What to Expect the First Year: (Updated in 2026)

Updated regularly, America’s baby bible answers all your questions.

How can I get my baby to tell night from day? Is my breastfed baby getting enough to eat? When should I start solids? And what should I start with? When will my baby sleep through the night? Will my colicky baby ever stop crying? What are the best toys for my baby? Is it okay to let my baby play with my smartphone? Should I buy organic for my baby?
With nearly 12 million copies in print,  What to Expect: The First Year is the world’s best-selling, best-loved guide to the instructions that babies don’t come with, but should. Keeping the trademark month-by-month format that allows parents to take the potentially overwhelming first year one step at a time,  First Year  is easy to read, fast to flip through and packed with practical tips, realistic advice, and relatable, accessible information. Including: Baby care fundamentals like crib and sleep safety, feeding, vitamin supplements; support for breastfeeding (getting started and keeping it going). Hot-button topics and trends are tackled: attachment parenting, sleep training, early potty learning (elimination communication), baby-led weaning, and green parenting (from cloth diapers to non-toxic furniture). There are tips on preparing homemade baby food, the latest recommendations on starting solids, research on the impact of screen time (TVs, tablets, apps, computers)—and so much more.