The Parents Answer Book: From Birth Through Age Five

This book was well organized and well written. We used this as a general guideline for our first baby, and it gave us lots of information in a very readable format - everything from picking out your layette to diaper care to various ailments and basic treatments. Our daughter is now two years old, and we still keep this book handy and occassionally reference it to learn something new. We just bought this book for some of our best friends who are now also first-time parents, and would highly recommend it for other new parents as well.

There is only one thing I disagree in this book which had a very small section suggesting letting a baby cry for an extended period because it says it is important for a baby to learn to comfort him/herself and handle returning to sleep on his/her own. I am against letting a baby younger than 6 months to cry it out under any circumstances. If my baby was 6 months or older, I may let him cry him out at night only for 5-10 minutes maxium. That is also why I only gave it 4 stars. Other than that, I believe the book was very well-written and organzied. The book talks about the newborn basics, covers physical, emothional and cognitive milestones, your child's health etc.