Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool (The ParentData Series Book 2)

“The book is jampacked with information, but it’s also a delightful read because Oster is such a good creator.” —NPR

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As any new parent knows, there is an abundance of ceaselessly-conflicting advice hurled at you from doctors, family, friends, and strangers on the internet. From the earliest days, parents get the message that they will have to make certain choices around feeding, sleep, and schedule or all will be lost. There’s a rule—or three—for everything. But the benefits of these choices can be overstated, and the trade-offs can be profound. How do you make your own best decision?

Armed with the data, Oster finds that the conventional wisdom doesn’t all the time hold up. She debunks myths around breastfeeding (not a panacea), sleep training (not so bad!), potty training (wait until they’re ready or possibly bribe with M&Ms), language acquisition (early talkers are not necessarily geniuses), and many other topics. She also shows parents how to think through freighted questions like if and how to go back to work, how to take into consideration toddler discipline, and how to have a relationship and parent at the same time.

Economics is the science of decision-making, and