Author Pamela Druckerman created a stir last year with her international bestseller BRINGING UP BÉBÉ.  Her memoir touted the advantages of French parenting and started a provocative conversation heard from the boardroom to the ballpark.

Last week, Druckerman’s new bébé arrived — BÉBÉ DAY BY DAY:  100 Keys To French Parenting (The Penguin Press). 

The book is a how-to guide for new parents and veterans alike and gives readers the best of from her memoir.  In this new companion book Druckerman teaches parents the timeless maxims of French child-rearing and in doing so, has changed my life forever.

Organized by topic into 10 sections  (including sleeping, eating, discipline, motherhood, and relationships), BÉBÉ DAY BY DAY offers 100 clear, concise rules along with brief discussions on how to parent the French way. With irresistible illustrations and recipes throughout (including a crèche meal plan), BÉBÉ DAY BY DAY belongs on every parent and caregiver’s shelf.

The best two things about the book, in my opinion, are that Druckerman’s rules are not complicated, and that you can dip into the book and pick one rule to try at a time — each offers a simple solution made up of equal parts common sense, intuition, and proactivity all designed to effect positive change NOW.

Some of my favorite rules include:

On Eating: Rule #25 There is no “kid” food. Everyone eats the same thing.

On Dessert: Rule #59 Let them eat cake!

On Discipline: Rule #42 Say “wait” a lot.  Don’t jump at every demand.

On Work: Rule #72 Go back to Work.  If you don’t work, have non-mom interests.

On Motherhood: Rule #53 Don’t constantly entertain your child. Stimulate him, but not all the  time. Teach them to cope with boredom. Let them muddle through.

On Relationships: Rule #73 Find your couple again.  Your baby doesn’t replace your husband. Or your partner. Date night is non-negotiable.

In BÉBÉ DAY BY DAY Pamela Druckerman addresses universal parenting concerns and teaches us we can change our parenting styles and in doing so, we will dramatically improve our  own lives as Moms and women.

Merci, Pamela!

(PS:  Last week, a group of NYC area Mom bloggers — including yours truly(!) — feted Ms. Druckerman at a book party sponsored by The Penguin Press and Go Mighty — check out the Bebe Rules that were featured on cute chalk boards, photos of Pamela Druckerman, and all the party photos on Flickr.  Photo credit and permission granted for all photos and links by Go Mighty and Leslie Fandrich, photographer.)