Disclaimer – I received Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year for the purpose of writing a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year by Maria Lianos-Carbone is a refreshing book, and one that moms will be able to relate to. While there are many books and resources available regarding how to care for your baby, moms also need to know how to care for themselves. I wish this book was around back in 2008, when I was a new mom.
Maria Lianos-Carbone is a mom of two, social media strategist, and publisher of www.amotherworld.com, a leading lifestyle blog for women who happen to be moms. In her book, Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year, keeps the focus on moms.
My daughter is now nine years old, and I really wish I had this book in those early days. The book discusses everything new moms go through and topics new moms want to know about, but perhaps don’t know where to go to for answers. Maria writes about bringing baby home, whether or not visitors are welcome, sleep, milestones, and more.
As I read Oh Baby! I found myself nodding in agreement and saying out loud, “Yes! That is exactly how I felt!” as I reflected upon my daughter’s first year of life — and my first year as a mom.
One chapter that really caught my attention was Chapter Thirteen. There’s a section in Baby’s Milestones where Comparing Babies is discussed. This is all too common, and it is also something that I had a very difficult time dealing with. Moms seem to compare babies all the time. I do not think moms intentionally mean to hurt other moms with comments like, “Oh! Your baby isn’t crawling yet?” or “Shouldn’t your baby be sitting up on his own already?”
At least I hope moms don’t intentionally say things to make other moms feel badly or inadequate, or that there is something wrong with their baby.
Our daughter was born at 28 weeks. She was a preemie, and in her first year, we went by her corrected age and not her chronological age. 
For people who are not familiar with premature babies and their development, it may be difficult to understand. Though Little One may have been six months old, she looked like a three month old because she was born twelve weeks early. I used to get odd looks and other moms with babies Little One’s age would always say, “Oh. She’s so small. She’s really six months old?” or “She’s not eating solid food yet?”
It was so frustrating.
Maria writes that comparing a child’s development with other children is natural. “It’s when parents become competitive that it becomes troublesome.”
There’s also the section in Oh Baby! that discusses Comparing Moms. “When views and choices don’t fit that norm, some women are left feeling discouraged and subpar.” Parenting style, lifestyle choices are often things moms may find themselves comparing.
Over the past few years, many of my friends and family members have had babies, and oftentimes, they ask me questions like, “Was [insert Little One’s real name] doing this when she was three months old?” or “When did you wean Little One?”, and “How long did you leave her rear-facing in her car seat?” or “When did you switch from car seat to booster seat?”
Though time and experience may have given me the ability to share my parenting experiences, it is great to have a book or resources to share from. In fact, I think that Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year would be a great gift to give at every baby shower. All moms should read this book.
What I also enjoyed about this book is that Maria writes in a straight up, tell all way and in a tone moms can relate to. Reading this book, one feels like they are talking to a friend. 
I love the openness and honesty in Oh Baby! Pages 30 to 32 discuss Changing Baby’s Diaper. When I got to the part that read “Who knew that baby’s poop could fly across a room?”, I burst out in laughter. Maria is so honest and so funny. Yes, who knew that baby’s poop could fly across a room or that a tiny human could get poop all the way up their back even with a diaper on?
Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year
Whether you’re a new mom or know a new mom, this book is a great read. Oh Baby! is a great reminder that moms need a little TLC too.
Do you want to read Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year or know a mom who would love to read this book? You can purchase your copy at either Barnes & Noble, Chapters-Indigo, and Amazon
GIVEAWAY
Raincoast Books and Maria are offering a copy to one of our lucky readers. To enter for a chance to win a copy of Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year, simply use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway open to residents of Canada only. Ends April 6, 2018.
The best advice I heard was to sleep when baby sleeps and do not be afraid to accept help. Let others help you by doing laundry or preparing freezer meals. Also, do what is best for YOU and YOUR family.
The greatest advice I have heard so many mention – sleep when the baby sleeps! Get used to saying goodbye to old routines and doing things in bits and pieces!
Best advice I got was sleep when baby sleeps. I at first thought when baby sleeps it would be a good time to get laundry, dishes, vacuuming done, but moms need to recharge our batteries too and laundry, dishes and crumbs on the floor will always be there to clean up.
I’ve only been a mom for a couple years, but the best thing I’ve learned (or been taught) was to follow the lead of your own kid. He doesn’t like baby cereal? Skip it and go to purees. He hates the stroller? Invest in a great baby carrier. The book says 3+ but you know he can handle it? Go for it.