones of the first year. When do the sit up? What about that first tooth? Sleeping through the night? All presented clearly and thoroughly for first time parents. Includes a "timeline" summary for those of us who need our memories jolted... Learned a few new things too!