Bringing Up Bébé

One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting

By: Pamela Druckerman

Narrated by: Abby Craden

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

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

French Parental Wisdom Explored and Defined

I thought some people are just blessed with “good” kids; however, as this book explains, we teach our children how to behave, for better or for worse. This book supports French parenting wisdom with evidence-based research and explores the historical origins of modern French parenting. Excellent read.

Amazing Tips

This book is funny and informative. I️ found it to be very helpful but not pushy. The writer is amusing and enlightening.

A new way to parenting, focused and simple

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I was hesitant to get this title at first, didn't know what to expect. I'm so glad I got it. It's a big departure from the normal parenting guides.

It starts out the the author's story, how she went from US to France. At first I thought it wasn't relevant... ok at times there's some filler stuff that isn't related to parenting. But when she gets to the parenting stuff it's eye-opening.
It seems simple on the outset. Instead of going through a list of 10 or 20 things to do, the author picks up a handful of very helpful, yet essential parenting techniques and focuses on why they work... why the french believe in them so much, and at times brings up stats and research to support such claims.
I picked up 2 major tips and agreed with my wife to start to apply them with our 9-month old son. Actually, I wish I got this book earlier cuz it seems to answer things I doubted when my kid was like 3 or 4 months old.
I'm halfway through the program and can't wait to finish it.

Was very interesting book and had good info

What made the experience of listening to Bringing Up Bebe the most enjoyable?

the story telling was nice and very attractive and not boring at all. but actually not all advises about kids are doable as not all kids are the same, and we can't apply it due to the difference between all countries and France ! :) and there is a culture difference too, but honesty speaking, there are so valuable information in the book that we can take the benefit of it

Who was your favorite character and why?

the french woman :)

Have you listened to any of Abby Craden’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no, it was the first time

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes, but it was too long to finish in one sitting, as I'm a working mother, it makes me feel that being a working mother is a good them, and reduce feeling guilty way more. and made me feel good about myself, made me that I have to focus on myself in order to be a good mother, and I shouldn't let my kid control my universe, and I should make my universe as I wanted to be. good tips about Adult time :)

I was listening to the book while driving to my work, or on my way back, or when I go to make padi/mani :) great book, I really recommend it

Loved it

A friend of mine recommended I listened to this book. I am very glad I did. I found it interesting, funny, and has some great tips.

Pleasant and informative

I really enjoyed this book. As new mom and a European living in United States I have to say I needed to read/listen to a book like this one. Thank you!

Wonderful Narrator and Flow

I enjoyed pretty much everything about this book! It was very easy and interesting to listen to, and I genuinely feel as though I’ve learned things that I would like to implement with my own child, who is only seven months old. I would definitely recommend! 

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!