Customer Reviews

Cradle the Thought : A Journal for the New Mother's First Year

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My husband left for war in Iraq 13 days after our first child was born. He was heartbroken to have to leave, knowing that he would miss the first precious months of our son's life. As it turns out, he is going to miss the entire first year. Thankfully, a friend gave me this journal when our son was born. I fill out the pages, copy them, and send them off to my husband each week, allowing me to keep him informed about our son's development and, more importantly, the more subtle occurrences in every day life with an infant. Questions like, "Describe your baby's personality" and "What have been the greatest joys/challenges of motherhood this month" help me share things with him that would otherwise fall by the wayside compared to things like rolling over, sitting up, teething, etc. Also, questions about how your baby reacted to visits to the doctors office and out in public share a world that he would otherwise be completely unaware of. This journal has helped mend some of my husband's broken heart. That said, even if my husband was home, I would still love this journal because it allows you to capture priceless thoughts and lovely memories that a typical baby book doesn't inspire you to write about. I highly recommend this journal for every new mom. I know I'll read it and enjoy it for years to come. Then, when my baby boy has his own baby, I will pass his journal on to him. Just be sure to fill it out for all your babies or they'll end up jealous when they are adults!

UPDATE: I now have a second child, 3 months old. First, let me say that it is so much harder to find the time to fill in this journal but I definitely make sure I get it done. My first child's "Cradle the Thought" is now like the ultimate family reference. With my second child, I seem to always be trying to remember my first child's milestones and my emotions dealing with motherhood. How interesting and enlightening it has been to look back less than two years and see the similarities and differences between my children and myself as a mother. I'm sure it will be even more fun to look at with my children when my grandchildren arrive many years down the road! Also, my husband came home when our son was 11 months old and felt like he knew him despite his absence. This journal definitely provided some therapy for both of us and a link between my husband and my son.

I cannot tell you how much I love this book! I almost didn't buy because it's pretty expensive and my baby was already three months old when I discovered it. I am so glad I bought it anyway. This book is so great! The author has thought of great questions to ask. Things you'll be glad you wrote about, but never would have thought to write otherwise. I suggest you buy this before the baby is born, as there are several pages devoted to the labor and such. If you are undecided about this book--buy it! You'll be so glad you did. Buy it soon though. It's amazing how much you forget! I know. I had to try and go back and fill in the pages for my baby's first three months. I look forward to sharing this with my son when he is older. It will be a treasured keepsake!

Cradle The Thought allows new moms to chronicle the first twelve months of their baby's life in a week by week format. It asks the new mom all *kinds* of thought provoking questions, like what was your husband's reaction when you told him you were in labor, and how do you feel about breastfeeding. It suggests you include a photo of your baby each month next to an object (the same object each month) so you can watch how their growth has progressed. It includes space to record the achievement of certain milestones, and so much more!

It has such a warm and charming feel -- perfect to be given as a gift to a special new mother.

So, so much more than a "baby book" or a scrapbook, this journal asks many thought provoking questions, and guides the new mom through the process of documenting so many of the precious details and important memories of her baby's first year that might otherwise get lost in the whirlwind and sleep deprivation of that first year. Even the feel of this book is solid and warm and just a little earthy.

I really love this journal. Guided journals are the best! There are so many tiny details that I would have normally never thought to write about and they would be gone forever. Most baby books have the basics - 'first step', 'first smile' etc... but this book helps you remember the other really important events. For example: 'How is mom feeling?', 'How is baby sleeping?', 'How does baby like to be held?', 'What's babys favorite toy?', 'What noises is baby making?', 'What's babys favorite game?'. My son is 7 months old and when I read back to the earlier pages, I realize that I had already forgotten so much. Thank goodness for this book!

The only tiny, minor flaw that I feel this book has is that some of the questions repeat a bit too often. Some of the questions need to repeat because things change, but I feel that on several occasions I am just writing 'same as last time'. But I still highly recommend this book!! It's a great shower gift...or buy it for yourself like I did. I accidentally misplaced my journal and couldn't find it for about 3 weeks and I felt l lost - it's amazing how much your baby can change in that amount of time. That shows how much I rely on this journal. Don't wait until it's too late, buy it now, you'll be eternally glad you did!

What a wonderful way to record the most precious moments of my baby's life. I especially love the way the author's questions prompt me to recall and record many moments, observations, and thoughts that would otherwise go un-noted..and be lost forever. I can't wait until the day that I can give this comleted book to my daughter as a keepsake! Thank you Tracy! What a great idea. Just wish that I'd thought of it!

While I realize this is a type of "journal", I ended up wishing I hadn't purchased this item or had supplemented it with another standard baby book. There are no pages for the baby's firsts so I ended up putting them at the end of the book in the blank pages section but didn't think to start doing it until my son was 9 weeks old. There is a lot of repitition in the book as well, such as asking every week "What is your baby's sleeping schedule?", "Describe a typical day for you and your baby", or "What have you done for yourself this week?" I ended up leaving so many items blank because the answers didn't change on a weekly basis. Other things I ended up putting in the weekly "notes" section only to find it touched upon a few weeks later - Example: "Have you used a babysitter yet?" "Has your baby been sick yet?". Again, I realize this is a journal but I think the format is a bit odd and I see myself filling out less and less as time passes. The idea behind the book is good and the book itself is nice so I am giving it 3 stars.

Tracey Nelson has written a wonderful book with information I would have never thought to put in. When you look through, you realize how much you didn't know about your own family. Your children will be delighted to read all about their grandparents past. I recommend this book for new parents and especially as a gift.

I bought this book in 2001, shorly after my little girl was born. I really wanted to savor every memory of that time for me and also for my daughter. As I filled out the pages I thought that one day, when she is a new Mom, going through all the highs and lows, she could look at this and hopefully it would help her. Now that my "baby" is 3 1/2, I like to go back and look at this journal from time to time. It is AMAZING how much she has changed and it is amazing how many memories this book brings back. It allows you to capture such a special time in your life. I strongly reccommend this book to any new Mom. I also think it is a great shower gift.

I'm a first time mom and I absolutely love this book. I've never been a journal writer, but I definitely keep up with this one. The guided questions are great and usually come at just the right times. Yes, some of the questions are repetitive, but that's because your baby, and thus your answers, will change from week to week. My baby boy is only 4 months old and I've already enjoyed looking back through my book and remembering details I'd already forgotten. Not only will this book help you to remember your little one's first year, but it will also encourage you to think about and appreciate the little milestones as they happen.