The “What to Expect” Series Delivers Again: Book Review + $75 Package Giveaway

Let’s face it: kids are weird. And weird in the loveliest of ways, of course. But their behavior can be adorable, frustrating, hysterical and infuriating all in the span of 5 minutes. I certainly don’t understand why my kids behave the way they do, but I love easily accessible and information-packed resources from folks who do understand why my kids behave the way they do.

Heidi Murkoff, the author of the pregnancy required reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting, offers books to help you understand your children as they grow. The newest delivery in the What to Expect series is What to Expect the Second Year.

What to Expect the Second Year

The essential sequel to What to Expect the First Year, with 9.8 million copies in print, What to Expect the Second Year picks up the action at baby’s first birthday, and takes parents through what can only be called “the wonder year”—12 jam-packed and jam-smeared months of memorable milestones from first steps to first tantrums.

Walking, talking, picky eating, endless curiosity, bedtime battles, biting, making friends—it’s all covered in a brand-new, easy-to-access, thorough, topic-by-topic format with chapters on growth, feeding, sleeping, learning behaviors of every conceivable kind, discipline, keeping a toddler healthy and safe as he or she takes on the world, and more.

I read What to Expect When You’re Expecting religiously when I was pregnant. What to Expect The Second Year reads much the same way with easy to read information, highlighted summaries and with on topic advice. The book starts with an introduction and useful Toddler Timeline with developmental milestones. From there, the book is divided into Chapters that cover a wide array of topics. There’s Your Toddler on the Grow, Your Toddler Head to Toe (which includes potty training info), Behavior (which includes biting advice), Disciplining Your Toddler and more. I’m (still) on the verge of potty training my daughter and I found the couple pages on the topic to be helpful overview, and the same is true on the biting section I checked out since we had that issue. Like most subjects in the book, for a serious or ongoing issue additional resources or books would likely be needed.

As a busy mom, I don’t really have the time (or desire, frankly) to sit down and read a 450 page book, but the Chapter and index are very helpful to locate and gather the information you’re looking for.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… Like other What to Expect books, What to Expect the Second Year is completely packed with information. Whether you want to read the book cover to cover to better understand your toddler or keep this book on hand as a resource, it’s a valuable addition to your bookshelf.

Or Not to Buy…. Time… I just need more time to read this book!

Shop! What to Expect the Second Year: From 12 to 24 Months is on sale April 5 – you can preorder today. It’s available in hardcover with a suggested retail price of $24.95 and paperback for $16.95.

Win! A What to Expect the Second Year worth $75.

How to Enter: Visit What to Expect and leave a comment letting us know one part of the site you find helpful.

Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

• Like What to Expect on Facebook.
• Follow Heidi Murkoff AND TheShoppingMama on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave a link every time you do.
  What to Expect the Second Year – book and Second year prize package giveaway @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/hUgcTE
• Like The Shopping Mama on Facebook? If you Share or Like this post on your Facebook, leave another comment.
• Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or RSS.
• Sign up for the The Shopping Mama Newsletter.

Giveaway ends April 15. Open to US residents only.

We received a review copy of the book.