Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool (The ParentData Series) Paperback – April 21, 2020

This book is excellent. I loved it. I’d put it on my recommended reading list for new parents who want to know what the research really says about the first three years of parenting, from the perspective of a data-driven economist.The book takes a unique approach by combining an economist toolkit for reviewing and evaluating research with practical, experience-driven tips and advice on the first three years of parenting.The book tackles a number of critical issues that often trouble and confuse new parents. We’ve all heard so much “conventional wisdom” in both directions on many issues that we don’t know what to think. Oster comes to the rescue by providing an empirical evaluation of the research on each topic.For each topic, Oster presents (1) what published research is out there, (2) a methodological evaluation of that research, (3) the core takeaways from the research, and (4) how to think about the findings in the context of other practical considerations of being a parent.Overall, the book is a brilliant yet accessible synthesis of empirical research, parenting tips, real-life experiences, and humor that any parent can appreciate and learn from. I loved it and finished it within a few hours of receiving it earlier this week. Highly recommended!DeForest (Economist)Boston, Massachusetts

I read expecting better and loved the book, so I was ready for my next steps of reading books about what to expect after the baby is born. I had some books gifted to me that I started reading and they would just make me stressed and overwhelmed. So I knew I should give this one a try. This book is the BEST. Emily feels like a best friend and therapist at the same time, giving helpful data-based answers without exaggerating, making you feel stupid or just giving you advice without any basis for it. I love that. It’s so easy to read, it makes me feel supported as opposed to stressed, and makes me feel better equipped to become a mother soon. I love the chapter that talks about post birth effects on the mother (as those are not talked about enough). Thank you! I highly recommend.

Liked seeing all the data but some of the most important ‘myths’ were left open ended and the data was inconclusive

Emily Oster uses the same data-centered approach in Cribsheet that she did in Expecting Better. (You can read my review of that here.) That’s why I loved Expecting Better so I knew I’d love Cribsheet too. Oster wrote Expecting Better after she had her first child and drew on her own experience of pregnancy for that book. She would present the data and explain why she made the choice she did but was never judgmental about it. The choice was ultimately left up to the reader. Cribsheet is the same, only Oster wrote it after the birth of her second child. She knows from personal experience that all children are different and what works for one may not work for another – even if they have the same parents.Cribsheet covers the most heated topics related to a baby’s first year – sleep training, breast vs. bottle, vaccinations, working vs. staying home, etc. The section on toddlers includes walking, talking, potty training, discipline, education and more. Like in Expecting Better, she presents the various approaches to each topic and then her analysis of the available data, without judgment. My oldest child is 16 years old and my youngest is 18 months old. A lot has changed in 16 years. One example is that it’s now recommended that children sleep in the parents’ bedroom for their first year. This blew me away! My older kids were in their own room within weeks of birth and this was pretty much standard at the time. After reading Oster’s section on sleep, I understood why the recommendation had been put into place and was able to decide how long I thought it was appropriate for my new baby to sleep in my bedroom given the available data.I hope that Oster continues to write books as her children grow. I’ll be first in line for all of them!

I recommend this book for expecting mothers, although I didn't read it until after my baby was born and it was still incredibly helpful. As a new mom I had a lot of anxiety over all the (mis)information out there about what's safe, what isn't, how to approach the millions of decisions that we have to make constantly when it comes to giving birth and caring for a newborn. As someone who struggles with anxiety already, this could really be overwhelming for me sometimes. This book cuts through all the BS and lets us know what studies were actually done effectively and in such a way to really provide convincing results, versus which studies had too many variables to be taken to heart. The author is an economist and I trust her skill in analyzing and providing feedback. The book was also a very easy and fun read!