Whassat?Just as every rapper needs his homies, every mom needs a posse to help her with the myriad tasks she has to do to keep the whole baby show on the road. She needs a horde of helpers to follow her everywhere she goes, ready to do her baby-related bidding and protect her from the pitfalls that lie in wait for mothers. Pop stars have entourages; superstar mamas have momtourages.

An excellent idea! How many people would be in this parental posse?

How many you got? Momtourages can range from a compact team of helpers to a full-on army of assistants, depending on which rung of the celebrity mom ladder you stand. A momtourage can include everyone from the wet nurse to the nanny to the nappy-changer to the baby-burper - not forgetting the masseuse, make-up artist and personal shopper. The more people you have in your momtourage, the better for your public image. When you see a young mother surrounded by official-looking personnel, brandishing mobile phones, clipboards, laptops, satellite tracking systems, bottle sterilisers and spare nappy bags, you'll know you're in the presence of a supermom.

So, who has a momtourage?

Most Hollywood stars wouldn't be seen dead without their momtourage in tow. When they are on the red carpet at the Oscars, holding their cute baby for the world to see, you can bet that somewhere off-camera is a battalion of baby technicians, poised to change that nappy faster than a race-car mechanic. Angelina Jolie's momtourage probably outnumbers the cast of The Lord of the Rings, and vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin will have to seriously beef up her momtourage to keep on top of her campaign. That's all very well if you're a celeb, but if you're an ordinary mom, why have all these people trailing around behind you?

Many mothers find themselves isolated, particularly if they're separated from their partner or their partner spends a lot of time away. Working from home and spending time with the kids means that many mums are unable to build up a network of people they can call on for help. These women need to start building a momtourage, according to parenting expert Michele Borba. Borba says that many mums are letting baby take over and are not maximising their social life.

Where can they begin?

iVillage.com, a site for women to connect with other women, has launched a microsite in which Borba gives her top tips for getting a momtourage together. First, you need to identify your momtourage need, whether it be exercise, learning a hobby or simply having a chat. Then you find at least one other mom who shares your need, and start meeting up. Pretty soon, your momtourage is expanding faster than the universe, and before you know it, you've become a mob-handed mom.

Sounds easy. Can I get a dadtourage?

No. Dads can't have dadtourages. It's just moms and momtourages.

But can dads be part of the momtourage?

Sometimes, but dads must always remember who's the boss.

Try at work:"Okay, I'm coming back to work next week - I'll need my old office back and the entire second floor for my momtourage."

Try at home:"Darling, I realise you need help with the baby, but does he really need his own astrologer?"