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

You're an independent career woman suddenly dropped into the chaos of Babyville. You have a newborn to care for, three months (if you're lucky) of unstructured time to fill, a work decision to make (to go back full-time? part-time? job share?), childcare to acquire, and family finances to balance. You need someone to make you laugh during the hard times, a doctor to call in the middle of the night, and a good career counselor to boot. Never fear! Sure to become the gold standard resource during that crazy first year, The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville combines stories and sisterly advice from the trenches, infant care information and tips from a pediatrician, and career and budget guidance from a pro. From getting baby to sleep through the night to making the most of maternity leave, from weighing work options to finding childcare, from networking with new parents to emotionally transitioning from "Ms. Independent to Mom," it offers desperately needed, easy-to-execute strategies and expert solutions on all manner of Year One issues. The essential guidebook for today's busy career moms, it's every bit as hip, smart, and savvy as the women who'll be reading it.

A Girlfriend's Guide for the new millennium-the one book every working gal needs to read before, during, and after she experiences new motherhood

Publishers Weekly

In the glut of parenting tomes, Hobey, a writer for Parenting magazine, has found a niche with this informative and practical guide on becoming a working mom. The book, which tries to be all things baby, succeeds best when it focuses on work. Moms, for instance, don't need step-by-step instructions on how to diaper a baby (with no illustrations). And sleep-deprived mothers who barely find time to shower will plunge into despair over Hobey's suggestion that they productively use their maternity leave to try something new, such as making caramelized pear tarts with cardamom cream. However, on the work front, her manual is not just instructional but indispensable. Worksheets help moms clarify the emotional and financial aspects of working versus staying home (what she refers to as sequencing work and family). Concrete suggestions on alternatives to full-time (e.g., flextime, freelancing, flexplace), how to choose child care and ways to continue networking are clear and well researched. Success stories and snippets of moms' lives make potentially dry material an easy read, plus the writing is frequently jaunty, attempting to step in as a modern Girlfriend's Guide. This book should be supplemented with a true baby guide (the short asides from pediatrician Dr. Nied don't cover enough). (June) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

"My Adventures in Babyville" is a relatable and practical guidebook for new mothers navigating the challenges of parenthood and work-life balance. The author shares her personal journey as a working mom, from the initial optimism of seamlessly merging her career and family life to the realization that her peaceful world order was about to be disrupted. Faced with the impending return to work, she explores various options such as freelancing, working from home, and flexible schedules. Unable to find a comprehensive resource to help her navigate these challenges, she decides to write this book herself, providing concise and useful advice on topics ranging from finding a pediatrician to managing childcare. With input from a pediatrician, the book offers expert tips and guidance, acknowledging that each mother's experience is unique and encouraging them to find their own path in combining work and motherhood. You have a newborn to care for, three months (if you're lucky) of unstructured time to fill, a work decision to make (go back full-time? flextime? part-time? stay home a while?), child care to acquire, and new-mom friends to find. You need someone to make you laugh during the hard times, a doctor to call in the middle of the night, and a really good career counselor too.Never fear! The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville is your essential year-one resource for life with baby-combining stories and sisterly advice from the trenches, easy-to-execute infant-care recommendations from a pediatrician, and career and budget guidance from a pro. Learn how to nurture a supersleeper, enthusiastic eater, and all-around contented child while managing your life and career with wildly unexpected, Zen-like control! Babyville, here you come! Introduction: Loving life among the little people Preparing for maternity leave Your newborn care survival guide Breastfeeding and bottle feeding Your postchildbirth recovery guide Making the most of your days at home Friends, family, sex, and romance Living for less and loving it Your simple, step-by-step guide to making the hardest decision of your life Negotiating your ideal position Nine simple steps to great child care Loving life as a working mom Today's strategic, temporary stay-at-home moms The secrets to a happy baby Nurturing a super sleeper Creating an enthusiastic eater Ideal toys and activities for every infant stage Babyville basics Baby geniuses Conclusion: Next step Toddlerville (and you thought this year was wacky). An essential year-one resource for life with baby. Contains stories and advice, recommendations from a pediatrician, and career and budget guidance Welcome to that postpartum parallel universe we call Babyville, a land seemingly run by the little people.