Customer Reviews
Informative and reassuring 
2008-04-18
I found this book to be the best of all baby books (including, What to Expect the First Year.) Unlike the others, it was fun and very educational. There aren't as many "absolutes" and you don't feel judged when you don't perfectly fit the rules in other books. A must read...especially during the last trimester of pregnancy. I waited til baby was born and wished I had read prior to her birth.
One sentence in the book bothers me 
2007-09-10
So, I was happily reading this book and kept telling my husband about how much I like this book & that it ranks # 2 as far as baby books go (Baby 411 is the absolute BEST one) & I have read ALOT of baby books. Anyway I get to this sentence that really makes me mad - it is better to smoke & breastfeed than to not breastfeed at all - I tried to breastfeed my son for 3 months and we just could not do it. He was born with low blood sugar thanks to my diabetes & was given a bottle as soon as he was born. On top of that he had severe jaundice that required us to supplement and he preferred the bottle over having to work for milk. I never felt a let down of milk, I pumped every 30 mins. for 2 weeks straight & all I produced all day long was 2 oz! After going to 3 different lactaction consultants (not to mention the several nurses while in the hospital) none of which could help my baby latch on properly I finally gave up when he was 3 months old. I now have a BOTTLEFEED baby who is 7 months old & is already learning to walk, according to his Dr. he is way ahead of his peers developemently. I babysit a exclusivly BREASTFEED baby who just last week has learned to turn over (my son was turning over both ways at 3 1/2 months old) & has gotten sick double the amount of times that my son has. I feel bad enough about bottlefeeding without hearing sentences like that, I smoked for 11 years and quit a year before getting pregnant because I didn't want to expose my child to that let alone breastfeed a baby while smoking. I don't think that statement makes bottlefeeding mothers feel very good about their decision, we already get enough grief from everybody else and don't need books to make us feel more guilty. And besides second hand smoke can contribute to lung cancer, bottlefeeding can't. If you ignore that one sentence in the book then it's a wonderful book.
Good resource 2007-03-12
You can never have too much information since a newborn doesn't come with an instruction manual.
Comforting and Funny!!! 2006-04-04
Bored with all those "stage" in life books for your baby to be? Perhaps you are (as I am) soon to be expecting and realize that you won't have a lot of time to read up about what your baby may/may not be up to and if it is normal after your baby arrives. Well then this book is for you!
I eagerly started the book on Friday and finished it (yes all 500 pages) on Saturday. What a delight. The author uses plenty of references from real life Moms and Dads which add wonderful insite and humor. Be warned though, if you are looking for the "What to expect book" format this is not for you. This is a realistic, warm, and funny look at life that tackles hard to discuss topics in a safe and humorous way.
If you are tired of the same old at this age your child will _____ books then definately pick this up. Its like talking to an old friend that you haven't met yet who has been there and knows the struggles and confusion that comes with having a baby.
Great book for new mother 2005-07-28
I purchased this book for a young friend of mine who was about to have a baby and had lots of questions about not only the baby, but about what her body was going through. She loves it and refers to it constantly.
Great book, more for pre-baby 2004-09-11
Oh Boy! Or Girl!
Just had a baby? Relax, lie down and breathe a sigh of relief. The Mother of All Baby Books has arrived! From the author of The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, comes the guide that all new parents have been waiting for, whether they know it or not. The Mother of All Baby Books is the instruction manual that Mother Nature forgot to include with your new bundle of joy. Packed with important advice and insider tips to coping with the joys and challenges of caring for your new baby, this comprehensive, refreshing guide is an excellent resource for first time or even experienced moms and dads.
Warm and delightful, The Mother of All Baby Books offers a wide range of topics including basic childcare, nutrition, health, and physical, emotional, and social development. Inside you'll find the facts about sleeping patterns, breastfeeding, circumcision, and immunization issues, as well as charts and tables to bring you up to date on the latest information, a handy glossary of baby-related terms, and insider secrets on shopping for baby. Get the inside scoop on how to handle colic, diaper rash and all those pressing questions that have you pacing the floor at 3 a.m.! With an extra-added dose of reassurance, discover what it's really like to become a parent in this bible to babyhood and beyond!
"The Mother of All Baby Books provides excellent advice for topics that are easily overlooked during the pregnancy/baby adventure."
-Sandra Gookin, co-author of Parenting For Dummies and Parenting For Dummies, 2nd ed.
Helpful tips and advice 2004-08-24
If you are about to have a baby (or babies, in the case of parents of twins or other multiples), this book can really help you to get off to a good start with your babies. It has a lot of helpful tips and advice.
Also, you don't have to try to guess where the information you're seeking is because the book is organized by chapters that are on that particular topic, like a chapter on sleep, a chapter on breastfeeding, and so on. The problem with some of the month-by-month baby books is that the information you need is sometimes in the wrong month.
Excellent info on skin rashes 2004-07-27
A recent reviewer noted that she had trouble finding information on skin rashes in this book. I had to post a review responding to her review because this book has tons of information on skin and scalp conditions in the table on pages 404-412, which talks about everything from impetigo to eczema. The information on teething is a bit more meager. I agree that this is something that the author needs to expand upon in the next edition of this book. But I still think this is an outstanding baby book. It provides tons of information and is reassuring and contains just the right amount of humor to keep you reading at a time in your life when it's hard to find the time or energy to read.
Missing some key areas 
2004-07-23
My son is now four months old. While still pregnant, I read this book cover to cover and thought it was pretty good. However, now that I'm a mom, my experience with this book has turned out FRUSTRATING. There really have only been two times so far when I've needed to turn to my resources for help in understanding what was going on, and what to do -- for a rash, and -- early this morning -- teething. This book failed me entirely on both occasions. Indeed, when you go to the "rash" entry, it only says "...could be the result of a viral or bacterial infection; or an allergic reaction to...substance. Note: see section on skin rashes later in this chapter." BUT THERE IS NO SECTION ON SKIN RASHES LATER IN THE CHAPTER (or elsewhere that I, my hubby or mother could find).
In short: it looks on its face much more helpful than it really is. Don't count on this book (but I won't say "don't buy it" as you might still find it a decent addendum to other sources...*maybe*).
Very helpful baby reference guide 2004-02-01
I have found this book to be a very helpful reference guide. There is a chart that summarize first year developmental milestones, a chapter that includes detailed information about the signs, symptoms, and treatments for the most common illnesses that babies tend to develop, advice on getting breastfeeding off to the best start, helpful advice on what to expect in terms of newborn behavior (sleep, crying, feeding patterns, etc.) The author's tone is friendly and reassuring. If you enjoyed the previous book in this series (The Mother of All Pregnancy Books), as I did, you will likely enjoy this book, too.
