Despite the somewhat cheesy title, I really enjoyed reading The Must-Have Mom Manual by Sara Ellington and Stephanie Triplett.  The authors are two best friends who became moms around the same time.  In this book, they share their experiences and offer advice to the rest of us.  The great thing about this “manual,” however, is that Ellington and Triplett never preach, lecture, judge, or criticize.  In fact, the authors themselves have made vastly different decisions about how to be a “good” mom.  For example, one chose breastfeeding, the other chose bottles.  One chose to go back to work, the other chose to stay home.  One chose co-sleeping, the other chose crib-sleeping.  This book is a much-needed reminder that there is no one right way to be a mom.

The Must-Have Mom Manual is a delight to read.  It’s chatty and funny - I couldn’t put it down.  Reading it, I felt like I was having a real conversation with my girlfriends.  While it won’t replace the medical advice of organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, this book will give you an insider’s perspective into day-to-day life as a mommy.  There are practical chapters on choosing day care, postpartum depression, and potty training as well as thoughtful chapters about transitioning to life with baby such as “Dining Out with Your Baby or Child,” “Marriage 911,” and, my favorite, “You Don’t Have to Be Perfect.”  Each chapter concludes with a list of useful print and electronic resources.

I have several friends who are pregnant right now and I will be giving copies of The Must-Have Mom Manual to each of them.  The list price is $17; you can get it for $11.56 on amazon.com.

As the parents of a 2-week old, we’ve witnessed our fair share of dirty diapers and the occasional blow-out.  Thankfully, Pampers Swaddlers disposable diapers are more than equipped to contain the mess.  Cloth diapers were not an option for us given shared laundry facilities and the lack of a diaper service in our community.  And to be honest, although G-diapers are more environmentally friendly, we just couldn’t pass up the convenience of disposable diapers (and I’m not sure our old plumbing could handle flushables).

We haven’t yet had any leakage using Pampers Swaddlers and our baby seems very comfortable.  The diaper is made of a soft cloth-like material and the tab fasteners are Velcro (and not that sticky tape from when I used to babysit 20 years ago).  For the ultimate in upscale design, they are also equipped with a “wetness indicator” - a stripe on the front of the diaper that turns green when wet so you can check the diaper without even taking it off.

Although Pampers are slightly more expensive than competing brands, we think they are well worth the price.  It is also the brand used by our hospital - what better recommendation is that? You can buy Pampers Swaddlers wherever diapers are sold or online at diapers.com, where they are currently on sale ($20.99 for a pack of 84 newborn diapers and free shipping on orders over $49).

I was very excited to see this great Diaper Bag Tote by Lands’ End on sale for $14.99!  I’ve been looking for a diaper bag to carry with our first son, who is due in just a few weeks.  Bags that look like, well, diaper bags, haven’t really appealed to me.  I do love the classic canvas totes by Lands’ End, however.

This diaper bag is just a souped-up version of the original Lands’ End tote bag.  It features the same sturdy 100% cotton canvas and secure zip-top, but with extra features such as 6 inside mesh pockets for organizing your gear and a changing pad.  It measures 17 1/2″Wx13 1/2″HX6″D and is available with soft mint, light sky blue, or pastel pink trim.  Best of all, it doesn’t look like a diaper bag, so it will pull double duty as a convenient tote.

The Lands’ End Diaper Bag Tote is regularly $29.50 but is currently on sale for $14.99.  Mongramming is available for $5.00 extra.  You can purchase one at landsend.com.

We’ve heard from a few Upscale Baby Blog readers frustrated with their preschool search.

What impact will this one decision have on your child’s life?  Do we put too much emphasis on finding the perfect preschool?  Most parents I’ve talked to are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that their children are in a comfortable, safe environment.

We are starting a new project to help parents with their preschool search.  We need to consult moms and dads with preschoolers.

If you are looking for a preschool or have a child in preschool please contact us.  We’ll send you a few questions.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Each character in the WorryWoo Monsters series is based on an emotion. UpscaleBaby previously reviewed Rue, the Monster of Insecurity and Nola, the Monster of Loneliness and their associated storybooks. Other characters in the WorryWoo series include Fuddle, the Monster of Confusion and Squeek, the Monster of Innocence (storybooks are forthcoming for these Woos).

These plush characters are cuddly and soft and kids of all ages will love their bright colors, wacky looks, and signature belly buttons. Moreover, kids will be able to relate to the insecurities these monsters embody. Andi Green created the WorryWoos to encourage children and their caregivers to be open about their feelings. “It is okay to feel sad or lonely, and I think it is important that children know that they are not alone,” she writes. Kids certainly won’t feel alone with one of these friendly monsters by their side.

Each stuffed doll is approximately 11 inches tall and meets ASTM safety standards. They can be purchased for $21.50 each at the WorryWoo Store at shopatron.com. Storybooks retail for $14.50.

Although we’re still awaiting the arrival of our first child, reading will play a central role in our family activities. We’re thrilled to add this book to our growing library. Like the other books in the WorryWoo series, The Lonely Little Monster by Andi Green has an endearing moral. The story features Nola, The Monster of Loneliness, whose only wish in life is to find a friend. This charming tale chronicles Nola’s desperation and feelings of isolation and her ultimate delight at discovering friends who were there all along. The text is written in rhyme, which makes it flow well for reading aloud. Children of all ages will empathize with Nola and the story will encourage open and honest discussion of emotions.

What is really unique about The Lonely Little Monster Storybook, however, are the hand illustrations by Andi Green. The pages are full of beautiful, colorful watercolors that will encourage your child’s imagination and creativity. The book itself is truly a work of art. I would love to have some of the illustrations in poster-size for our nursery.

The Lonely Little Monster Storybook, which recently won a MoonBeam Children’s Book Award, is available in hardcover from the WorryWoo Store at shopatron.com for $14.50. An accompanying plush Nola doll can also be purchased for $21.50.

See also UpscaleBaby’s reviews of The Nose That Didn’t Fit and the WorryWoo Monsters series.

For me, the Tummy Sleeve by Motherhood Maternity has been a convenient solution to my early pregnancy fashion woes. I’m not showing yet and therefore am still too small for maternity clothes yet I can no longer button my jeans! What’s a girl to do? Enter the Tummy Sleeve. It’s like a tube top for your belly.

Made out of a seamless nylon/spandex blend, it serves to discreetly cover up (and hold up) your unbuttoned pants. I wear it over my pre-pregnancy jeans and under a non-maternity top or tee; most of the time my shirt covers the Tummy Sleeve , but if my top is shorter, then I happily sport the layered look (it looks just like a tank top or camisole poking out under my hem).

Early in pregnancy, it’s meant to be worn folded over in half; later as your belly grows, you can wear it as a single layer. My girlfriends also sing the Tummy Sleeve’s praises for post-partum wear. My only complaint is that it sometimes rides up in the back, so I have to tug it down. It’s a small price to pay, however, for being able to wear my pre-pregnancy clothes a little longer.

At $16.98, the Tummy Sleeve by Motherhood Maternity is almost $10 cheaper than its name-brand competitor. It’s available in three colors (black, white, and nude) at motherhood.com .