Rating: 
Summary: A very handy reference book
Review: Even if you don't agree with every section, this book contains such a vast amount of information that you'll refer to it often. I always think you should look something up in several books plus the internet before you make a decision, and this is a good source. It is set up by age (months) and tells you what to expect as far as physical and verbal development and goes on to discuss the appropriate topics for the month in a question and answer format. The index is complete and helpful. I'd also recommend The No-Cry Sleep Solution and A Mind at a Time.
Rating: 
Summary: A nice reference, but leaves something to be desired
Review: As the mother of 2 (ages 3 and 6 mos), I've found that I only reference this book when I want to review what my infant will probably be doing at at each stage. Otherwise, I've found that the book often doesn't contain the info I'm looking for. I also dislike the tone of the book -- it tends to make me feel like I'm doing the "wrong" thing, and I think it feeds into the notion that it's possible to do "everything right".
Rating: 
Summary: a must have.
Review: This book is great. We adopted our son and had to stay in the state he was born in for almost two weeks,beginning first time parents who were 1500 miles from home this book kept us from going crazy. We looked up everything he was or was not doing and the book's information calmed us down and assued us our baby was ok and that we were doing things the right way. Hate to think of what our first two weeks of parenting would of been like without this book.
Rating:
Summary: Good resource, easy to read, well-indexed
Review: I used this book frequently when I had my first child, because I knew NOTHING about babies. It was a very good source or material, and it listed the milestones for each month your baby grows, what to expect at doctors checkups, and gave a good description of symptoms and what to do for childhood illnesses.It was not quite as good as "What to Expect When you are Expecting" but overall I did use this book when I needed to know a pertitent bit of info. I have given my copy to a friend for when she has her first child and I know it will prove useful. Overall, a helpful guide worth 4/5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Reference
Review: This is an excellent book when used more as a reference than a month-to-month read. I started reading it each month and it covers so many topics it can make you paranoid. So, I started to just look up topics as I experienced them and was glad to find all the helpful answers I needed. This is a must-have for any pregnant mom-to-be.
Rating: 
Summary: I really don't care for this book.
Review: I was hoping that this book would have a more useful format. All this book contains is a page for developmental highlights for each new month followed by questions from parents who feel that their infant has deviated from the norm. It is tedious reading.
Rating:
Summary: Paternalistic parenting 101
Review: Looking at the 'Get ready, get set' chapter which is available here on Amazon I am horrified at what it covers in its comparison of breast and formula feeding. Formula has the advantage of not being digested as well? Surely that should be under the advantages list of breastfeeding?!
And they seem to suggest that preparing formula is easier than expressing breastmilk. I know I would not rely on a babysitter to follow the can's instructions and risk over dilution or concentration, or want to expose my child to some locations dubiously safe water supply.
It suggests that an advantage of bottle feeding is that the Mum can stop eating for two. To me this is a disadvantage. I love being able to eat what I like [yes, spiced food and all!] and not gain weight. In fact I'm slimmer and trimmer than ever.
The comment on birth control is also irritating. It suggests that the bottle feeding Mum has all the advantages. It doesn't mention the hassles of having regular periods again.
And the comment that breastfeeding Mums can't take medication for allergies etc shows an ignorance of the AAP recommended medications in lactation. The reasons that they give favouring formula are superficial. And nowhere in this chapter do they quote the WHO who states that formula is the FOURTH best option for infant feeding...after breastfeeding, expressed breastmilk and donor breastmilk. The authors are seriously out of date which is simply not good enough when they are writing books about infants.
This doctor will not be recommending this book to any of her patients.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive, yet bossy
Review: This book is good in that it covered a lot of ground in an easy-to-read format. It's the only reference book I had when our son is born. I also liked the part on preemies, since he was one. However, I found it hard to find things in the index. For example, if you look up "pacifier" and your question is something like "Should he be rejecting it after four months?", the most related question you might find is something like,"My baby needs it all the time." See what I mean? Also, the tone is bossy -- and reminded me of so much of the uninformed (or outdated) and unwelcome advice a new mother gets. (I found this tone particularly annoying in the predecessor to this book, "What to Expect When You're Expecting," when they refer to mothers who gain excess weight during pregnancy as "lacking willpower" and such!) Overall, I'd say this book is good, but there are better books out there.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best
Review: Basically this book isn't the best. In my opinion the point of view didn't work for me. If I have a concern or question about something my child is experiencing I may or may not have been able to get the help I needed. That is how this book is set up, a big Q&A session. Unless your experience is just like the question/concern that the people in the book are having it isn't too helpful. I personally had a lot of questions about formula, milk allergy and constipation there was only 1 question/ answer about it and it was very general. Needless to say, I have started looking into other books.
Rating:
Summary: Life Saver For First Time Parents.
Review: Thanks to my sister-in-law, we recieved our well worn and much appeciated copy of "What to expect..." Anything that has ever happened to a baby is in this book!!! I live in France and have translated entire chapters for my friends.
The opinions presented by the authors are done so in a manner that lets the parents decide for themselves what works for their child. Even the dreaded "letting them cry it out" is offered as a SUGGESTION for infants who won't go to sleep easily, and the authors always give other options, admitting that this method is not necessarily the best for everyone. My son is one of the few children who refused to be nursed, rocked, sung or read to sleep at 5 months old and we ended up letting him cry it out. It was hard for a month but ever since he goes to bed with a smile. That alone makes this book worth every cent - and every positive review.
It's a lot of work to read this book cover to cover but to avoid some misconceptions (like those of certain reviewers)and for peace of mind in any situation you and your baby may be faced with; it can save you hours of anguish or unnecesssary trips to the doctor. I say GO FOR IT. The tone of this book is not "know-it all" or condescending, and lets YOU decide what's best for baby... And isn't that what we are all looking for, for our children?
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