Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A great reference book, but only YOU know your child best
I was a real doofus when I became a mom at age 38. I didn't know how to change a diaper, give my daughter a bath, or select a wardrobe for her. This book is a great "how to do it" primer for folks like me. HOWEVER, other reviewers echo my thoughts about some of the philosophies contained here. The authors buy into some of the most harmful mindsets of the American culture, such as "children in this country are expected to become independent sooner than in Third World countries." And letting a child cry it out at such a young age probably does more psychological harm than good in the long run. (It's interesting that so many of the "sleep experts" out there didn't use the "cry it out" method on their own kids. Hmmm) So the bottom line is: use what's worth using in this book, but trust your own gut feelings as a parent. Moms have raised kids since the beginning of time without experts. I'd also read Dr. William Sears' work to balance the perspective from this one. Best of luck to all parents out there
Rating: - You Must Have This Book If You Have A New Baby!
This book is extremely helpful in terms of developmental milestones, vaccinations, what's normal and what's not, and related topics. I've read Sears, Spock, Brazleton and this book, and I think this one is the most up-to-date for mothers who are extremely cautious and unwilling to take unnecessary risks for their babies. Of course, no one agrees with every expert 100% (their Best-Odds Diet is impossible to follow), but Spock -- even his latest edition -- is dangerously outdated (sleep babies on their stomachs???) and his advice doesn't specify at what age it becomes appropriate and Sears -- although his idea of not letting babies cry and holding them a lot is wonderful -- gets downright weird (parents having sex in the family bed are supposed to leave their babies in the bed with them??). The piece of advice in this book that I think should go first though, is the idea that in-home or family day care is best. If your baby is alone in a home with a stranger, you have no idea what's happening. Is she ignoring him? Is she feeding him alcohol to get him to be quiet so she can watch the soaps? If your baby is in a day care center, at least there are other adults present to monitor the situation and allow your baby's caregiver to blow off steam. If a new mother had to have one book, this one should be it.
Rating:  - BabyLounge.com gave 5 Pacifiers to What to Expect the 1st Yr
Hands down, the absolute best book out there for new parents. You may have other books to cross-reference, but when you want the most comprehensive advice, you will turn to this book time and time again. The first twelve months of your baby's life are broken down into chapters that address issues, like milestones that your baby will be crossing (e.g., smiling spontaneously by the 5th month), what you can expect at this months check-up (e.g., vaccinations), and then in a question/answer format "what you may be concerned about" (e.g., how to handle diaper rash). In this section, of each chapter, you will find extremely useful information that will answer every possible concern you may have as a new parent. Some other excellent chapters include First Aid, Surviving the First Six Weeks, and what to do before the baby is born to best prepare. I recommend that you buy the book before you deliver so you can take advantage of the great tips on what to buy before the baby is born, what to take with you to the hospital when you go into labor, and how to handle things like preparing the family pet. What to Expect the First Year is a great place to turn before calling your baby's pediatrician, and it's truly the only book you'll need to help you through your incredible first year of parenting.
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