| If you and your partner are both working and perhaps | | | | care of your baby. This will tide you over until your |
| at the peak of your respective careers, who will take | | | | partner comes home to get you real food. |
| care of your child once he is born? Are you going to | | | | Also keep all the baby things you will be needing like |
| opt for a stay-at-home dad or mom, and simply let the | | | | milk and feeding bottles, diapers, rash cream, and |
| other partner take over the finances while one of you | | | | others organized and within reach, too. The last thing |
| takes care of the child full-time? | | | | you need is to frantically search for things when the |
| First of all, can you afford it? Secondly, how do you | | | | baby's already crying his lungs out. |
| ensure that the one who stays at home or continues | | | | 2. Sleep when your baby sleeps. At the start of your |
| to work will not resent it eventually? | | | | stay-at-home parenting, sleep once your child falls |
| DECIDING ABOUT CHILD CARE | | | | asleep. Don't use this opportunity to clean the house a |
| Before your child is born, you have to settle this so you | | | | little or do small chores. You will be needing your |
| can avoid as much stress as possible after he is born. | | | | energy to get up in the middle of the night for feeding |
| Having a baby is a joy but the reality of staying up late | | | | and nappy changes. Once you've got the hang of it, |
| at night and having only a couple of hours' sleep | | | | you can slowly start doing other things when your |
| before you'd have to start your day is not going to be | | | | baby sleeps. |
| a picnic. Therefore, for your sanity's sake and the | | | | 3. Have a little alone time. When your partner gets |
| happiness of your baby, decide who gets to stay at | | | | home, or when someone comes over to take over |
| home to take care of him. | | | | baby duties for awhile, take this opportunity to be alone |
| If one parent decides to quit his/her career to be a | | | | for awhile to get your bearing and simply be quiet with |
| stay-at-home parent, here are a few tips you can | | | | your own thoughts. Take a stroll in the park or go to |
| follow to ease you through the first few weeks. | | | | the library. |
| 1. Make everything accessible to you. If you don't have | | | | The important thing is to go somewhere quiet so you |
| a wireless phone, get one. You do not want to go all | | | | can have a little peace and quiet. Do not use this |
| the way to the next room to answer a ringing phone | | | | chance to make a quick trip to the grocery or the mall. |
| before the noise wakes up your sleeping child. Keep | | | | This kind of activity is very tiring and you might be |
| crackers, juice boxes, bread and a few other | | | | depriving yourself of a much-needed respite before |
| munchies within reach. You will not feel like cooking | | | | you start on your baby duties again. |
| when you're just starting to get the hang of taking | | | | |