Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool Paperback – 9 April 2020

I haven't read Expecting Better, Emily Oster's previous book, but had high hopes for Cribsheet. Each chapter addresses a different area of parenting "dilemmas", relating to a topic that parents often worry about - like, how to feed baby (breast/bottle), is baby's sleep normal and what to do about it, are vaccines safe, etc etc. Oster's writing is snappy and digestible, but she takes a very cool-headed, neutral approach, trying to look at what the scientific evidence says about each topic rather than present a particular "way of doing things", as many parenting books do. She steers clear from giving recommendations, unless there is overwhelming evidence for benefit and very little risk, like in the vaccines chapter. There are occasional personal anecdotes which liven things up, although sometimes I think she goes overboard a bit on this. The breast/bottle feeding chapter will probably raise quite a few hackles, because Oster's summary of the scientific evidence is very different from what the "orthodoxy" says - she basically notes that there is solid evidence that breastfeeding helps prevent infections, and may have some other benefits too, but many of the longer-term proposed benefits of breastfeeding aren't proven (in her opinion). Therefore, in her view, if you choose to not breastfeed, or switch from breast to formula milk, you aren't choosing a course of action that is depriving your baby of important developmental benefits.I felt some of the chapters, like on development, language, and use of TV/ipad were a bit thin, and not as fleshed out as they could be, but maybe that is because the evidence in these areas really is inconclusive. But it would have been nice to have more to say, or to delve into the data a bit deeper to address additional questions (eg, the often claimed suggestion that kids who grow up with more than one language in the home, have other advantages in their development or learning process).The final chapters, on the relationships between parents, and how the adults adjust to becoming parents, was really interesting because so few books on parenting, ironically, actually address this. I felt this was really useful and prescient, and actually validating in a lot of ways. Being a parent can be very stressful at times, and it's nice to have someone (an academic "someone") recognise there is real objective data that marital relationships do, on average, suffer when two people have kids. But there are ways to help things, and it does get better (mainly).All in all, I feel this is *not* a how-to manual at all, nor some kind of treatise on parenting philosophy (as so many of these books are), but rather a book that really takes the heat out of parenting - it tells you that there are many different ways to be a great and loving parent. Headlines abound in the media telling us how new scientific studies have "proven" that those of us who didn't choose X, or Y, or Z, have ended up failing our kids, but this book tells us that this really isn't so (or isn't proven to be so): it's about understanding your options, and what is right for your family in your circumstances.

This book attempts to do what so few parenting books do, convey parenting advice for new born babies based on medical evidence. The result is an interesting and very useful book, which takes on many parenting myths and shines a light on the data (or not) behind them.The main disadvantage of this book for the UK audience is that child-birth in the USA has very different practises to the good old NHS, and the very first chapter in the book - on circumcision! - seems weird and alien, as do the commentaries on practises in US maternity hospitals. Once past that first chapter, though, the focus moves to universal questions which are handled with a direct reference to the evidence and academic lifetime. A useful book and a breath of fresh air. Someone should write a British version!

Great book and concept. It was a very interesting read.While I agree with other reviews which state some available studies on topics are not mentioned (it wouldn’t be a great or helpful read if every one was), I do think the author has a fair approach to all evidence. She regularly concludes that there isn’t enough evidence to definitively state something. But that’s a benefit to the reader.This book does not scaremonger all the potential terrible consequences of parenting decisions when there isn’t available evidence. It’s not about ‘expert’ opinion that can’t be backed by science. It’s not a child psychology textbook.This book is about enabling you to make the best decisions for your family based on the best available knowledge....and it’s really interesting!

The media could not be loaded. Very interesting, I think the first part about pregnancy was better though. I think this is good information on high level :) for first time parents I recommend to pair this book with ‘your baby week by week’ that is a bit more deep dive into details :)