Your Baby Week By Week: The bestselling guide for new parents on caring for your new baby

by Simone Cave, Simone Cave

UPDATED EDITION 2018The first six months with a new baby is a special and exciting time full of milestones and new experiences. This updated edition of Your Baby Week by Week explains the changes that your baby will go through in their first six months. Each chapter covers a week of their development so you’ll know when your baby will start to recognize you, when they’ll smile and laugh for the first time and even when they’ll be old enough to prefer some people to others!Paediatrician Dr Caroline Fertleman and health writer Simone Cave’s practical guide provides reassuring advice so you can be confident about your baby’s needs. How to tell if your baby is getting enough milk- Spotting when you need to take your baby to the doctor- Identifying why your baby is crying- How long your baby is likely to sleep and cry for- Tips on breastfeeding and when to wean your babyFull of all the information and tips for every parent Your Baby Week by Week is the only guide you’ll need to starting life with your new arrival.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Childrens, Family

389 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2012

Reviews

[Spider the Doof Warrior · Rating 1 out of 5]

Look, I'm sorry, but this seems more like the Billy Dent Guide to Turning Your Child Into a Serial Killer. Look at this shit right here https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.ne...

Now if you do this to a baby, it is pure baby torture. Anyone who knows anything about babies knows they need to be held. They need comfort. They need you to cuddle them so they know they can trust you and that they can depend on you! Attachment is essential for human development. Do something like this to a newborn and you are a cruel, horrible person who should not even have a cactus or a pet rock let alone a delicate, living baby! Why even have a kid if you're going to let him or her cry as a newborn, alone with no one to cuddle them, no one to tell them it's OK.

AUGH! Don't use these books. Don't use Babywise. Don't use Pearl and such unless you want to be like Billy Dent in I Hunt Killers, the Game and Blood of my Blood and like Jasper's horrible mother!.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was incredibly helpful for the first four months, then it pissed me off because my child doesn't sleep well and the 'you should aim for this amount of sleep per night' bit still makes me want to spit at someone. That said it was a real godsend in those first weeks and isn't condescending like a lot of the shit out there (I'm thinking of you 'what to expect when you're expecting'). I was disappointed at the one mention of 'yummy mummy' (barf), but I am probably too sensitive for my own good.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the chronological layout and that it only covers the basics. Sometimes you just need to focus on the basics. I have two major issues with this book, the price of which is a star per issue. First: the vast majority of the "what's happening with mum" is about getting back in to shape. The book only goes up to 24 weeks (which is not 6 months because then a year would only on have 48 weeks which it doesn't, but I digress). I think it's really important that we not put pressure on women to whip themselves back in to shape after having a baby or while caring full time for a baby. I found myself extremely lucky in that my body bounced back to its normal shape, although somewhat softer round the middle, post-partum. If it hadn't, I would NOT have started an actual exercise regimen because I have enough on my plate at the moment with loving my baby, caring for my baby, maintaining a loving, special relationship with my partner, caring for myself, laundry, and keeping food in the fridge and on the table (please note these last 2 are not my sole responsibility but they are partly mine and they are important). I think the book could have briefly mentioned when it's okay to start working out again if that's what you want and a few things to be careful of/look out for since you are post-partum. Then leave it at that. No need to mention it again. Don't mention it again in 3 weeks and don't mention it with vigor 2 months from now. Done. Kaput.

Minor issue, could they not have alternated chapters with the baby's gender being she? Why is it always he? Half the babies are she; why not half the chapters?

Major issue: without saying they are doing so, this book introduces EVERY milestone, development, sleeping outcome at the EARLIEST possible time. As a first time parent, I'm sitting there thinking oh my gosh my kid hasn't smiled and it's been 2 full weeks since he was supposed to smile! My child isn't starting to sit up unsupported for 10 seconds! My kid's no where NEAR ready for solids! Three meals a day!???!!!??? He doesn't pass small objects from one hand to the other! He can't track things with his eyes. He can't grab things that are swinging. 5 hours uninterrupted sleep!?
I would if I could (by the way, we put waaaay too much pressure on babies to sleep through the night.
Give them a minute to adjust to existing why don't we). The list goes on. Why not put them in the week when MOST babies show those developments (not when the very first do). Some babies are born with teeth but we don't write books telling parents they should be expecting teeth at birth. I figured this out after a couple months which is a long time to worry about how your child may not be developing.

The book had some excellent passages on crying (and how sometimes little babies do cry and it's okay if you can't make them stop) and pain suspension (spoiler: most parents under-medicate their small children).

The book is worth a read but just know that you don't need to hit the gym and your child doesn't need to grab at HER favorite toy by week 8.

[Millie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

An invaluable read during the first ~14 weeks of having a baby. Up to date NHS guidelines and practical advice, but concise enough to read once a week during a quick contact nap. Really recommend this!
Did get a bit rubbish towards the end. Sleep goals and sleep training was suggested too early imo so it was unrealistic. Also routines? Definitely too early for those too. But the first 2.5 months when you’ve got no idea what the heck is going on, this provided some easy to grasp clarity rather than delving into Reddit or Chat GPT for hours…

[Andreea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this book can be very useful especially for parents having their first child. You may, not agree with some of the advice that is given in the book, but most of the information they present about the development of the baby is quite useful if you haven’t read about that before. It covers the first 6 months of the baby’s life. It is also tailored on the UK health system, so if you are from another country some recommendations may not apply to you. For the first 3 months I read a chapter a week, but after that I only opened it if I had some unanswered questions. As usually with these types of books, it is good to take it with a grain of salt and consult other sources too in order to make an informed decision.

[Diletta · Rating 4 out of 5]

They say babies don’t come with an instruction manual, and whilst this is true, this book gives really useful guidelines of what to expect during the first 5 months of a baby’s life.

I found the book very informative, quite close to the development that my baby had (beside the uninterrupted hours of sleep at night 😅) and so I would recommended to all new parents. The big plus about this book is also the shortness of each section, as during those early days parents only have 10-15 min per week to read a book and compared to other longer and more detailed bookson the market this does a great job.

[Maya Osseiran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mixed feelings. This book is compact, but expectations for weekly baby development seem unrealistic and rushed compared to my experience. Take it with a grain of salt, especially if you're a new mom finding your footing. You will also see contradictions by citing the same study with different numbers each time, obviously making the book lose credibility. Finally, I found it hilarious that by the last week they write 'congratulations you now lost all your baby weight.'

[SJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Useful information on development Week by week and how growth spurts interact with breastfeeding, and what a baby may be crying for at what age. I am on Week 6 of the book. howeverI'm sure some of the printed info is now out of date as it recommends swaddling, and tummy time from birth. I also can't believe that an edition as late as 2018 is recommending when a woman in post partum should consider dieting and what foods to avoid. i'm aware other reviews mention this book advises to leave your baby to cry which again is outdated and causes nothing but insecurity in your child. I wouldn't loan this book to an expecting parent unless they've also had up to date information from relevant antenatal courses as I'd be allowing them to believe incorrect advice.

[Seyma Gulal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for first time parents. It was very helpful to understand our baby’s development based on weekly guidance. There is lots of information about baby sleep/feeding etc. on the Internet but sometimes it can be quite overwhelming. On the contrary, this book is to the point, objective and is very easy to read.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some things about this book that didn't sit quite right with me, including some of the parts about what's happening to mum (specifically the bits about baby weight) but ignoring those I found this book so, so helpful. It was perfect to read just a bit each week instead of having to try reading lots with a newborn baby demanding my attention. I am certain that its advice about putting the baby down awake for naps and sleep has helped my baby self settle (I don't think I'd have known to do this or how early to start without this book) and it reassured me about my baby, her sleeping habits and her eating habits too. I like that it's not judgemental about anything either, and offers balanced advice about bottle/breast, dummies and more. I'll be buying this as a gift for mum friends in future!

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended

This week by week guide was recommended to me by a friend and I would recommend it others. It covers all the essentials and I found it very useful.

I rated this book as a "buy-it". This book contains a lot of information and found myself revisiting it often.

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some really horrible advice in this book like letting your child cry themselves to sleep for 2 hours and don't go to them even if they're sick or need a nappy change. Also they recommend giving Calpol as often as you like even if you're not sure if baby even needs it. The authors tone is also really condescending and prescriptive.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book really helpful for reading as my first child grew into a six month old. The chapter a week format suited my limited time and brain capacity and I found it was generally right on about what was happening for baby at that time. I notice a lot of ppl connect this book to the cry it out method and are quite negative about it. (These reviews almost stopped me from buying it, but I’m glad I did anyway, which is why I’m writing this review.)

As someone who has read the whole book, I really didn’t take away any message about how much you should let your baby cry (if at all) and actually didn’t find she promoted any particular parenting-style at all. It was more just an informative book telling you about what to expect with a new baby at specific stages (in the first 6 months) - similar to reading ‘What to expect when expecting’ while pregnant. It may be that different editions carried different messages or that there is an excerpt I missed and that’s what ppl are so mad about, but it’s certainly not the overriding message of the book. I read the newest edition, 2018 I think, so this recommendation is for that version.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really useful in the first couple of months when you realise you don't know anything about looking after a baby but the week by week format is a bit disrupted by just how different babies are and the vastly different speeds at which they develop. You find you have to read ahead and if you're sleep-deprived and emotional, it can be easy to worry if your baby isn't "keeping up" (or feel pointlessly smug if they're ahead - often at the same time!).

Definitely needs an update (published in 2007), especially around allergies, as the recommendations of that time have since been found to lead to a higher incidence of allergies. Also, the cream they recommend for eczema has since been found to exacerbate symptoms.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book, helping new parents navigate the crazy wonderful first six months of a new baby's life. We found the week-by-week format made it very accessible during a time when there is not much time to do a lot of reading. It is very well written - informative and at a level which is right for sleep deprived new parents without coming across as patronising. The bulk of the 2nd half of the book relates to sleep training, and although this never pans out as described in books, we did find it helped us decide how to get a good sleep routine and structure around naps throughout the day. I will definitely be passing our copy on to friends who become new parents.

[Sam Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best guide for first time parents

I loved this book as I could read it gradually. Each week I’d read the preceding week so I was prepared and have a flick through the week after. It meant I knew what was coming and could buy things I might need. For example I was prompted to start looking at high chairs a few weeks before starting weaning and meant I was prepared and not frantically ordering any old high chair. Loved this book as a new mum and have already bought the next book for 6 months onwards as we approach the end. If you’re a first time parent this book is the one you need!

[Derya Özdemir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a first time mum and an immigrant with little support where I live. This book has helped me a lot! Young babies grow and change incredibly fast and there is loads to learn, adapt and prepare for. The book helped me anticipate these. Only a few bits of advice weren't useful for us and there is one (using teething gels) that some healthcare professionals advise against. Otherwise, very reliable and useful. I've ordered the follow-up book and am hoping that it will be as useful.

My only issue is with the use of he/him for baby throughout the book. They offer a justification for this but I didn't find it convincing. Why not keep it gender neutral (they/them)?

[Megan Fahy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was definitely helpful in the first few weeks of parenthood when googling “can you die from lack of sleep” is at the forefront of your history.

However, after a while it focused too much on “your child should be doing xyz” instead of focusing on certain growth spurts or fussy stages to expect.

All babies are different so I stopped reading it after a while, I can see very easily how it would stress new parents out of their babas weren’t matching what was said in the book.

ALSO can we please stop referring to babies as he all the time? Thank yew.

[FreeDreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lifesaver for New Parents!

I recently finished reading 'Your Baby Week by Week: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Your New Baby,' and it was incredibly helpful. This book is a must-have for any new parent. It walks you through each week with practical tips, making the early weeks of parenthood so much more manageable. The information is clear and reassuring, making it easier to understand the needs of a newborn. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable guide during those early months!

[Sinem Metin Kacar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides great guidelines for first time parents on what to expect in the first couple of months of your baby’s life. However, I wouldn’t take its words by heart. Not all babies are the same and not all guidelines can apply to your baby. The information in week 4 maybe your baby’s week 5 or the amount sleep may not be even close what is being stated in the book. It gives you an understanding of what is the average, what are the things that you should call your doctor and etc.

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your basic guide to all things baby! Aka sanity bible!!

Fabulous book - have read it twice now with both my children and it’s your basic survival guide on what to expect! It’s reassured me on so many occasions that at their stage what was perfectly normal. The 7 week peek crying helped immensely so I knew it was a phase that would pass - phew! A must for all new parents 5*

[Bob Makin · Rating 5 out of 5]

First 3/4 are fantastic and weirdly accurate. The last 1/4 is a bit repetitive and also fascinated with weaning even though it constantly repeats itself that babies of that ages are too young to wean. Odd.

But 5* as it's the best baby book I've read. Read week by week, maybe slightly ahead. Great insight of what to expect and what is and isn't normal. Excellent.

[Vicky Wong · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very helpful for the first few weeks, but soon outlives its usefulness after week 16. It very glaringly doesn’t have anything on coping with the four-month sleep regression and is telling me to aim for baby to have “eight hours of uninterrupted sleep at night”, to which I was like “hahahahahahahaha that’s a good one”.

[C_Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly helpful book for new parents. It helps you understand your baby with just a few pages to read each week. I always looked forward to learning what’s happening with my baby and myself every week. Good tips on sleeping, eating and development each week.

[Natty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice simple book to dip in and out of but not to be taken too seriously. Some of the advice was good and I felt great when my son was ahead of the book but then towards the end it becomes a bit stressful.

[Kshiteeja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

Excellent read especially for first time parents. So well explained in simple language. Helped me get through the most difficult first few months where I was full of questions.... Absolutely recommend it to all new parents!

[Katie Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful

Great resource for new parents broken into small chapters for each week of development for the first six months. Really helpful for knowing what to expect and what to watch for.

[EF · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good book for first and second time parents in need for refresh

Easy reading one chapter per week and reassuring. Helping in figuring out if on the right track whilst being non judgemental

[Kevin McDonagh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good to revisit and within context. Helped me prepare mentally!

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Outdated and terribly written. So many other better baby books out there these days, pop this one in the bin if you get it. Your baby will thank you.