Parents Bible (What to Expect the First Year - Arlene Eisenberg)

Member Name: dthpsb

Product:	What to Expect the First Year - Arlene Eisenberg
Date:	30/08/09 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Month by month format of your babies first year

Disadvantages: None

What to Expect the first year is a follow up book to What to expect when you're expecting and as the first book this is also a book you cannot live without. When you first have a baby I think it can be a very daunting time and although you seem to be given advice from anyone and everyone it is nice to have the facts written down by experts to refer to.

I bought the second edition of this book in 2004 after I was so impressed with the pregnancy version of this book and I was not disappointed. It says it has sold seven million copies and describes itself as the parents bible smething which I would agree with.

Part 1 of the book is broken up into 16 chapters. Chapter 1 is getting ready for the baby and Chapter 2 buying for the baby. So although it is a book about the first year some of the information is relevant to before the baby is even born. Chapter 3 is all about breastfeeding and Chapter 4 is about the newborn baby, being in hopital and the checks your baby may have.

The next twelve chapters are then a month by month account of your babies development. What your baby may be doing that month, what you can expect at yor babies check up and the answers to many varying questions you may have. I like how this book makes you feel comfortable as a new parent and never tell you your child should be doing something, it just advises you what they probably will be able to or possibly be able to.

Part 2 is Of special concern,which is about babies born different times of the year and when they may get sick, also first aid and the special needs baby. Really every possible concern is covered in this.

Part 3 is for all the family, a chapter totally focused on the mother and her needs. Also a chapter for fathers and how to deal with an older child. Chapter 4 is all about babies first recipies and introducing you child to food.

All in all a great book which you can read and refer to whenever you have any unanswered questions. It covers every possibilty you could face as a parent of a baby in its first year and a book I would recommend to any new parent.

Summary: A great book, informative and useful to have.