What to Expect the Toddler Years

Rating:
Summary: A good, practical guide -- gives all the basics
Review: If you want to...have a handy reference around for when you've got a question about your kids, this book (and the other title, "What to Expect the First Year"), are solid, well-balanced guides. The information is presented in such a way so that it does not preach, and parents can use their common sense as to how to apply the advice to their situation. As a first time parent, I thought it was nice to have around, and is a lot easier than having to call the pediatrician -- or, worse yet, friends or relatives -- every time you've got a question. With this book, you get the basics and can decide for yourself what to do next without wading through all the guilt or nonsense of everyone else's opinions. Cuts down on the conversations that start, "Well, with *my* kids, I always thought it was best if ..."

Rating:
Summary: Informative book but biased towards outdated information
Review: This book, like others by the same authors, has lots of good info for parents who have lots of questions. However, they go off the deep end in their attitudes towards sugar intake, general nutrition, and breast feeding. They seem to think that breast feeding past one year is only done by needy moms who can't let go of their "babies". Not ever mentioning that the Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing well into the second year. This book is a good overview of general info, but I would caution readers that the biases of the authors come shining through all too often.

Rating:
Summary: I agree with the nursing mom..
Review: Some of the book is ok but the information on breastfeeding seemed to be more the author's opinion and not fact. If you are going to get this book I would suggest taking the information in that section with a grain of salt! For more accurate breastfeeding and weaning information read something by Dr. William Sears, visit the La Leche League website, and/or contact a LLL leader in your area.

Rating:
Summary: A good book for the first-time mother
Review: This book is helping me a lot in rearing up my one-and-a-half year old daughter. I read all the notes and preface and introduction and followed the author's advice about referring to it not by chapters but only as the need arose or the symptom/behavior/whatever developed. Additionally, it wasn't the only book I read and, as the authors advised, I still sought the knowledge of my baby's pediatrician and my mother. I was glad that the book is comprehensive enough to cover all the possible problem areas a first-time mother could encounter. The best advice I could give future readers is, read it and take only those snippets of information or advice that best applies to your situation. However, the baby's doctor or pediatrician may still be the better judge of what is best for the child, as he or she is the one who knows the child's medical and, sometimes, family/genetic history.

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Summary: this book has been my child bible to live by
Review: since the beginning of my pregnancy i have read and enjoyed these books. Whenever i had a question about the development or health of my son I could be sure where to go for information. While everything may not have worked for me every child is different. This book gave me some insight and a place to start to overcome a paticular incident. I have loved these books from day one they were a godsend. Now whenever i go to a baby shower you can guess what I give the mother-to-be. I just want to say I'm glad someone came up with a easy to read and understand book that i didnt have to wade through. I can easily go to the page and the situation I'm looking for without wasting alot of time, since time is something I dont always have alot of.

Rating:
Summary: Take what fits for you
Review: I think the problem with some of the reviewers is that they are unable to take what fits for them and disregard what doesn't concern them. I suspect the grandparents from Luling, LA have conflicts with their kids that have nothing to do with the content of this book. The reader who claims this book is nothing but opinion should give a little credit to "experience". And the woman who says she can't live without this book might need a little family counseling. The bottom line is that this book is meant as a guide for people who are not experienced with being parents, and is not claiming to be the gospel truth. It is filled with good information and general guide lines supported by the majority of pediatricians. Just keep in mind that every child is different, and no single book will give you all the answers.

Rating:
Summary: Grandparents can say it better.
Review: Some of the "rules" in this book have been taken much too seriously by my son & daughter in law. We are now at a breaking point of when it is permissible to allow their 18 month old to "visit" his grandparents. They think he will be afraid if he wakes up in our home, he will be afraid if he's left with us for more than 4 hours... in all instances, they are afraid. I say, "Be Afraid, be very afraid" that this book has caused two intelligent human beings to become so neurotic we cannot communicate on the same level. What happened to "family" and grandparenting??? In this modern world, do we dare care for our grandchildren.??

Rating:
Summary: Not the worst book I've read, but...
Review: As a nursing mom I found their advice about weaning to be more inline for a bottlefed baby. Thank goodness for La Leche League and the sound, sensible, proven information I got from them and their book. I hope all nursing mom's talk to a La Leche League member, or read "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" before following Eisenberg's instructions for when and how to wean a breastfed baby.

Rating:
Summary: I can't survive without this book!
Review: I have a 3.5 year old son, and this book has been a god-send. All of the books in this series have been incredibly helpful and insightful. I don't know what I'd do with them. I hope that they write another one soon, for the Pre-school years!

Rating:
Summary: the best toddler book out there of its kind, a true lifesave
Review: The authors write the most comprehensive survey of all aspects of parenting a toddler. In particular, I find the advice on behavioral issues so helpful. Something I didn't "expect" to be so enlightening and thorough. The common sense format makes it easy to find exactly what you are looking for. A must for any parent!

I'd also like to comment on the customer review from NY dated 1/24. I do not think the author's biases on nursing and self comforting stand out any more than any other author on the wide variety of subjects on children that are out there. We are ALL passionate about raising our children the way we think is best for each and every one of us, including the authors. I'd be surprised if they were NOT apparent. I'm happy to know that you still found it helpful!