The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Your Baby's First Year: Expert Advice and Mom-to-Mom Wisdom from the World's Most Popular Parenting Website [Paperback]

Linda J. Murray (Author), Anna McGrail (Author), Daphne Metland (Author), The BabyCenter Editorial Team (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2007

An incomparable guide to every aspect of caring for an infant during the first year, jam-packed with the expert advice and real-world, mom-to-mom wisdom that makes BabyCenter the world's number-one online parenting resource.

First-time moms and dads all share the same concern: Is my baby happy, healthy, and behaving normally? Through extensive research, the trusted editors at BabyCenter, the world's number-one parenting Web site with more than 4 million visitors a month, have created the ultimate bedside companion for new parents. This book (featuring all new content never before seen on the Web site) draws on nonjudgmental voices of BabyCenter's team of advisors and the experiences of millions of parents to paint a detailed, accurate, and helpful picture of a newborn to 12-month-old. In it you'll find:

-step-by-step guides to the "firsts," including first feeding, first diaper change, first bath, and more

-BabyCenter buzz: helpful advice from BabyCenter moms from all walks of life

-Milestone reality checks: results from BabyCenter's exclusive survey of more than 100,000 parents about what really happens when in their baby's development

-Decision guides: pros and cons of breastfeeding vs. formula feeding, cloth vs. disposable diapers, and more

-Just for dads: involved dads find all the help they need to truly co-parent from day one

-essential health guide helps anxious new parents spot and treat the most common illnesses of the first year

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The authors—all editors at the popular BabyCenter Web site—provide the resource for which so many parents yearn: an instruction manual to accompany their newborn baby. Devoted to baby's first year, this guide is divided into three-month segments, each covering development, feeding, sleep, baby care (i.e., coping with colic) and tips for the self care of exhausted moms and dads. Just for Dads sections address ways in which fathers can be actively involved from birth. New parents will find Part One: The Firsts particularly helpful, with instructions on everything from how to pick up a baby and place her down again to the first diapering and bath. The authors leave no question unanswered—no matter how obvious (e.g., Your baby will need diaper changes from the first day). They've also taken advantage of a number of polls and surveys conducted by the BabyCenter staff, so parents can compare their experiences on such subjects as falling in love with their baby at first sight or how many times the baby awakens during the night. This practical primer will be especially invaluable for first-time parents. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

LINDA Murray is the editor-in-chief of BabyCenter.com and coauthor of The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Pregnancy and Birth.

ANNA McGRAIL is the executive editor of BabyCenter Europe/International.

Daphne Metland is the editor-in-chief of BabyCenter Europe/International.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books; 1 edition (July 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159486411X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594864117
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #979,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book covers both sides of various issues, September 30, 2008

By 

C. Johnson (Utah) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Your Baby's First Year: Expert Advice and Mom-to-Mom Wisdom from the World's Most Popular Parenting Website (Paperback)

I am a first time parent. I purchased this book because I wanted easy access to quality information that could help me understand how to care for my infant and understand his needs. For everything from diapering tips, fingernail cutting, poop consistency, nursing and so much more, I feel like this book offers decent advice.

The book is separated into very convenient sections:

* a list of "firsts" to help you learn proper newborn care

* Birth to 3 months

* 4 to 6 months

* 7 to 9 months

* 10 to 12 months

* First year health guide

This book also has advice for new dad's, experiences from hundreds of real people, postpartum advice (especially useful sexual advice), and also shows both sides of current issues such as breast v. bottle, pacifiers, circumcision, which diapers to use and much much more.

It isn't perfect but it offers some great advice from experts and everyday people like you and me.

3.0 out of 5 stars It's OK, I wish it gave more detail, November 15, 2009

By 

E. Sauer (Rhode Island) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Your Baby's First Year: Expert Advice and Mom-to-Mom Wisdom from the World's Most Popular Parenting Website (Paperback)

I purchased this book because I like the pregnancy one (I really recommend that one). Got this and the What to expect, I like What to Expect better. I was quite bumped with this book because (I think) it's so general.

As a first time Mom and with no close relatives around to ask for advices (I think) this book doesn't really tell me what to do and what to aware of. Having a high-need-first-baby is so frustrating if I can't get the info quick enough and in detail. I ended up with worrying too much and the What to Expect has most answers of my question (and so relieving that those questions come from other moms, I'm not alone!).

This book just didn't work for me. I gave it three stars because if I'm in different situation, maybe it serve the purpose.

4.0 out of 5 stars helpful throughout the first year, March 14, 2009

By 

allison (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Your Baby's First Year: Expert Advice and Mom-to-Mom Wisdom from the World's Most Popular Parenting Website (Paperback)

I have turned to this book periodically over the last year for advice. I think it combines encouragement, tips, and substantive information well.