Notes on Cribsheet by Emily Oster

I just finished reading Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool by Emily Oster. It was sort of a meta-analysis of a bunch of published research and scientific studies on various parenting questions related to the early years. It was written by an economist (whose husband is also an economist) who loves to look at data and approaches a lot of publications with a healthy dose of skepticism.

It was a concise tactical summary of each major area of early parenting and where there is enough quality evidence to suggest one approach is better than another and where there isn't. An important point is that throughout all the decisions she discusses, there is a large role for a parent's own preferences, and she points out how each child, parent, and family situation is different, and that usually is a much bigger determining factor than anything else.

The book covered a lot of things I've read about in other places, and her list of references and books she refers to is pretty good. Below are my limited notes (my "crib sheet") on Cribsheet.

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Intro
Economist approach using data to parenting decisions in first 3 years

Part 1 in the beginning

1 first 3 days
Baths
Circumcision
Rooming in at hospital benefits not worth it so should get the sleep
Short supplementation with formula to maintain weight ok
Delay cord cutting good
Vitamin K shot good

2 wait you want me to take it home
Swaddling worth it
Limit germ exposure in very beginning 

3 take the mesh underwear home

Part 2 the first year

4 breastfeeding 
Some health benefits for kids and mom

5 breastfeeding how to
Skin to skin helps

6 sleep position and location
Sleep in own bed in your room first 4 months then in its room

7 organize your baby
Sleep schedule and nap dropping times

8 vaccination yes please

9 stay at home or at work
No difference in effects to child

10 who should take care of baby
Nanny or grandparent a little better earlier and daycare a little better later

11 sleep training
Cry it out works scientifically and improves attachment and feeling of security and happiness for kids and parents
Bedtime routine
Key is consistency

12 beyond the boobs, solid food
Offer variety
Don’t give alternate if kid doesn’t want some food

Part 3 from baby to toddler

13 physical milestones
Late walking doesn’t predict anything bad
Kids in winter sick 50% of time. Average cold lasts 14 days and kids get 6-8 per year 

14 tv
TV leads to bad outcomes
Educational programs don’t do much
Language delays from more access to phone

15 language development 
Late talking slightly predictive of later learning issues but not much

16 potty training
Earlier u start, longer it takes to complete

17 discipline
Positive parenting
Age appropriate expectations 

18 education 
Reading to child makes huge difference
Ask open ended questions while reading

Part 4 home front

19 internal politics
Marriage gets worse after kids
Unequal chore allocation
Less intimacy
Sleep huge determinant of marital happiness
Marriage checkup and counseling

20 expansions
Not much science on what’s optimal
Quantity quality trade off
Birth order matters. Later siblings get worse/less education/attention due to less time
No differences in personality or harm to only children
Large birth spacing better from older child

21 growing up and letting go
Older kids harder problems
Just do your best and try not to think too much about it

References
123 magic
The incredible years