What to expect the first year vs Your child at play

Both "What to expect the first year" by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, Sandee E. Hathaway and "Your child at play" by Marilyn M. Segal are popular choices for readers interested in Infants and Child rearing. This comparison helps you decide which to read first — or whether both belong on your list.

Shared Themes

InfantsChild rearingParentingToddlersChild rearing
Cover of What to expect the first year

What to expect the first year

Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, Sandee E. Hathaway

1989

Now fully revised and updated, this comprehensive and practical month-by-month guide clearly explains everything parents need to know - or might be worrying about - in the first year with a new baby. Featuring special sections on older siblings, travelling with a baby, adopted babies, and specific problems, as well as a first aid guide and charts on monthly growth and development, feeding and sleeping habits, this is the only book on infant care to address both the physical and the emotional needs of the whole family. Covering the most up-to-date knowledge, both medical and developmental, WHAT TO EXPECT THE 1st YEAR is, above all, down-to-earth and reassuring - and an invaluable aid for all parents of new babies.

Published 1989
Books like What to expect the first year
Cover of Your child at play

Your child at play

Marilyn M. Segal

1985

Packed with learning activities, games, poems, and recipes, as well as anecdotes and advice, the eight sections focus on: Individual Differences and Common Threads (distinguishing between real and pretend; concern with fairness; self-awareness) The Questions Children Ask (the physical world; the natural world; the social world) Friends (best friends; controversies and conflicts; sibling play) Active Play (contact and cuddling; physical feats; sports) Creative Play (music; art; crafts; storytelling and jokes) Pretend Play (actor play and dressing up; imaginary playmates; reemergence of pretending) School Play (reading; writing; arithmetic; collecting facts; science) Family (attachment and separation; family continuity; traditions)

Published 1985
Books like Your child at play

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is easier to read: What to expect the first year or Your child at play?
Reading difficulty depends on your familiarity with the genre. Check each book's page count and subject matter above, and start with whichever aligns better with books you've enjoyed before.
Can I read What to expect the first year and Your child at play in any order?
Yes — these are standalone works. You don't need to read one before the other unless they're part of the same series.
Which book is better for beginners?
If you're new to this genre, look at the shorter book with broader appeal and start there. You can always come back for the other.

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