Just when you throught you could cook (hey, one meal counts), clean (if the queen was coming), and seduce a man (well, long enough to get married), life throws you a curveball that makes all of your previous ineptitudes in life pale in comparison. With the appearance of one little extra line on a pregnancy test, you’re thrown into a world of telling your boss you’re pregnant, covering up leaks on shirts, and taking a pacifier away from a two-year-old who has the grip of a pit bull.

While there are dozens of books out there on these topics, none of them give you, the smart modern mom, the information you need in a stylish, easy-to-use format. Buckingham cuts through the clutter to give you simple information and practical advice for navigating the different stages of motherhood. From how to get your child to sleep, how to wean, how to get him off the pacifier, how to stop his tantrums, this book will help moms feel in the know and in control.

Some of Buckingham’s favorite tips:

* It may be tempting to buy shoes at a time when every week you seem to get fatter, but DON’T! Your feet may grow half a size during prenancy, and, unlike your tummy, won’t shrink back.

* When capturing the miracle of life on film, do it in black and white. Trust me, goo from the womb is much more appealing in black and white than bright red.

* Buy onesies that tie to the side, kimono style. Babies hate having clothes put over their head.

* Decide before you go to bed who will wake up when the baby cries in the middle of the night. Nothing is worse than being bleary eyed and mad!

* Put a ponytail holder on the wrist on the side you last breastfed on to keep track.

* If the baby has a hard time feeding because of a stuffy nose, turn on the shower to steam up the bathroom and feed him there.

* If you don’t want to throw a major party for your child, consider doing it during the week. You’re less likely to get spouses and siblings and can get by with doing less.

* When visiting a new baby with an older sibling, bring a gift for both children. Make a fuss over the older child and ask him to show you his new baby sibling.

With hot moms like Britney Spears, Kate Hudson, and Gwyneth Paltrow dominating the media with the message that you don’t have it all until you have a baby, The Modern Girl’s Guide to Motherhood will be the resource for young moms looking for parenting advice.