Baby Love Book

Excellent advice and very sensible – If you get one baby book, get this one. The author is very experienced, the advice is spot on and the writing style is straightforward. Lovely for a new first time mum.

My husband got rid of this book! – I found the "advice" in this book rigid and no comfort at all as a first time mother. Just two examples, the sections on teething and circumcision. Then I read all the Dr Christopher Green books- they were a breath of fresh air in comparison ! Dr Green gives sensible, flexible advice with a touch of humour - his books gave me what I needed most - confidence!

Re American editions of Baby Love and The Mighty Toddler – To anyone who buys/borrows/is given the US edition of my books, Baby Love and The Mighty Toddler: The American edition of Baby Love, published in 2002 has never been updated as the US publishers will not do a new edition nor allow me to make changes in reprints nor let me pull the plug on it. The US edition was not reviewed by an American… Read more

health professional despite my many requests of the publisher therefore it was a hit and miss production for the US market. This being the case I would only give the US edition of my book two stars.

I rue the day I agreed to do a US edition as it often appears on the Australian market for a cheaper price than my updated Australian books.

In Australia, Baby Love has had six editions and numerous reprints since 1994, the last new edition was published in 2013. All the points raised by nysie 78 and dannielleclare have been adjusted in the Australian editions according to new recommendations based on evidence-based research as they arise.

It's always a good idea to check that you are buying the latest Australian edition when you buy self-help books that have been around as long as my books have. Unfortunately it is out of my control when bookshops and websites keep selling old editions or the American editions of my books.

I am a midwife/child and family health of thirty years hands-on experience which is where my all information comes from.

Confusing!! – I purchased this book based on the reviews on this website. Admittedly, I have not read the book in its entirety, however I am quite concerned by some of the information provided so far. The author suggests that she is open and acknowledges that there is no "right" way to parent, however she then (in the very first pages) makes very strong… Read more

comments regarding placing infants in "group care". This could be very distressing for new parents who have no option but to return to work, nor does it consider the benefits that family day care and day care centres can provide young children.

Additionally, the author states that 000 size clothing are often "too small" for newborn babies, and suggests to readers that they buy 00 for newborns. Not only is this incorrect (most newborns will fil 0000 size clothing with room to grow!), it poses a safety hazard and goes against SIDs Australia guidelines. Similarly, she fails to acknowledge the SIDs Australia recommendation that babies sleep in their parents rooms for the first 6-12 months (instead stating "there is no reason not to put your baby into a cot in its room from the start if you are happy to do this.”)

These are just a few of the authors opinions/recommendations which have caused me concern - there are many more. I will continue referring to the book, as it has been highly recommended, but will take all information provided with a grain of salt. Easy to navigate Information provided is incorrect and at times dangerous

If you have a question - look it up here! – This book is a god-send to new parents. Baby has a rash? Look it up and there is a topic on newborn rashes. Engorged breasts? Look it up and there are tips to help relieve the pressure. Baby not sleeping well? Look it up and there are tips and advice on helping a new baby sleep. It is not a judgmental book to tell you how to do things, but it… Read more

gives you plain and simple advise, information and tips which you can use but as you like, doesn't seem to be a "right way or wrong way" to parent and this book makes that clear.

Have found it to be very helpful so far for my 7 week old and I feel so much more relaxed about parenting knowing that it is normal to for newborns to be unsettled between 6 - 11pm, and that the "pimples" are just called hormone rash and that is normal. So I am not stressed and running to the GP every 5 minutes!

Excellent for a reference book and I have bought this book for two of my friends who are expecting too! Simple, non-judgmental advice, information and tips. Keeps me stress-free about newborn issues!

Excellent – This book was recommended to me when i was pregnant with my first baby. My friend described it as her baby bible and was always referring to it. I was a little sceptical until i got my copy which 3 years and 2 babies later is still sitting right next the the lounge on the coffee table and is referred to daily. Excellent source of information for… Read more

parents first time around and then with subsequent babies. I love that it gives you more than one alternative for situations and is very flexible for all styles of parenting. With so many opinions given to mothers especially first time mothers it is hard to work out who is right and who is wrong. Robin Barker has mastered how to tell you everything you need to know and what to do without it being strictly follow this or do this. It is more try this and try that. I love the routine suggestions which helped me set my own routines by taking these as a guideline and adjusting slightly to suit my individual babies. Brilliant Petty i know but hard to hold and read while feeding baby as it is heavy but it if it wasn't this big it wouldn't have all the information i need.

very informative worth reading – love this book cover to cover! comprehensive, informative and easy to read, best especially for new mum like me! highly recommended, I would like to thank the author for sharing her knowledge.

Best Baby Book Ever – This book was my baby bible. I read it as I was breastfeeding my first and my second child. It gives simple, easy to understand and common sense advice. It doesn't advocate for any specific cause and doesn't have judgement. It is honest, amusing at times and doesn't beat around the bush. Parenting is difficult and scary and exciting, this book will help you get through like any mum, midwife, sister or friend. Commonsense, honest, easy to read.

Best all round book for any parent! – Loved this book! Being a first time mum I had alot of questions and second guessed myself everyday. Having this book helped me with any questions or concerns i had at anytime. One of the things i loved about this book it that it is Australian! I could relate and understand what I needed to know with ease. If you want to know something about being… Read more

a parent- it's in this book!

Highly recommend to anyone and everyone! Easy to use, great advice, Australian, wealth of information, worth every cent

Confusing Information – I was given this book by a friend and somehow it's the American version. Had no idea until I Googled Robin Barker that she's Australian and it's originally an Australian publication! So, a lot of the information is geared to an American reader, and what she says about SIDS, car seats and other basic safety information is NOT current Australian… Read more

safety regulations. Use your own discretion and listen to Australian experts and websites.

Personally I'm wary of book advice and would rather speak to a midwife or other early childhood professional.

Warning: recommends controlled crying – I bought this book based on reviews on this website. When I read the chapters on sleep, I was horrified to see that the author tells parents that their only options to deal with a wakeful baby are to either 'live with it' or to use the controlled crying method (which she calls 'teaching to sleep'). Concerns about this method have been raised by a… Read more

number of evidence-based organisations such as the Australian Breastfeeding Association and the Australian Association of Infant Mental Health. Of particular horror to me was the comment by the author that if your baby cries so much during 'teaching to sleep' that they vomit, not to be alarmed (what parent wouldn't be!).

Even if you do not elect to follow the 'teaching to sleep' method outlined in this book, consider whether you really want to take parenting advice from a person who condones this kind of parenting before buying BabyLove

condones controlled crying techniques

OK – I found this book great as a first time mum for all the little questions I had as it covers pretty much everything! I did find, however, that Robin's opinions on many things were quite nonspecific and basically said to do whatever you thought best...and I didn't really need a book to tell me that!! Also some of the information conflicted with that… Read more

given to me by the child health nurse. I did like having this book as a reference but don't think it was actually very helpful! I loved having an index when I wanted to find information quickly. A lot of the information is based on her experience and not research so must be taken with caution.

Good – A work mate gave me this book for my first child. She knew I was a bit of a worrier and this book had helped her with her children. I did have it out quite a bit when my son was born. I found it easy to follow and in most cases did help answer my questions. The index is fantastic. I must admit though I have not had it out with my second child.… Read more

Maybe I think I know what I am doing now! I found the index easy to use and everything I looked up I found an answer for.

Bible for Newborns – This was given to me by my sister-in-law for our new baby - I have been reading it during pregnancy to help prepare me for when Baby arrives... I found the book factual and dispelled many wives tales. It has a great variety of information to give me more confidence in the decisions I make for the care of our Baby. Mostly, that it is written by an experienced and educated woman and the advice is Australian!!

Excellent – Found this book really handy and referred to it all the time when I brought my newborn home. I actually was given an old second hand copy and also had a new copy and when I compared them there was not much variance in information so if you can get your hands on a cheap secondhand one buy it as it still provided all the basics you need to know. I… Read more

think this book is an essential item that should be on every new parents bookshelf. The essential parenting Bible! I was recommended this book by loads of people and I can understand why, it was really easy to read and provided very sound, thorough advice.

Excellent – I was given a lot of second-hand baby books in my first pregnancy and I rate this book very highly. It became my most trusted reference book during the first year. I particularly like the no-nonsense and non-judgemental approach and it also warns against some of the parenting traps, such as blaming everything on teething. A great no-nonsense… Read more

reference book that you can trust. Probably doesn't address the psychological aspects of parenting as well as some other books (eg coping with such a change in your life, the growing attachment and bond with your little one).

Excellent – I know I am not alone in saying that Robin Barker has written one of the best parenting books out there on the market at the moment. I have constantly referred to her book when in doubt about different issues as they arose with my baby. I found the sections in regard to breastfeeding, solid foods and sleep routines particularly helpful in finding… Read more

a solution that works well in our family. All five of the mums in my mothers group also swear by this book. I would highly recommend this book to all new parents. It answers many questions that you may have as a parent. This was my bible for the first year of my daughters life. Has a very no nonsense approach and gives all the relevant information from several perspectives. I do like that Robin Barker gives the information as it is and that there is sometimes no right or wrong answer about many aspects of parenting.

Excellent – I love this book and don't know what I would have done without it. Whenever I am having a problem with my baby it is the first place I turn to for advice. I trust Robin Barker's advice more than any other, including the local child health nurses! This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I now recommend to everyone I know who is having a… Read more

baby. It covers pretty much every aspect of baby care. If you're having a baby, you need this book! A brilliant book. Well-written with a sense of humour. Clear, down-to-earth and practical advice.

Excellent – I love the tone of this book - it's all about trusting yourself and your instincts in parenting. It acknowledges that there is a wide range of normal and urges you not too worry too much! She doesn't push too many theories and presents the full range of options - from safe co sleeping to cry it out. I found life got better when I relaxed and… Read more

stopped worrying - hey if Robyn barker says don't worry about sleep training until after six months - I'll go with that and tell people who try to tell me to sleep train earlier to rack off! This is very well written baby book - it's easy to read and understand when sleep deprived! Some of the chapter organisation is a bit random - I often have to look up topics in the index

Excellent – This is a really comprehensive, well researched book on the basics of parenting for the first 12 months - breastfeeding, crying, sleeping, as well as preparing for the baby, and a medical reference of common ailments and afflictions to calm the panicked parent! Puts your mind at ease without preaching or patronising as so many baby books often do.… Read more

Essential reading. Excellent reference and parenting guide, especially for first-time parents. Love the straightforward, easy reading style and dispelling of many 'baby myths'. A comfort in the wee hours when you're up feeding or pacing the floor with a crying baby. None, this book is a must have

Excellent – Very direct, straight to the point, infomative, easy to read. Have not had an issue yet that I couldn't find the answer to (or at least more information on) in this book. Particularly loved the section on crying which provides real life stories from families with very unsettled babies that makes you realise your not the only one going through a… Read more

tough time! Loved this book! Very easy reference style book - look your issue up in the index and you are directed straight to the area that you need to know about, great for parents of newborns that don't have a lot of time on their hands to read a thick book from cover to cover!

Good – A very comprehensive reference manual, especially for first time mums. This book does not pass judgement and is very informative. It does not advocate a certain way of parenting, discussing all options, advantages and disadvantages. There will always be things which your baby does which may be "extreme" but still within normal range so it helps to… Read more

read a book like this. I liked her no nonsense style. She also did not advocate a certain way of caring for baby, there is a section on controlled crying, for example. Many other books are either for or against. A great reference book. You can find yourself over analysing everything with your baby, running to the book to check that what baby just did was 'ok'.

Good – This book provides some practical and easy to understand advice on looking after baby during that first year. There are lots of great tips and advice and if you have the time it is worth having a read. I found that there was a bit too much information in the book to take in but other than that I definitely would recommend. Contains lots of easy to… Read more

read and understand information, is packed with ideas and information for looking after baby, especially during that first year. The book can be hard to finish as there is so much information in there.

Good – An absolute must for a parent to be. This is my bible and I still refer to it every now and then to remind me what is within the norm from an experts perspective. Breaks down all the things a new parent should know in the babies first year. Very informative. some of the parenting advice can be particularly 'old school'

Excellent – I referred to this book constantly during the first 6 months. I particularly liked that the author didn't say "you should do this or that" but provided a range of options and things to consider when making a decision about a particular subject eg settling your baby. Would definetly recommend highly. every new mum should own this book! Love the… Read more

down to earth, no nonsense approach. Sooo glad this book was recommended to me as it really was the best baby book i bought. So much useful info. Liked that the author was Aussie as there were lists of useful resources in the book too.

Good – Brilliant guide for a first time mum or mum to be, best used in conjunction with professional health workers and other resources however. The author outlines a range of approaches to a particular issue (such as sleep and settling issues for example) and provides pros and cons of each approach, educating the reader to make an informed decision,… Read more

rather than pushing a certain approach on the reader, this also means there are alternative approaches to try if the intial is unsuccessful. I didn't like some of her ideas however, such as a non-belief in teething pain - my baby certainly experiences this!

Excellent – I bought this book as it's touted as the "baby bible", and I can well understand why. Robyn has been at this an awfully long time, and although her views may well be skewed by parenting and nursing styles from 20-odd years ago, frankly I don't find this a major negative. Opinions on everything ranging from tummy time to sticky umbilical chord… Read more

have varied over the years, and I'm quite happy staying with the tried and true. I refer to this book whenever I have a question or concern, and then follow up with my health nurse or GP as necessary. Simple, no nonsense approach to common parenting issues. Some excellent suggestions on settling babies. I also particularly liked the stories of other mothers with babies who cried constantly. When I was going through this in the early weeks of my daughter's life, I found reading these stories, over and over, comforted me and gave me strength to help my daughter find her natural sleeping rythm. Nothing really.

Excellent – Great ready reference book about all aspects of caring for a new baby. Would highly recommend it for any first time mum. Information included covers a wide range of topics related to your baby. It doesn't push any particular parenting philosophy. It is written so that you can just pick it up and find/read the particular issue you want… Read more

information on at that time. Provides multiple solutions to problems/issues you may encounter with your baby. Great source of information to keep you calm, reassuring you that your baby is normal when dealing with your first baby. It is quite heavy, so hard to hold and read while lying in bed.

Good – The book is really easy to read which is perfect when you are in a sleep deprived state trying to work out what is wrong with a screaming baby. I'd highly recommend this to any first time parent. I read this while I was ready Up the Duff. Although not as enjoyable as Kaz I highly recommend this book. Pretty good book. Easy to read and full of… Read more

information on what to buy, looking after the baby, what to expect. Mentions everything that you can think of. A lot of information to take in for a new mum. Can be a little bit daughting at times.

Excellent – I love the index at the back, I found it really easy to quickly look up anything I had questions about. I found it a really useful book to read. Especially when you are a first time parent and have questions about everything. The book is really easy to read which is perfect when you are in a sleep deprived state trying to work out what is wrong… Read more

with a screaming baby. I'd highly recommend this to any first time parent. This is a wonderful book for any first time parent No time to read it for the second baby

Excellent – This book was given to me in hospital as a gift, and I love it. It has alot of information on breastfeeding and covers all the baby milestones well. Excellent reference book whenever I have a worry, it covers everything! Highly recommended book!! Easy to read, full of handy information on what to buy for baby, looking after baby, crying, sleeping,… Read more

etc; it covers everything! Page 33, baby clothes, it says to buy 00 size for your full term newborn. My baby was average birth weight and fit into 0000 and 000 size at birth, 00 would have been huge on her and still don't fit her at 3 months!

But then again, baby clothing sizes vary so much!!

Excellent – I read the book during pregnancy and still have it handy all the time. It is a great reference book that is easy to read and understand. I will buy this book for friends that are new mums as I think it is great! I have found this book to be fantastic. As a first time mum, I have referred to this book over and over. I feel it has covered a lot of common concerns, problems and issues with babies. I thought it was really well priced ($30)

Good – Comprehensive and sympathetic, Barker's book also has a lovely Australian focus. A worthwhile investment, reassuring for first time parents irrespective of their childrearing philosophy, so long as they have their baby's best interests at heart. A good, informative, realistic book for first time parents. I like that Barker doesn't jump from… Read more

newborn to 3 months in her advice, but has detailed information for that difficult period in between. The information was a little scant for the 3-6 month age range, although perhaps there isn't much to tell. Barker doesn't seem to advocate tummy time, which is contrary to advice from my maternal and child health nurse.

Good – After using another reference book through pregnancy, labour and the first month or two, we outgrew this book I found myself with lots of questions. Baby love was just what we needed. We referred to it often as the next 'issue' cropped up (unknown rashes, sickness, feeding issues, starting solids, development). It is easy to find the information… Read more

you are looking for and when we have taking Robin's advice it has been solid. A good general book for the first year. I would recommend this book. Lots of detail. Practical. A great reference book for the shelf. Easy to read and understand.

Good – This book covers everything a new mum needs to know. It is really reassuring when it is the middle of the night and their is no one else to ask. Covers feeding, sleeping, nappy changes, sickness, development ... all those things a new mum or dad worries about. I loved that it was australian with australian content. Definately a great gift for new… Read more

parents. This book is a really comprehensive guide to caring for a newborn. I loved that it had australian content. Written by a child health nurse Who says babies don't experience teething pain?? This is the one thing I disagree with.