Cribsheet

Summary

Cribsheet applies economist Emily Oster’s evidence-first approach to the chaos of early parenting. From breastfeeding to sleep training, vaccines to daycare, the book cuts through the cultural noise and parenting advice wars by asking: what does the research actually show, and how certain is it?

The central gift of the book is permission: Oster consistently shows that many hot-button parenting debates have weaker evidence on one side than the culture suggests, which means parents can make thoughtful choices based on their own circumstances rather than fear or social pressure. Read this if you are exhausted by conflicting parenting advice and want a calmer, more rational framework. Implement it by identifying one contested decision you’re anxious about and reading Oster’s chapter on it before making your next choice.