Bringing Up Bébé Book Summary

In "Bringing Up Bébé," Pamela Druckerman offers a fresh perspective on parenting through her experiences as an American mother in France. She contrasts the relaxed yet effective French childcare methods with the often frantic American approach, revealing secrets to raising well-behaved, independent children. With charming anecdotes and insightful observations, Druckerman explores how cultural differences shape family dynamics and child development. As she navigates her own challenges as a parent abroad, readers are invited to question their preconceived notions of parenting success. Are the French truly onto something, or is it simply a matter of perspective?

By Pamela Druckerman

Published: 2014

"American parents are often too afraid to say 'no' to their children."

Book Review of Bringing Up Bébé

“On questions of how to live, the French never disappoint. . . . Maybe it all starts with childhood. That is the conclusion that readers may draw from Bringing Up Bébé.” —The Wall Street Journal “I’ve been a parent now for more than eight years, and—confession—I’ve never actually made it all the way through a parenting book. But I found Bringing Up Bébé to be irresistible.” —Slate The runaway New York Times bestseller that shows American parents the secrets behind France's amazingly well-behaved children, from the author of There Are No Grown-ups. When American journalist Pamela Druckerman had a baby in Paris, she didn't aspire to become a “French parent.” But she noticed that French children slept through the night by two or three months old. They ate braised leeks. They played by themselves while their parents sipped coffee. And yet French kids were still boisterous, curious, and creative. Why? How? With a notebook stashed in her diaper bag, Druckerman set out to investigate—and wound up sparking a national debate on parenting. Researched over three years and written in her warm, funny voice, Bringing Up Bébé is deeply wise, charmingly told, and destined to become a classic resource for American parents.

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American parents are often too afraid to say 'no' to their children.

Bringing Up Bébé

By Pamela Druckerman