Books The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two (Revised and Updated Edition)
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - Really good book!
This book has been very helpful with answers to several questions. However, parents have to remember that even the Sears' are human beings and can't know everything--in particular YOUR baby.

For example, I love the idea of babywearing, but our baby girl hated the sling until about four months old (and I even bought the Dr. Sears model!). She became happier in it around five months; and now at almost seven months, she's at the point that I can wear her around when she's tired and she will fall asleep. Babies won't all "forget" to fuss just because they are in a sling.

We have co-slept since birth, and that works great (sometimes hard to sleep but mostly only if something is wrong with her, ie. gas, etc.--which actually makes it easier than trodding down the hall when she's screaming).

We breastfed exclusively to six months; tried babyfood for a couple weeks, realized how messy it really is, and have basically gone back to exclusive breastfeeding...I give her little tastes of things here and there.

The questions it didn't answer were about what their eyesight/vision is and when (we wanted specifics; it's too vague). Also, frequency of bathing between NB and toddler stages.

All the various books differ on some things slightly. And the "put them to sleep with a car ride"--even in this book--forget it for us. She despised her car seat for the first few months until I bought toys for it. For a while she was fine for the first ten minutes or so; now she's basically back to really not liking it. She'll tolerate it for a bit. One of us always sits back with her when we drive together.

Overall, I do recommend the book. It's been very helpful. Just remember, it is not the ultimate gospel on parenting: use the book as a resource, read your baby, enjoy him/her, and do the very best you can (don't just try to convince yourself you are doing the best you can or what's best for your child...really do it). The title should be "What You Need..." rather than "Everything You Need..." You can't put everything into one book.

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Rating: - Very Helpfull Book On Child Birth
Book arrived within 3 days of order and was exactly the way it was described when i ordered it. Will look for items from this person again in the future..

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Rating: - Wow! A baby manual!
This was such an important part in helping me raise my son! I didn't agree with some of the "babywearing" methods and ideas, but the basic baby care was fantastic! It really helped me calm down when he was sick or hurt and figure out what to do. I give this book to all my pregnant friends too! Thank you so much!

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Rating: - A "1st time" parent staple!
Rcv'd this as a baby shower gift---one of the best. I definitely know what I'll get any other 1st time parents for future baby showers. This book is extremely resourceful because it covers so many topics/issues that you and your baby are bound to go through. There were chapters I avoided hoping that I wouldn't need to go there (fevers/colds...)---of course, I eventually did and it helped me and my husband deal with the stress 1st timers go through---I swear it's better than most advice your pediatrician will give you---it's like having one at home!