Cribsheet Audiobook By Emily Oster cover art

Cribsheet

A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Cribsheet

By: Emily Oster
Narrated by: Karissa Vacker
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

From the author of Expecting Better, an economist's guide to the early years of parenting.

With Expecting Better, award-winning economist Emily Oster spotted a need in the pregnancy market for advice that gave women the information they needed to make the best decision for their own pregnancies. By digging into the data, Oster found that much of the conventional pregnancy wisdom was wrong. In Cribsheet, she now tackles an even great challenge: decision-making in the early years of parenting.

As any new parent knows, there is an abundance of often-conflicting advice hurled at you from doctors, family, friends, and the internet. From the earliest days, parents get the message that they must make certain choices around feeding, sleep, and schedule or all will be lost. There's a rule - or three - for everything. But the benefits of these choices can be overstated, and the trade-offs can be profound. How do you make your own best decision?

Armed with the data, Oster finds that the conventional wisdom doesn't always hold up. She debunks myths around breastfeeding (not a panacea), sleep training (not so bad!), potty training (wait until they're ready or possibly bribe with M&Ms), language acquisition (early talkers aren't necessarily geniuses), and many other topics. She also shows parents how to think through freighted questions like if and how to go back to work, how to think about toddler discipline, and how to have a relationship and parent at the same time.

Economics is the science of decision-making, and Cribsheet is a thinking-parent's guide to the chaos and frequent misinformation of the early years. Emily Oster is a trained expert - and mom of two - who can empower us to make better, less fraught decisions - and stay sane in the years before preschool.

*Includes a Bonus PDF of graphs.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Emily Oster (P)2019 Penguin Audio
Decision-Making & Problem Solving Relationships Sexual & Reproductive Health Pregnancy Sexual health Career Baby Development
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

“Both refreshing and useful. With so many parenting theories driving us all a bit batty, this is the type of book that we need to help calm things down.” (LA Times)

“Parents who find comfort in statistics, and especially those who enjoy Malcolm Gladwell’s works, will appreciate [Cribsheet].” (Booklist)

"Cribsheet, a new book by Emily Oster of Brown University, shows that in the hectic haze of parenthood an economist’s perspective can prove surprisingly clarifying.... Parenting can be fraught. Cribsheet aims to help parents do better.” (The Economist)

What listeners say about Cribsheet

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,286
  • 4 Stars
    281
  • 3 Stars
    81
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    19
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,161
  • 4 Stars
    197
  • 3 Stars
    34
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    12
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,043
  • 4 Stars
    242
  • 3 Stars
    82
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    17

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such a great book

I just love how Emily Oster presents information! I would recommend this book to any parent-to-be or parent with younger kids. She just does such a good job of tackling the mountains of data and research out there and explaining it all in an easy to stomach way manner, no pushiness either! I feel more confident making my own parenting decisions after hearing her logical summation of the various thought processes and related research.

Also, the narration is pleasant and easy to listen to, Karissa Vacker does a great job!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Practical Advice

Helpful to review the research and learn that there are many ways to parent, with pros and cons fitting each family uniquely.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Balanced and data focused

I loved all the information that was provided in such a straightforward and balanced way. In addition to data she discusses how to use that data to assess risks and make a decision that is right for YOUR family, which feels both refreshing and ultimately so helpful. Knowing some of these studies she brought out did help me make decisions I struggled with before and feel better about going toward as the kids get older. The narration was great and easy to follow!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great insights

Loved learning about toddlerhood and choices for parents at this stage. The performance was great and not boring

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Can’t stand the narrator’s voice.

The only complaint I have about this audiobook is the author’s choice of narrator. I don’t want to be read a bedtime story and the narrator’s tone is too gentle and quiet for a book of this nature. It really detracts from the great data and presentation of findings.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love Emily Oster, not this narrator

I enjoy this book, but the lady narrating it is rather annoying to me. She sounds very worrisome the entire book and misses the author’s sense of humor. If you can stomach the narrator’s voice, give it a listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Love the data

Overall I liked the book! It’s a little nerdy and a little dry in some sections, but super informative. Saving my 5 stars for more fun topics lol but for the subject it was very helpful and informative. Think it will serve as a great reference book when baby comes!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good, but it seems like there isn't a lot of data

Many of the conclusions were, "there's not enough data to know, so do whatever you want," which was a little disappointing!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great content, cloying narration

I like Emily Oster’s work and enjoyed this book. Unlike the matter-of-fact content, the narration sounds like a patronising, condescending morning talk show host.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Must read for any expecting new parent

Every person out there should read this book. My partner and I say that Emily Oster is our “parenting coach” - amazing!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!