The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp

[lightreads]

The Happiest Baby on the Block

2/5. I hated this book, but have to admit I also consulted it several times over the past few weeks. It's intended for parents of colicky babies. Casterbrook is actually a pretty chill little dude (thank God, I was a nightmare baby, so we worried) but the advice here about what sort of noise and motion soothes babies is still occasionally helpful.

But lordy this book is obnoxious. He goes on about how various indigenous peoples (the word "primitives" gets used, for real) have ancient baby wisdom, and is simultaneously like "here's this 'new' science only I can impart to you." Hmm. That's just the tip of the obnoxious iceberg, but you get the idea. Oh, but also, why does your baby have to be the happiest? Why are we turning this into some neighborhood competition? Ugh. Also also, yes, the author of this book is that guy selling the $1300 "smart basinet," so … yeah.

Comments

[thefourthvine]

The best thing about this book for us was when a toddler earthling found it, became entranced by the cover, and slowly destroyed it. It’s not the most annoying parenting book on the market, but it’s in the top quartile.

[readerjane]

Hmm, yeah, I don't think authors get to tout something as new science while simultaneously supporting it with "ancient wisdom". Those historical patents were desperately trying anything to get the kids to go to sleep already, just like we tried.

The smart bassinet makes me think of the sleeping chair that Eve Dallas bought for Mavis. Mavis's was probably cooler, though.

[cahn]

Yup, this book was terrible because it was so awful and yet... also... sometimes useful, so I couldn't just get rid of it.