What to Expect the Second Year: From 12 to 24 Months

What to Expect

by Heidi Murkoff

Heidi Murkoff�s What to Expect has delivered again. Announcing the arrival of a brand-new member of the What to Expect family: What to Expect the Second Year. The essential sequel to What to Expect the First Year, with 9.7 million copies in print, What to Expect the Second Year picks up the action at baby�s first birthday, and takes parents through what can only be called �the wonder year��12 jam-packed (and jam-smeared) months of memorable milestones (from first steps to first words, first scribbles to first friends), lightning-speed learning, endless explorations driven by insatiable curiosity. Not to mention a year of challenges, both for toddlers and the parents who love them, but don�t always love their behaviors (picky eating, negativity, separation anxiety, bedtime battles, biting, and tantrums).
Comprehensive, reassuring, empathetic, realistic, and practical, What to Expect the Second Year is filled with solutions, strategies, and plenty of parental pep talks. It helps parents decode the fascinating, complicated, sometimes maddening, always adorable little person last year�s baby has become.

From the first birthday to the second, this must-have book covers everything parents need to know in an easy-to-access, topic-by-topic format, with chapters on growth, feeding, sleeping, behaviors of every conceivable kind, discipline (including teaching right from wrong), and keeping a toddler healthy and safe as he or she takes on the world. There�s a developmental time line of the second year plus special �milestone� boxes throughout that help parents keep track of their toddler�s development. Thinking of traveling with tot in tow? There�s a chapter for that, too.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Reference, Self Help, Childrens, Health, Education

540 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2011

About the author

Heidi Murkoff is the co-author of the What to Expect When You're Expecting series of pregnancy guides. She is also the creator of WhatToExpect.com and founder of the What to Expect Project.

Reviews

[Emily D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful and informative guide to all the developmental milestones and issues a parent will come across with their child from age 1-2.

[Fellow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic repository of answers to frequently asked questions about various aspects of being a parent of a small kid.

[Haneen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed by how this book was arranged compared to the previous ones ( What to Expect When You're Expecting / What to Expect the First Year ).
It's organized. It's like a user manual that you refer to when you face a problem, and you must search through the list of contents for the problem (if it exists) or any alternatives. It doesn't prepare you, it doesn't help you to EXPECT things before they happen for each age group (unless you read the whole book in one day!) which is the whole purpose of this series.. EXPECTING.

I understand toddlers vary in their developmental stages and each toddler is unique, but this book doesn't make your life any easier.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy with What to Expect the First Year that I was a little concerned that I didn't have that reference any more... so I was happy to read this book which was a little more laid back than its predecessor, organized by topic instead of monthly milestones. It gave a lot of valuable information on milestones and what to watch out for, as well as a comprehensive guide to childhood illnesses and injuries. Of course now I am super panicked that my house is not child proofed enough, but that can be remedied and is probably a good reminder.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

In what to expect in the first year Murkoff often presented two opposing viewpoints to an issue which was a nice break from the 'know it all' tone that irks me from most parenting books (no one knows everything about parenting). This book did not do that. It irked. Also do not recommend reading the last part of the book before bed - nightmares about all of the common childhood illnesses sure to follow.

[Leticia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read. I guess with my second child this one is a bit common sense, which is probably why I would have rated it lower this time. That being said, I'll keep it at 5 stars because with my firstborn it clearly must have helped me last time around?

[Cigdem · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a very detailed book covering all areas of interest. There is nothing unexpected as advice. It is all common sense. Though, it helps to confirm what is normal.

[David H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the unfortunate things about moving past the first year is that none of the toddler books are organized month-by-month, but tend to be by subject. Oh well.

This book was and will be pretty useful. I've just finished reading/skimming it straight through, but I expect to reference it often for the rest of the year. It's helped confirm some of the stuff I was already doing and given me some pointers about dealing with my son's eating and playing.

[Brianna Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toddlers for dummies

I love that the author goes into such exhaustive depth on every aspect of toddlerhood. It can be tedious at times, but there are areas I really need the extra detail and I really appreciate that someone took the time to spell out every detail. Having this resource can be life changing for someone who didn’t grow up with this knowledge.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars. Physical book. Always a wonderful reference to have around the house. I have finished reading the book, but I often go back and reference the appendices, when needed, for solutions and advice. It is much better than googling something and falling into a rabbit hole. The What to Expect series is so wonderful for moms/parents. I have enjoyed the three I have read.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, Google served me just as well for most year 2 questions. I feel like a lot of the info in this one is either 1) common sense, 2) summed up by "Don't worry about it, your kid is probably normal", and 3) some things that were very similar to the year 1 book.
I like the growth charts and development timeline at the beginning, although we do get these from our doctor as well.

[Kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Commonsensical, organized well, comprehensive in scope. As with the First Year book in this series, I like that the pages of the “what to do for injury or illness” chapter are outlined in grey for easy locating.

[David Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the set up of this book. The first in the series went through each month and what to expect. This book is set up with different sections making it easy to read through it all once, and then go back to certain chapters as needed.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that there was no timeline for everything. I just read what I needed or what my cutie acted like/did and then I was good. Information easily accessible and navigation was a breeze to just read what you needed.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful! Consulted throughout my daughter Hannah’s second year of life- can’t believe she will be 2 in a matter of months. Also helpful for work since I work with 12-24 month olds daily and have my class of 18-24 month olds.

[Jamie M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this the least helpful book of the series. Here’s a synopsis - be patient, stay calm, it’s a phase and will pass.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few good tidbits, but not nearly as helpful as the first two books in the series.

[Tate Schad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this at the halfway mark of year two, and I may not have to check it again. While it makes for great bedside reference material, I see it only being useful (beyond a fair skimming) if you can refer to it in the kitchen, the bathroom, the backyard, a friend’s house, or the local playground, and your phone is out-of-reach. I picked up a few tidbits and reassurances on how we have been doing, but most of the material is Google-able in some form. This has been a crucial series in our lives the last few years, but I think that reliance — one any kid (or adult) sheds upon finding their groove — ends here.

If there’s any advice I have for parents rounding the corner on a 1st Birthday and wondering what to do next, here’s the gist: just enjoy it. Lead with calm, joy, patience, and understanding. Whether it’s a boo-boo, a daycare bug, a sudden change in food preferences, a challenging social dynamic, or just a bad day where no amount of Tylenol or cuddles will give you back the sleep you’ve lost, your attitude will facilitate theirs. And often, a positive one will end the tirade a lot faster.

Most of the time.

Sometimes, there is no cure, and may god have mercy on your soul.

As an anxious perfectionist who doesn’t like being completely out of the loop, this book was great for an overview of what living with a toddler can and — for the most part — should look like. It dispelled a few rumors and confusions, but mostly reiterated what we already believed; that we should be prepared to wing it at any moment, that we should let our daughter fly when she’s ready, and that we need to take care of ourselves as much as we do her. Beyond that and a good dose of “When do you call the pediatrician about diarrhea?”, I think we are ready to move past this franchise.

Let the tantrums come as they may.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great information here for first time parents. Unfortunately, it's not quite structured right. It's seems like it's more stream of conscience, and it skips around rather than dealing with stages of development. Meaning, you have to flip through the book to hopefully find answers to what you are currently going through with your child. More than half the time, the answer I found wasn't entirely adequate and the pediatrician is rarely any help. Honestly, this book is a take it or leave it kind of situation. Yes, I did find some things to help me with my son's development, but this book seems to center more on their style of parenting. I hate flipping through a book, because it means that you miss out on a lot of stuff when you're having to search for one thing. Overall, the vibe I'm getting from the pediatrician and this book is that any behavior your toddler is displaying is temporary and there's no best way to get through it... What a huge help, right? Lol

[Jim Syler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what you'd expect. Plenty of useful info on raising your one-year-old in the author's traditional light and slightly cheeky tone.

My only real issue with this book is that the advice it gives is wholly mainstream and traditional. This is not a book that tries to break new ground or keep up with the latest science; it gives the standard, American Academy of Pediatrics version of what's supposedly best for your child (although it doesn't shy away from pointing out popular alternative views on occasion). That's…fine, and what you'd expect, but it means that some of the information is probably outdated even as it's being written, and the book almost never challenges the conventional wisdom.

Still, a useful guide and reference. I particularly like the grey-barred section at the end, which provides useful quick-reference medical info applicable to toddlers.

[Anna Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heidi Murkoff and her writing has been helping me survive life for the past three years. Much like What to Expect When You’re Expecting and What to Expect the First Year, What to Expect the Second Year encompasses so much in regards to your new toddler. I can’t think of a single topic this book didn’t mention. It is such an absolute tool for parenting, especially if you’re a first-time parent like me. As always, the very strong research and evidence based information in this book is so helpful. I appreciate the encouragement of research backed claims & tips as well as the information that was given on herbal and natural remedies. The first two books were given to me as a gift, and this one I found at a free bookstore. If you know anyone that just had a baby, this would be an incredible gift. I think the advice in this book is very helpful and sound, and I look forward to reading the next!

[Jason Strayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a huge fan of the "first in the series," if you will. I read it cover to cover. This time around I still read cover to cover but I barely finished before my daughter's second birthday. I'd highly recommend treating this as more of a reference manual: "Oh god, she's whining again, what are we supposed to do?" It was comforting, though, to read and re-read and re-read the section on language delay and be reminded over and over again that kids develop at different speeds. All parents need something different from their parenting books, I suppose.

I won't be continuing in the series. I think at this point I'll rely on web advice and parent-to-parent, but I don't regret the time I invested in this book.

[Darin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read ahead!

This was a great book that I always found very helpful in alleviating anxiety. Reading about things as normal that you're bothered by from new parent ignorance is really calming and reassuring. My only regret was I was often behind in reading the material relevant to the month of age. I would then get to a key point and think, "man I wish I would have known this a couple months ago!" The only thing that keeps me from giving it a 5 star is that I wish the author would have had more references supporting the assertions.

[Audra Murzycki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was that it was not as helpful as the "expecting" and "first year" books, which was not the fault of the authors. In the aforementioned books one can follow along as baby develops while also using it as a reference book. This version does not follow development, but rather divides chapters into sections on topics such as eating or movement. I used it more as a reference guide. I would recommend it to a parent of a toddler.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe not as helpful as the previous books in the series. However, it's always good as a reference & it's impossible to convince myself not to pick it up just to make sure I don't miss anything important. The different layout didn't bother me as much as I worried it would (info is divided into sections not by age but by topic). I have used this a time or two so far when I had a quick question now that my son's entered his second year so I guess that makes it worth the purchase.

[Erin Nudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read about three quarters of this cover to cover, but unlike What to Expect When You're Expecting I think this is more of a, looking things up when you have questions or want to learn more about something, kind of book. I'm sure I'll continue to use it as my little one heads towards the end of his second year.

This is an extremely helpful, good to have around book.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally, finished another book that I've been reading off and on. Definitely another book that takes some time to get through as you read it as they get older. It helps with the milestones and helps to give you a heads up on possibly what's coming and what to expect. I very much liked having this book as a super helpful resource. Definitely helpful for new parents.

[Danielle Lardeo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really appreciated the sections on discipline and feeding as I've already run into these challenges with my 1 year old. However, the cutesy, punny writing that had me rolling my eyes in "What to Expect When You're Expecting" is still prevalent in this book and had me skimming through to get to the point. **My edition was published in 2011 so some recommendations may have changed.**

[Shruthika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Phew it's like a huge FAQ book. I knew most of it so it became extremely slow. It is detailed and very good for a first time mother who needs ABC of the child. I had lot of expectations from this book totally disappointed

[Popa Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informatii utile generale. Imi pare rau ca nu mai e impartita pe luni pentru a verifica progresul, insa inteleg ca dezvoltarea copiilor e diferita de la copil la copil. Ca si in “La ce sa te astepti in primul an de viata”, informatiile sunt corecte, verificate, de bun simt.