Useful as a general guide (What to Expect the First Year - Arlene Eisenberg)

Member Name: millwall23

Product:	What to Expect the First Year - Arlene Eisenberg
Date:	20/08/00 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: If you only want one book get this one

Disadvantages: Vague

Although helpful I didn't find this book anywhere near as helpful as what to expect when you are expecting. A year is a long time and especially a babys first one and this resulted in the chapters being too short with only limited information on a large number of subjects.

A large part of the book is set out in question and answer style which is great if your question should happen to be the one asked but confusing if not. The sections on breastfeeding were of great comfort and did help me through what I found a very hard experience. It covers what milestones your baby should reach or may reach at each stage of his/her development.

The of special concern and first aid sections were very good and informative enough to make you feel confident with your newborn. I did find that I tended to only refer to it for the first 3-4 mths of my daughters life and lately it is seldom glimpsed at. Good for first time parents but I shouldn't imagine that I would buy it if I was a second time parent, although I will no doubt refer to it now it's in my collection.

Easy to understand if not just a touch vague only covering the most obvious and as each baby is different you seldom fit exactly into any of the catagorys it describes.

Summary: