Bringing Up Bébé

One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting

By: Pamela Druckerman

Narrated by: Abby Craden

The secret behind France's astonishingly well-behaved children is here.

When American journalist Pamela Druckerman has a baby in Paris, she doesn't aspire to become a "French parent". French parenting isn't a known thing, like French fashion or French cheese. Even French parents themselves insist they aren't doing anything special.

Yet the French children Druckerman knows sleep through the night at two or three months old while those of her American friends take a year or more. French kids eat well-rounded meals that are more likely to include braised leeks than chicken nuggets. And while her American friends spend their visits resolving spats between their kids, her French friends sip coffee while the kids play.

Motherhood itself is a whole different experience in France. There's no role model, as there is in America, for the harried new mom with no life of her own. French mothers assume that even good parents aren't at the constant service of their children and that there's no need to feel guilty about this. They have an easy, calm authority with their kids that Druckerman can only envy.

Of course, French parenting wouldn't be worth talking about if it produced robotic, joyless children. In fact, French kids are just as boisterous, curious, and creative as Americans. They're just far better behaved and more in command of themselves. While some American toddlers are getting Mandarin tutors and preliteracy training, French kids are - by design - toddling around and discovering the world at their own pace.

With a notebook stashed in her diaper bag, Druckerman, a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal, sets out to learn the secrets to raising a society of good little sleepers, gourmet eaters, and reasonably relaxed parents. She discovers that French parents are extremely strict about some things and strikingly permissive about others. And she realizes that to be a different kind of parent, you don't just need a different parenting philosophy. You need a very different view of what a child actually is.

While finding her own firm non, Druckerman discovers that children - including her own - are capable of feats she'd never imagined.

©2012 Pamela Druckerman (P)2012 Random House

Loved this - and I don't even have children

Humerous and sometimes serious account of living in Paris and raising children there. I found it interesting to listen to the differences and want to apply some of the advice for myself (no snacking between meals, but for a planned one in the afternoon). Fun book!

Great book, pretentious narration

This book made me feel better about being a calm parent. I have a six month old, and I've been wound up by the past year of American shoulds and should-nots. It was a relief to learn about the French approach, or un-approach, which is far more relaxed and realistic than what I've encountered as a new parent in the U.S.

That being said, the narration is irritating.

Loved It!

I thoroughly enjoyed this 'read'! It was interesting, funny. and I looked forward to it every day. It was a delightful diversion from the type of books I usually listen to. I am so glad my daughter-in-law recommended it to me. My only disappointment was when I'd finished it. I was left wanting more! Get it! Immerse yourself in someone else's story…and...Prepare to be Delighted!

life saver!!

loved this book so much, I hadn't worked much on sleep with my baby but at 3 months old I decided to give these ideas a try and it worked like a charm! still on a great schedule at 6 month old and has been sleeping through the night ever since!

The Anti-Helicopter Mom's Reassurance

I have a 4 month old and on comparing myself to other mothers - women at my girl's daycare and friends from college and high school - I was beginning to think I wasn't "mom-ing" hard enough (lol). After reading this book I've decided I'm an awesome mom, but I'm not the type to hover over my child, comparing her every coo and gurgle to every other child and their milestones and achievements at 4 months old, nor will I do so at any age...and that's ok! This book was a nice reassuring comparison to French mothers and the way they strive to instill a sense of self, discipline and independence in their children while also being warm, patient and caring. I feel like maybe I need to move there now and I definitely enjoyed this book. Great for first time moms who don't want to raise children who think the world revolves around them and should stop and start at their beck and call. I want my girl knowing she's loved and special to me but also "no, we don't do that" at times and how the world works in a realistic way. This is one I will be listening to more than once. Highly recommend!

Excellent!

I loved it. Abby craden has a beautiful reading voice and it was well written.

Wow- GREAT Narration

The narration was fantastic!
I really enjoyed the book. I plan on listening again with the hard copy so that I can take notes.

What a fun and useful book

I liked how many stories were peppered into the book, and the contrasting of France and the US. I liked the integration of research. The narrator’s voice was good, but sometimes too sing songy. Overall she was great, though.

For Those Who Can't Stand Other People's Kids

Where does Bringing Up Bebe rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10 non-fiction

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

What about Abby Craden’s performance did you like?

Good job showing what most American parents sound like to everone else

Any additional comments?

I bought this book while pregnant after a chilling and depressing encounter with a shrieking, parent-kicking toddler. "I can't live like this!" I told myself. Since I don't see this behavior in Mexico, Africa, or Europe, I searched for a book that explains how NOT to have my child grow up behaving like virtually every other child I see in America- snacking in church and throwing toys and food crumbs all over the pew, ruining any adult encounters, and having all kinds of horrendous behavior excused with "it's getting close to nap time." Pamela Druckermann does an excellent job of identifying tactics that make sense, and showing that the "child king" does NOT have to be the paradigm.

Beautiful narration. Interesting perspective .

Doesn't give advice so much as culture clash adventure in parenting. Fun to listen and consider.