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Bringing Home the New Baby
by Susie Glennan

After the first child is born, a lull sets into the home for ohhhh about a day. When baby's sleeping many parents aren't sure what to do with themselves. They wonder should I nap or should I quickly clean up. So they scurry around cleaning this, making that and when they finally sit down, the baby wakes and starts to cry.

RELAX moms! Take a break. Look at your baby; cuddle next to him on the bed. Nap when he naps. When I brought my first baby home from the hospital, I had no idea what to do. Do you ever get that feeling now that you have the new baby home, like something might happen to them? I certainly did. So my first baby slept in our room, went here, there and everywhere around the house with me.

When I cleaned the house, the baby went with me from room to room in the rocking seat. I'd hang toys off the top for baby to look at. I'd talk to the baby while I made beds. I'd sing to the baby while I cleaned the bathrooms. Okay, this all sounds easy. So I'll be honest. In the beginning I used to ask my mom or just about anybody to hold the baby while I cleaned. I was so nervous to leave the baby unattended for a second or touch them with grubby hands.

For some moms, another situation would occur. You find that at 4 in the afternoon you haven't brushed your teeth or taken a shower and hubby's due home any moment. So you quickly run to the bathroom, brush your teeth and try to make yourself look good in a matter of 15 minutes. But he walks in and notices that you're still in the same clothes you were in yesterday. WHAT DOOOOOO YOU DO???

• If possible find a church that you feel comfortable with. Ask for some help. Look for their mom's groups.
  
  
• Go to the park and introduce yourself to the other ladies sitting there watching their kids. (Yes, I know how hard it is, but you'll be SO glad you did afterward.)
  
  
• Find a mom's group in your area and join. You can find a mom's group by looking in your local parents magazine.
  
  
• Call Focus on the Family and ask them for a MOPS (Moms Of Pre-Schoolers) group in your area. (If they have pre-schoolers, they were recently new moms.)
  
  
• Join your local La-Leche League.
  
  
• Young teens would LOVE to get out of their own home and help someone else. This is just something they're born with. So find a teen in your neighborhood and put them to work.
  
  
• If you have a lot to do around the house and the baby is fussy, keep him/her in your backpack or front pack while you vacuum, dust or wash dishes.