Rating: 
Summary: A balanced view
Review: I'm no expert but this book seems to present a balanced view between the schedulistas (Ford, Ezzo etc) and the demand side view. For example:
- the book does suggest starting some form of schedule, but only from month 3 and not from birth
- the place of leaving a baby to cry out is explored, but only at month 5-6 with a definite view against this until then.While the month by month and Q&A format is easy to read (even when sleep-deprived), it can be difficult to quickly find all the relevant advice on a certain topic.
Rating: 
Summary: How little I knew before I had my baby.....
Review: I recommend that you not buy this book. Consider The Baby Book by William and Martha Sears instead. I read this book and found it perfectly reasonable....before I had my baby. After she arrived and I had trouble with breastfeeding and did a lot more reading elsewhere on that subject, I realized how little this book did to help me with that. Another reviewer mentioned all the incorrect/biased things they said about breastfeeding vs formula, and I must say that I completely agree with her. This book is also very preachy about where your baby sleeps. They don't absolutely insist that putting your baby alone in a crib and leaving it to cry until it falls asleep is what you must do, but they certainly suggest that that is the best way to go, and that co-sleeping is setting you on the path to a ruined marriage and no sleep. I have not found that to be true at all. I never planned to be a co-sleeper, but my baby was a determined co-sleeper from the day we brought her home, and there was just no way that I was going to just leave her to cry and cry and cry. The book is also pretty insistent about weaning your baby at 1 year of age, despite the World Health Organization's recommendation that babies be breastfed for at least 2 years, and the AAP recommendation that babies be breastfed for at least 1 year, and continuing after that as long as the mother and baby find mutually satisfying.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT on the one hand... UGH on the other hand...
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. On the positive side, this book has great advice as far as developmental milestones, when to call the doctor, when to worry and when not to worry, babyproofing, childhood illnesses, etc. HOWEVER, this book disturbs me for one major reason. It recommends (pardon me as I shudder) that you let your baby "cry it out" so he learns to go to sleep by himself. I want to locate the person who came up with the "cry it out" idea, put my hands around his or her throat, and shake them for at least five inutes. Let's teach our babies that nighttime, darkness, sleeping time, is something to fear because "Mommy and Daddy won't come get me if I cry!"! And we wonder why children have trouble with sleep? If we woke in the middle of the night to find our husband sobbing, would we respond to him or would we let him "cry it out"? Why does our baby deserve less consideration?Hello? Ugh! For sleeping advice, see Dr. Sears, not What To Expect.For *basic* baby info, this book is great. For sleeping issues, breastfeeding issues, responding to your baby... follow your HEART, not some book. If you really do want advice about parenting issues, not just basic facts,see Dr. Sears...
Rating: 
Summary: What can you say....
Review: What can you say about something that is so good? In a time of your life when you need some guidance and reassurance this book is your comfort blanket, thumb, pet teddy bear and much more. Sorry I can't say anymore the whole series is the best purchase the new family can make.
Rating:
Summary: Okay, so I've never been a parent before
Review: I found this book to be a good guide and a general source of information, e.g., when to call the doctor, descriptions of rashes, etc. I didn't expect the book to tell me how to be a mother, just what to look for in behavior, and suggestions as to what to do in specific situations. I really liked this book and the Toddler years one as well. As an older first time parent (40+), the information in this book allayed a lot of fears and feelings of helplessness that most of us first timers experience.
Rating:
Summary: Only book you need (and will have time) to read
Review: This book is a must when having a baby. It helps you prepare before the baby arrives and through the whole first year. The chapters are great to read as the baby grows and also as a quick reference when problems or doubts arise (many times it was used this way, thank goodness for the index in the back). Even my husband who is a doctor would turn to it all the time.
Rating: 
Summary: Go with your own instincts
Review: I have read all of the books in this series. Mostly because I have stumbled upon numerous free copies of both this and "what to expect while your expecting," (even handed out in hospitals)This book has been accredited as a handbook to mothering but follows principles that are contrictory to the very nature of mothering. I recommend "Primal Mothering in a Modern World," By Hygeia Halfmoon, as an empowering vision of mothering to be read at least in conjunction with if not instead of this and many other standard parenting books.
Rating:
Summary: The best parenting guide
Review: This book is very comprehensive, simple and well-organized. My husband and I call it the baby's owner's manual.
Rating:
Summary: Not as Good as What to Expect When You're Expecting
Review: I didn't find this book to be as useful as "What to Expect When You're Expecting". I don't think the format (divided into months just like the "expecting" one) works well. For each supposed month of your baby's age there is a corresponding section which tells what your baby should and should not be doing. Babies grow and develop at different rates. My babies' issues and questions never came up in the month the book had them listed. It was also a bit difficult to reference. For example, instead of putting a section on eating in each month, I would prefer to see it all in one chapter starting with bottle/breast feeding and progressing to baby food, etc...And just like "expecting", the authors have definate ideas about how you should do some things and it sometimes comes off as extreme. There is a wide variety of baby/parenting info in the book and I do, however, think all the information presented was accurate and informative. I think it is just the format that does not work well for me.
Rating:
Summary: AP Parenting Negative
Review: I find this book to be full of false information and totally unsupportive of attachment parenting.
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