I have discovered a fantastic new book. We've all wondered, Why do babies cry? (or more specifically, Why won't this baby stop crying?) We've wondered why they suck their thumbs and why they drool so much. I know that I, for one, have wondered on many occasions why babies like to play with their poop.

For those of you who aren't merely muttering to yourself regarding the "why" of these phenomenon but actually might like an answer, Jennifer Margulis has recently released Why Babies Do That: Baffling Baby Behavior Explained.

Margulis, who is also the editor of
Toddler: Real-life Stories of Those Fickle, Irrational, Urgent, Tiny People We Love, explains 40 of the most common—yet often taken for granted—baby habits in this adorable, easy-to-read book. Each answer is only a page long, but don't let that fool you. You are able to acquire the info you need in less than a minute, which is exactly how much time moms have to figure these things out! In some cases, Margulis even offers hints for solving the issue. For example, in the Why Do Babies Cry? section, she provides a few soothing strategies. To boot, the book is filled with some awfully cute pictures of babies in action!

This is a great resource to have on hand whether you're expecting your first or your fifth (even after having my fourth, I found myself walking around the house muttering, "Why is he still crying?" more often than not). Better yet, it makes an awesome gift for a friend who's expecting. Expectant moms often have far more time to lie on the couch learning the intricacies of why babies do what they do before they are here doing it, right?