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

It is a bit early to review this book, as we are going to be parents, just next January. Probably within 5 years or so we will see, whether Dr. Sears is right :)

But as a book, it is fascinating reading and it gives us many news aspects on how to interact, communicate and handle our forthcoming baby.

I got this book for a baby shower gift. At first I was over-whelmed by it because there is so much info. Then I started using it as a resource after the baby was born. Now I feel like I use it all the time, instead of constantly calling the doctor about little things. I am now buying it for a friend who just had a baby.

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.

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..

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!