The Girlfriends' Guide to Baby Gear: What to Buy, What to Borrow, and What to Blow Off!

by Peg Rosen and Vicki Iovine

Book Overview

WHO KNEW BABIES NEEDED SO MANY ACCESSORIES? It's official. You're pregnant. Get used to the fact that life is never going to be the same. And break out the credit card, because that little bundle of joy is going to cost you. The list seems endless--from car seats to changing pads. But don't despair. The Girlfriends are here to take some of the guesswork out of shopping for baby-to-be. We'll tell you when to skimp and when to splurge, and which hand-me-downs...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399528458
• ISBN13: 9780399528453
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Tarcherperigee
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Very helpful for this first time mom!

I got this book as a gift during my recent pregnancy (I just gave birth to my first baby on May 27). Since this was my first baby, I was unsure of what stuff I needed and what stuff was unnecessary. The book was somewhat helpful, especially concerning some of the bigger ticket items that first time moms think they need. I didn't agree with everything they said in the book - specifically about hand me downs. The authors seem to think that you should never under any circumstances get a car seat from a friend - but I think if you know the person well and know the history of the seat, there is no reason why you shouldn't accept one from a friend. I got mine from someone I knew well who took great care of hers. I had the police department check it over and install it, and they said it looked fine as well. Most of the information in the book was very useful to me when I was putting together my baby registry. It's very overwhelming trying to figure out what all you need and the book helped narrow it down quite a bit. I was able to get most of the things I needed without wasting people's time and money on unnecessary items. The book is also very easy to read. The author has a laid back style that is goes over the information in a fun and light-hearted way, making it easy to understand and comprehend. I highly recommend this book - it was definitely useful for me!

Fun, easy, informative read.

This is a great book for first time mom's. Its easy to read, short and to the point, entertaining and full of information and what you need, how much you will need and what you dont need. There are great overviews of different baby necessities and safety devices. As well as what you want to splurge on and what you can get away with skimping on. I would definately reccomend this to anyone who is about to venture into a baby superstore for the first time.

Exntensive lists and explanations of what you really need!

This book is one of Iovine's more updated texts which thoroughly covers all aspects of baby gear....from the nursery to what you'll need in your diaper bag. It is honest and realistic and provides MANY tips along the way (i.e. "diaper rash redux"...where she desribes 5 methods of preventing and curing it). Iovine also includes many money-saving suggestions, as well as names of brands (and often locations) of products that she recommends. I've read several of her books, and this, by far, is the most enjoyable and helpful to a mom preparing for twins!

Must-have for 1st time moms!

I am the mother of a one-year-old and recently purchased this book for a pregnant friend. I read the book before giving it away and wish I would have had it a year ago. It's easy to get overwhelmed when shopping for baby, especially when you are clueless but I think this guide would really help. It cuts to the chase and helps you focus in on what you really need. It recommends some brands where necessary and tells you what you need, what's optional and what to skip. After just completing my first year of motherhood, I consider myself a pretty good expert on babygear and I agreed with most everything in the book. A big plus is that it was released just a few months ago so everything is up-to-date. I would recommend this for all first time mothers-to be.

The Best Book I Have

Since announcing my pregnancy, I have been given books from several friends and family members regarding everything from pregnancy to nursing to the terrible twos. I ended up flipping through each book once and never picking it up again. Yesterday, a friend gave me this Girlfriend's Guide. My husband and I happened to be on our way to the baby store to shop for car seats, and the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Without this book, we never would have been able to navigate the jungle of car seats without going insane. In addition, it made us feel like we were prepared to look at cribs and other baby items--we just referred to the book whenever we had a question about what was good, what was unnecessary, etc. It was a godsend. This book got more use yesterday than all of my other baby books have in the past several months! I am determined to give this as a gift to every expectant mother I know.