Reviews - Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool

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Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool

4.5 ⭐️- GREAT READ FOR NEW MOMS! Cribsheet covers the most heated topics related to a baby’s first year – sleep training, breast vs. bottle feeding, vaccinations, working vs. staying home, etc. I recommend this book for expecting mothers. Although I didn't read it until after my baby was born, it was still incredibly helpful. It has given me different perspective’s and helped me feel like the decisions I will make as a parent will be right for my family.

cabarns's review

4.5

informative medium-paced

I think this is a must read for expecting parents. Excellently written giving many different scientifically backed perspectives on raising a child.

kellystellareads's review against another edition

2.0

I read this book when my daughter was about 4 months old and it wasn't very helpful. It boasts helping you make parenting decisions by looking at reputable studies, but honestly for most topics the conclusion was "There is data to show that it's *slightly* better to do ______, but not enough that you can't do ______ instead if that's what is best for your family." Also it took about 2/3 through the book to get past decisions I've already made as a parent up through 4 months, so most of the content is about newborns.

I think the best audience for this book would be first time moms BEFORE they have their baby. It gives you some topics to think about so you are ready for some parenting decisions down the line. The book doesn't help with a lot of research or in depth information on any of these decisions, so you would still need to look into other sources. But I guess at least you would be aware of what decisions would be coming your way and when.

trapdorr's review against another edition

4.25

challenging hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this take. This is the kind of analysis of parenting and children that I appreciate and was looking for. Love the numbers and really data assessment while still acknowledging individual needs, preferences and priorities.

Content Warnings

habi_csilla's review against another edition

4.75

informative inspiring medium-paced

This book eased my anxiety around child rearing.
The book won’t give you clear cut advice or ways of how to care for your baby or discipline your child. It looks at all the popular and traditional ways of child rearing and looks at the correlating research and data.
Usually you find out that nothing is as easy and clear cut as many people try to tell you eg. Is sleep training bad for your baby? What benefits does breastfeeding have compared to formula? Etc.

jilianh's review against another edition

3.0

informative medium-paced

I honestly wish I coud rate this higher as I loved Expecting Better, but unfortunately I was a little bit disappointed. I don't think this is Oster's fault and there certainly is still some good information in here, but the reality is there was just so far fewer specific data points, numbers, resources and clear answers. Most of the sections basically result in not enough data existing to be conclusive and the data that we do have is suboptimal anyway. I don't feel any clearer about most areas, and I don't feel like I got enough specific information to even really know what to delve into deeper on my own.
The writing is a bit repetitive at some points but again, I don't think this is the author's fault for the most part (although some areas could have used more editing IMO) I think it's just to be attributed to the fact that there are just way too many variables in life to account for and we all just need to make the best decisions we can with what is available to us.

mppaints's review against another edition

1.0

I should start by saying that I read thoroughly only a few chapters. I do not like that the book is advertised as an objective/quantitative view of researched parenting topics, and really does not function that way. I am married to a scientist, and am aware of how research can be skewed and documents can be cherry picked as supporting evidence to theories. However, I was hoping this author would do a better job of keeping her subjective world view out of it, or be more transparent that she was making arguments based on only part of the picture. I hate when people present like he/she can exercise an unbiased approach, and then clearly not follow-through with that promise. It is even worse when they pretend that science absolutely backs them up.

clairezel's review against another edition

3.0

I did not find this as useful as expecting better. The conclusion of nearly every section was "We don't really know" or "It doesn't seem to have an impact." Which I suppose could be comforting to know your parenting decisions shouldn't be that fraught but didn't leave me feeling that much more knowledgeable.