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

by Emily Oster

The authors of this paper created a website, www.newbornweight.org, where you can enter the time of birth of your child, method of birth, method of feeding, birth weight, and current weight and learn where they are in the distribution.

Two treatments have some known success with colic. One is supplementation with a probiotic, which a number of studies have shown to reduce crying.

One reason for this is simply that the smaller the child, the more vulnerable they are to serious complications. But a second reason is that for very young infants—especially those younger than twenty-eight days—medical protocols suggest much more aggressive interventions in response to illness.

In fact, this is completely fabricated. There is no set waiting period for resuming sex after giving birth. The six-week rule appears to have been invented by doctors so husbands wouldn’t ask for sex.

it—most couples have resumed at least some sexual activity by eight weeks postpartum.

A final note: Sex after childbirth can be painful. Breastfeeding promotes vaginal dryness and lowers your sex drive.

What we can say is that the data doesn’t support the claim of a reduction in respiratory infections as a result of breastfeeding. Given these findings,

Certainly, it seems reasonable to conclude that breastfeeding lowers infant eczema and gastrointestinal infections. For the other illness outcomes, the most compelling evidence is in favor of a small reduction in ear infections in breastfed children.

Yes, formula is expensive, but so are nursing tops, nipple creams, nursing pads, and the fourteen different breastfeeding pillows you need to make it work. And, more important, there is your time, which is valuable.

Here is the truth: you are less likely to get pregnant if you breastfeed, but it is not—I repeat, NOT—a reliable birth control

One large study from North Carolina showed that at three months postpartum, weight loss was similar in moms who breastfed and those who did not. At six months postpartum, the breastfeeding moms had lost about 1.4 pounds more.

This is true, but women who are nursing tend to eat more. Burning more calories is effective as a weight-loss strategy only if you do not make those calories up

After all that focus on the benefits of breastfeeding for kids, it may be that the most important long-term impact is actually on Mom’s health.

Yes, if you want to breastfeed, great! But while there are some short-term benefits for your baby, if you don’t want to nurse, or if it doesn’t work out, it’s not a tragedy for your baby, or for you. It is almost certainly worse if you spend a year sitting around feeling bad about not nursing.

There are some health benefits to breastfeeding early on, although the evidence supporting them is more limited than is commonly stated. There are likely some long-term health benefits, related to breast cancer, for Mom. The data does not provide strong evidence for long-term health or cognitive benefits of breastfeeding for your child.

Despite the warnings, there is simply no evidence that the use of pacifiers impacts breastfeeding success.

When you drink, the alcohol level in your milk is about the same as your blood alcohol level. The baby consumes the milk, not the alcohol directly, so the level of alcohol they are exposed to is extremely low.

Therefore, there is no need to pump and dump.

A final note is on caffeine. Most people find it’s fine to have caffeine while nursing, and there is certainly no literature suggesting risks to the baby. However, some babies are quite sensitive to caffeine and get very fussy and irritable. If you find this is the case, you may have to avoid it.

over whether the helmet actually fixes the problem more successfully than doing nothing. If you face this issue, discuss your treatment options with your pediatrician.

Second, childcare quality matters much more than which type of childcare you have.

One of the best pieces of parenting advice I got from my friend Nancy was this: Regardless of what childcare you choose, have a plan for who is in charge when the nanny or the kid is sick. Fighting about who will miss work in the moment is a bad idea.