What to Expect the Second Year ($75 Gift Basket Giveaway)

When I was pregnant, I was obsessed with the original What to Expect title, What to Expect When You’re Expecting.  It was immensely helpful at easing my anxieties as I prepared to bring my baby in the world and it covered everything I wanted to know, from baby’s development through labor and delivery and more.

Picking up right where What to Expect the First Year left off, now there’s What to Expect the Second Year, a parent’s guide to toddlerhood.  It’s also Heidi Murkoff’s new baby, as she states in the promotional video.

When you’re scrambling for answers, it’s nice to have a reference book like this.  My toddler is now in her third year, but there are so topics that are still relevant.  Like dealing with picky eaters, comfort objects and tantrums.  And it’s always good to have a trusted source for illnesses and injuries, including CPR instructions.

The growth charts inside also cover up to 36 months, so that I can watch Emma grow off the charts.  Especially as we await more sequels to the What to Expect series.

Heidi Murkoff’s take on the “Veggie is a four-letter word” behavior, a definite issue in our house:

Explanation:
Besides the obvious control issues (“You want me to eat my vegetables, Mom? That’s reason enough not to”), it’s a matter of taste–really. Tender toddler tastebuds are actually way more sensitive than grown-up ones, which means that broccoli really can taste yucky.

Solution:
Offer up those veggies (especially with dips–toddlers are huge fans of the dip), eat them yourself (tots love to model mom and dad), but don’t push the green agenda. Veggies don’t have a monopoly on nutrients–in fact, a juice slice of cantaloupe contains more vitamin C and vitamin A than a broccoli stalk. Sweet revenge for veggie haters! Ditto sweet potatoes.

GIVEAWAY
Win a What to Expect gift basket valued at $75!
Includes What to Expect the Second Year, board books, building blocks, balls toddler-sized utensils, safety covers, a snuggly stuffed animal and more!
(US Only – Ends April 25th)

Mandatory Entry: Visit the What to Expect the Second Year site and tell me what you learned while there.

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Contest is open to US residents (no P.O. boxes) and closes at Midnight EST on April 25th, 2011. One main entry per household.  Thank you to the sponsor for supplying the items for review and giveaway.