Babyproofing Your Marriage

How to Laugh More, Argue Less, and Communicate Better as Your Family Grows

By: Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O'Neill, Julia Stone

Narrated by: Christopher Burns, Jennifer Van Dyck

Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Addressing both the male and female perspective, Babyproofing Your Marriage explores the impact of parenthood on marriage. It attacks the complicated subject by detailing the insights of and lessons learned by both men and women. Quotes from real people, bolstered by the author's own experiences as young mothers and wives, give the work a balanced and honest voice, fuelled by first-hand knowledge.

Like a friend who will give it to you straight, Babyproofing Your Marriage speaks to the listener with candor, humor, and empathy. The book explores many common frustrations, including division of labor disputes, the confusion of changing roles and expectations, the anxiety over sex (or lack thereof), and dealing with parents and in-laws.

Yet rather than just providing reassurance that such aggravations are common, the book offers insight into why marital problems occur and how they can be addressed. This analysis of marital issues is especially fascinating because it clearly demarcates the differences in male and female opinion. Explaining the deep divide between how men and women respond to parenthood, the authors provide a way to bridge the gap; they offer innovative remedies for the negative influence of young children on marriage.

Touching a raw nerve, the book strikes at the heart of who we are as individuals, couples, and families, by discussing subjects that are normally taboo. People don't want to appear disloyal to their spouse or seem resentful of their children, but at the same time, they are desperate to find solutions. With insightful analysis, unique advice, and a humorous tone, Babyproofing Your Marriage will become an indispensable guide for parents everywhere.

©2007 Stacie Cockrell and Cathy O'Neill (P)2007 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Will give you an honest look at how your marriage will forever change once baby makes three....The authors - all married, with seven children among them - don't have fancy initials after their names, and the book is all the better for it. Instead, readers will find funny, honest, and candid observations that will have you realizing: 'So, that's what my spouse is thinking.'" (The Fresno Bee)

Just in time!

I loved it. it came to me at a PERFECT time. Well narrated,loved the additional "real people" comments.

every pregnant and current mom needs to read this

I think if you are pregnant you should listen to prepar for whats to come and if you already have kids... gear up for some perspective. great book

What every parent knows but no one tells you!

Pregnant with my first child I've been reading all the how-to books I can get my hands on. Baby Proofing Your Marriage is unlike anything else I've read so far yet I think it's been the most important. Basically how can we expect to raise healthy, happy, functional children if our foundation crumbles i.e. the marriage. The authors take real world cases and commentary from both wives and husbands to narrow down the most common problems all new parents can expect to encounter. They don't choose sides and are straight forward and blunt with what's to blame for most marriage problems. But after all the hard to swallow truth they offer practical easy to follow advise. I'm sure my husband and I will fall into the same traps most new parents do but at least know we are equip to recognize them and have common sense solutions to save our marriage.

The worst male voice in history

I couldn’t stand the man’s voice, by the end I was just excited that he would no longer be in my life.

Great book for sahm moms and dads.

My wife and I both have played the stay at home role. We both encountered the problems as the parent who works and the parent who stays home. This book does an excellent job at putting words to those feelings. Couldn’t recommend it more.

if wife is pregnant or you are pregnant. get it!

if wife is pregnant or you are pregnant. get it! very insightful and basic conversations and questions you need to have with yourself for insight on what you are getting into.

Negative and Not Helpful

I’m expecting, FTM, and thought I’d get a head start on some of the things about parenting that could interfere with my marriage, but it turns out this book is majority husband bashing and quite negative. I had to turn it off because it’s implying my marriage is doomed and husband won’t be a good father. It’s a miserable read with no actual tips to the scenarios. Put me in a bad space mentally.

Great Book

What a great read. It really helped both my husband and I see what the other person valued and appreciate each other more. Highly recommended!

Love The Conversation

Really engages your thought process. Turning the advice into practice has really helped after a few days. Hopefully the help lasts longer than just that. Mind you this isn't a book to save marriages but a place to go to know that you're normal and other people are feeling the same thing you are.

A lot of complaining

parts of it were funny... but it was mostly quotes from complaining spouses. became slightly repetitive too.
not terrible.. forced myself to finish it though