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3 Responses to “Babies by the Bay: The Insider’s Guide to Everything from Doctors and Diapers to Playgrounds and Preschools in the San Francisco Bay Area”

1. admin
   03月 31st, 2008 at 7:53 pm

   

   By jerseymca “jerseymca” (Oakland, CA United States)
   This book is up to date, relevant, and “rings true” when it provides opinions. It’s of most help to people in SF, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, or Marin Counties. We picked it up at about 6 months pregnant, and were impressed at how closely the advice and listings matched what we had experienced ourselves or heard from others. The listings and descriptions of baby stores, for example, along with phone numbers, was worth the price. This book is about where to find products and services; couple it with Baby Bargains to help decide what you need.

2. admin
   03月 31st, 2008 at 7:54 pm

   

   By Sue R “Sue R” (San Francisco, CA)
   Overall, this is a good list of resources, but is probably most useful to the first-time parent or someone who is new to the area.

   For most sections, they cover the criteria you should consider when making your selections and perhaps the process. Very useful information. I found it very good for explaining exactly how one hires a nanny in the bay area or how you get your kid into preschool.

   Much of the listings for activities, museums, etc. can be found in a phone book. And the “ratings” don’t really help for any of the activities because most of them are unrated, but the few that are nearly always rated 5 stars.

   The books biggest failing is its dearth of information for the Peninsula and South Bay, two distinct areas which they merge together under the heading “South Bay”. I guess they do that to disguise how thin the info is compared to that for San Francisco and the North Bay.

   Note that if you live in the “north peninsula” (Milbrae, San Bruno, South San Francisco, Daly City) that for these 4 densely-populated towns the listings are ESPECIALLY thin, even compared to the lightly covered Burlingame, San Mateo, Redwood City, and Palo Alto. On the north peninsula, you will not find a single listing for any preschools or parks, and only 2 daycares are listed.

   Sections are:
   Ch 1: Obstetricians, Midwifes, Pediatricians, Hospitals, Birth Centers, Prenatal educators, labor doulas, cord blood banks, infertility treatment programs, adoption, help for kids with special needs, resources to protect your workplace rights.

   Ch 2: Pre- and Postnatal aerobics, yoga, pilates, fitness classes, personal trainers, fitness facilities with childcare, walks/hikes and Moms groups that do walking/hiking, pregnancy and postnatal massage. (Note: This chapter seems the most thorough)

   Ch 3: Maternity clothes, including national chains, local retailers, online outfits and resale shops.

   Ch 4: Baby Equipment. national chains, local retailers, nursery designers and muralists(!), equipment rental, online/mailorder/used, baby clothes retailers, toys/books, resale shops, where to donate used goods/clothes, babyproofers and safety goods.

   Ch 5: Postpartum help: Baby nurses and Doulas, breastfeeding resources, postpartum depression resources, parenting hotlines, meal prep & delivery.

   Ch 6: Parenting classes, parenting clubs/groups,

   Ch 7: Classes for Kids: recreation departments, gym/gymnastics, swimming, music, art, dance, drama, foreign language, sports, misc

   Ch 8: Activities: parks & playgrounds, beaches & pools, zoo & wildlife, indoor playgrounds, museums, rainy day activities, libraries and storytelling, trains and boats, adventures (iceskating, Bonfante gardens, etc.), restaurants, special events for kids, resources for local traveling with kids, birthday parties (entertainers, caterers, planners(!) etc.)

   Ch 9: Childcare: seminars on finding childcare, day care licensing offices, childcare referral networks, regular day care centers, drop-in/sick-child daycare. Resources to do independent searches for nannies, do background checks, handle the legalities, benefits and taxes, nanny placement agencies, au pair agencies, babysitting services & resources.

   Ch 10: Preschool. Preschool education consultants(!), preschools.

3. admin
   03月 31st, 2008 at 7:57 pm

   

   By Kathleen Hendricks “nigeltkatt” (San Jose, CA USA)
   First, I read this book when my son was 10 months old. I was able to skip over the first 2/3 of the book about doctors, hospitals, maternity clothes and much of the gear that goes with babies. Even then, I noticed that it had the same information that one could find by searching the yellow pages or Yahoo. For a better written how to find gear book, check out “Baby Bargains” and even “Toddler Bargains” by Denise and Alan Fields.
   I was looking forward to finding activities for family outings in my area but again found the standard things that I could find on the net or in the phone book. The book seems to focus on North and East Bay and SF. The content for Peninsula and South Bay are pretty lacking.

   Check it out of the library if you have to.