The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville: Your Must-Have Manual for Life with Baby

This is the best book I read during my pregnancy/new Mom period. I bought this book while I was 7 months pregnant and so tired of the preachy tone of most of the other pregnancy and baby books that I had read. Yes, this book has great advice on sleeping, feeding, etc, but even more impressively, this book (a) talks about issues that no other books talk about, like reconciling your old self image with your new "Mom" image and (b) tackles issues from deciding between breastfeeding and bottle feeding to deciding whether to return to work in a helpful way that doesn't have any particular agenda. The book is practical, funny, extremely readable, and one that I will recommend to all of my friends.

LOVED this book! If you're even thinking about working as a new mother, this is the only book I've seen that walks you through the whole process, from finding childcare to negotiating a family-friendly schedule and heading back to work without losing it. My maternity leave is almost over, and after reading this I feel much more prepared. There's also helpful information on infant sleep routines, feeding, and playtime ideas, and a great chapter on developmental toys and baby geniuses. Plus, it's down-to-earth (you can tell it was written by a new mom who had just been through the whole process herself) and funny. If you only have time to read one or two new parenting books, The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville is a great one. You get the inside scoop on so many key issues. It's also my new favorite baby shower gift. Highly recommended!

The first year of motherhood is so overwhelming. I really enjoyed turning to this book for practical and humorous tips on how to make the most of motherhood. I especially thought the work-related content was very helpful. I can't even tell you how many hours -- days, weeks, months! -- I debated going back to work. It's helpful to have someone who's gone through it all to offer great advice. In reading the book, I felt like Paige Hobey was a good friend helping me out.

As a clinical psychologist for ten-plus years and soon-to-be first time mother, I cannot recommend a better book than The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville! This book has become my "bible" for helping me to navigate all the choices/decisions I am encountering as I embark on the emotional rollercoaster of becoming a mommy. It discusses everything you need to know... from purchasing the most important items you need the minute you arrive home from the hospital with your newborn and the nitty-gritty facts of breast-feeding to what to expect after you give birth and considering how to transition into your new role as a mother. The author not only addresses these loaded emotional decisions mothers must make as they negotiate different roles as a woman (mother, wife, career woman, friend), but does it in a savvy voice with a refreshing sense of humor. The book includes extremely practical information in an easy to read format. Women ---- this book has not left my night table! I have dog-eared so many pages at this point for my husband to read that I have now just insisted he read the entire book. There are must-have lists that I'm thrilled about: A baby shopping list of the stuff I really need to purchase (so I don't have to aimlessly wander the aisles of Buy Buy Baby completely overwhelmed), mandatory baby-sitter/nanny interview questions (now I don't have to call all of my friends and ask them 'what questions do I need to ask when I interview this person to take care of my new child?'), terrific charts of normal eating/feeding and sleeping schedules for your newborn, worksheets to calculate your first year-with-a-baby budget... all of this with sage advice and relevant educational information from a board certified pediatrician. I am slightly amused at the heated debate I have read over the use of the terms 'nanny vs. baby-sitter'. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. As a clinical psychologist, I'm used to most of my patients (or clients, whichever you prefer) calling me a "therapist." A therapist can be anyone with a master's degree or a social worker and not necessarily a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctorate from a prestigious institution and over ten years of post-college training. However, the point is not germane to this discussion, and Ms. Hobey clearly appreciates the semantics involved of the terms 'nanny' and 'babysitter'. Skip those "Nanny" reviews --- that "politically correct" argument is for another forum. And ladies... run, don't waddle to purchase your own copy of The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville.

This book answers almost all the questions you have as a new mom. It gets into what to do about work, how to find the right childcare provider, how to care for your baby, etc. It has so much useful information about the first year of motherhood, and--just as important--it's a really fun read! The work section is particularly helpful. There's a great budget tool so you can calculate your life-with-baby expenses and worksheets so you can think through your work options. I'm thinking about cutting back to part-time, and this book gave me all the info I need to negotiate with my manager. There are lots of great infant care tips from a doctor, too. (My personal favorite: the advice on getting your baby into a nap routine.) I would definitely recommend this book!