Award-winning economist and author Emily Oster recently joined us at the Rotman School of Management to discuss her latest book, Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool. In this book, Oster tackles decision-making in the early years of parenting by utilizing an evidence-based approach to debunk myths and clarify advice around issues such as breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and exposing children to peanuts. She encourages parents to take a more analytical and scientific approach to the often conflicting parenting advice they receive.
Further, Oster argues that when making parenting decisions (like whether-or-not to sleep train or when to start potty training), it’s important to know the data and the evidence but it’s also important to make decisions based on what’s right for your family.
“Economics is about decision-making, and about objectively looking at the evidence and data, and then making a decision that takes into account that data but also the preferences that you have [as a parent].”
