Good month by month summaries if you're into benchmarking your kids obsessively (which obviously, I am) but just like the When Expecting Version, too chatty, not clinical and crisp enough for my taste.

Great resource.

I received the 1994 edition of this book second-hand, and I'm happy I didn't pay for it. While "What to Expect While You're Expecting" is recognized as a valuable book for expectant mothers, I find this sequel to be more alarmist than helpful for parents of toddlers.

While I expect to both agree and disagree with any parenting book, when I'm reading this one, I more often disagree. It's possible that newer editions have changed the advice given, but in this edition, the authors recommend the Ferber method of teaching children to sleep by themselves. That method has also been called the "cry it out" method, because it depends on allowing the child to cry for longer and longer periods each night in order to teach them to go to sleep. For many reasons, this method has been highly criticized, and without getting into a lengthy discussion, it just feels wrong to me.

In the same way, the book makes assumptions about weaning babies at a year (which is fine when the baby is ready for it but unfair to babies who are slower adapting to solid food). Those who believe in baby-led weaning will find themselves feeling like outsiders while reading this book.

The book is divided by month (12th month, 13th month, et cetera), and each chapter includes FAQs related to concerns from that month. This ends up giving the book an advice column feel and tends to emphasize the negatives. Rather than including a couple paragraphs on "diapering difficulties," for example, why not call the section "diapering" and deal with both issues related to diapering as well as positive advice for choices that parents might consider (such as cloth diapers versus disposables, for example)?

The result of this endless string of answers for "problems" not only feels haphazard but also conveys the opinion that parenting is troublesome and that this book is a first-aid kit or life raft. Rather than seeing this book as a lifesaver, I found myself frequently frustrated by the advice given, as if I'd been handed a child's water-wing instead.

I may be the only person who actually read all 900 pages of this book - wow! I was working through it for 2 years! All in all, I found it to be a great resource. As I read through the sections covering each month, I found that the topics they adressed were often right on target with what my toddler and I were going thought. Tons of helpful, well-researched info. The reference secitons in the back were also really great. Really found the "Potty Learning" section helpful. That all being said, there were some bits of advice that I didn't wholly agree with - especially some of those pertaining to sleep, discipline, and extended nursing, but you are bound to find some things you disagree with in a book so comprehensive. There was definitely enough good, helpful info there to balance those that I decided didn't fit with my parenting style. Kudos to the authors for thier thorough research!

Amazing book, but not essential as "What to expect in the first year", but it's ideal for parents who would like to evade reading a lot of parenting books because it has a bit of everything. At the age of two and three, I've found "Positive discipline" books more useful because they give more detail about the psychological side of child-care.

Somewhat helpful at times. Mostly full of advice that made me say, "DUH!"

Like the two before it - straightforward and incredibly useful. I have to admit what I liked the most about this was the fact that it was a book. So often now everyone is getting their advice from bloggers and online articles - never really vetting if that information is factual or just some persons opinion. I like that when I wanted an answer I could turn to the book because it's been vetted, edited and reviewed.
A lot of it didn't pertain to my toddler but it sure helped. Highly recommended.

I just kind of read this one off and on when I am having an issue with James. I think these books would be more useful if James actually followed any of the developmental stuff. The pregnancy one was the most helpful.

i spent years taking care of toddlers and this book is the most detailed and reassuring on the subject that i've ever seen. toddlers do some really baffling things.

Disclaimer: I'm reading this after my son has passed the target age for the book, so my motivation to finish it lessened as time went by. I found the organization of subjects by age (in months) difficult to make a topic searchable. I realize this is the "what to expect" format, but I find it doesn't work for me for that age.

From what I read, I didn't get that much usefulness out of it. I got a few ideas, like making sure to use proper pronouns instead of referring to ourselves as "maman" or "papa" all the time, as he then got in the habit of talking about himself as a 3rd person. There was also a note about how 3 year olds should be able to dress themselves. Not so much here, but a reminder to work on that.

omg, this book is a lifesaver! seriously. ha ha.

A good reference for developmental milestones at various ages, but I definitely don't go to this often.