Product Description

This is the ultimate, all-around baby guide. Not only does it help you navigate the dizzying array of baby products or gear, it also helps you get ready for baby in numerous ways, from preparing for birth, to feeding your newborn, to sleeping arrangements, and to making your home safe for baby. Most other baby-gear guides make you think you need to build on an extra room in your house to accommodate all the necessary items. However, Kathleen Huggins' years of experience with moms and newborns have taught her what you'll need, what you'll want, and what you can definitely do without.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #733655 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

From Publishers Weekly
This comprehensive guide walks new parents step by step through what they need to consider or buy at each stage of pregnancy and long after. A registered nurse, lactation consultant and the owner of a baby supplies shop, Higgins (The Nursing Mother's Companion) provides detailed advice on all the baby preparation fundamentals, from choosing a doctor to baby-proofing the home to writing thank you notes after a baby shower. Though Higgins can be thorough to a fault (like in her exhaustive sections on strollers and diaper styles), testing parents who are more than likely already overwhelmed, her guide is stocked with user-friendly checklists, clear instructions and an easy-to-follow structure. The book's 12 chapters are laid out in more-or-less chronological order, beginning with (among others) "To Do and Get" and "Preparing for Your Baby's Birth," through "Dressing and Grooming" and "Traveling with Your Baby," to "Daycare Options." Perfect for the organized, list making parent-to-be, this guide covers all the bases.
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About the Author
Kathleen Huggins, R.N., M.S., is the author of the million-plus-copy-selling The Nursing Mother’s Companion and co-author of The Nursing Mother’s Guide to Weaning. A registered nurse, certified lactation consultant, and early childcare expert, Kathleen has over 25 years of experience working with pregnant women, new moms, and newborns. She is the owner of the maternity shop Simply Mama in San Luis Obispo, California.

Customer Reviews

A Must Have
This book is so easy to read and informative. It's not lengthy and all the information is pertinent. Out of all the other pregnancy books I have, this is the only one that's 100% practical. It's tailored mostly for the 2nd trimester and beyond, and is a no-nonsense guide about what you probably do and don't need as far as nursery and feeding items go. It also has a good bibliography and checklists of things to do and shop for throughout your pregnancy. It helped me out a lot with shopping and registering for gifts so far. I don't think it's biased at all...and I'm very sensitive to that because our pregnancy is a special situation and we can't and won't be able to do all the things "normal parents" do. The author definitely understands that there are cases (like premature or sick babies) that won't be able to adhere to the "natural birth-breastfeed and bond in your room right away" model. I recommend it because it would be useful to anyone.

If you're lost in the prenatal fog like me...
I have never written a review on Amazon before, but this book compelled me to do so because I have found it so helpful. While I agree with the reviewer who said the book is biased (Huggins' preferences for breastfeeding, natural birth, etc. come out loud and clear), it is still an incredibly useful resource for someone like me--a first-time mom who knows absolutely nothing! I have no younger siblings, rarely babysat, and just generally have not spent much time around infants, so I'm going into parenthood with a totally blank slate. For this reason, I've been looking for someone or something that could tell me what is necessary to do and buy and what is not. (Prior to reading it, I couldn't have told you what a "layette" or a "bumper" was, and I certainly would not have known what to do with a "nasal aspirator.") Registering for my baby shower made me realize how saturated the market is with all kinds of gadgets that scream "buy me!" but personally, I can't afford to buy out the baby section at Target. And I'm not so hypnotized by marketing that I believe I need it all. Huggins breaks down not only what products are necessary for your baby's care, but also what might be better to borrow than to buy. She also offers suggestions for making or doing things yourself instead of paying for them (breast pads, for instance, cut out of diapers)--welcome advice for anyone on a budget! The book is recent enough (2006) that its information on actual products, name brands, etc. is totally up-to-date, a fact I also appreciated. I highly recommend this book for sorting through all the overwhelming purchasing and planning decisions, big and small, you will face as you prepare for parenthood.

A necessary book!
When my friend found out she was pregnant she was happy, but also an emotional mess-- it's a stressful situation! I stumbled on this book and gave it to her, and she's used it as her bible as she gets ready for her new baby. This author knows what she's talking about, and she's very good at telling exactly what you need for your baby and, most importantly, what you DON'T need. This is the only book I know that's so practical. There are lots of touchy-feely books out there to prepare you for motherhood, but no other to help you make the tough practical and financial decisions. I think this book is amazing. I wish it had been there for me!