Chances are, you'll eventually start to feel bored by staying at home and will want to consider venturing out for a shopping trip or a meal in a restaurant. This is a good thing; a change of scenery will reinvigorate you. It's important to realize, however, that a trip to the grocery store or a walk around the neighborhood is not going to be as simple as you remember it. For one thing, those first few trips outside the house may tire you and your baby out. Make your trips short and close by, and plan for a friend or your partner to go with you.

How Your Baby Will React

Some babies do just fine with these early trips, but some react with fussiness or sleeplessness to the unfamiliar smells and sounds and the disruption of the routine they've become accustomed to. Don't plan too much running around in these early weeks, and give yourself plenty of time in between outings to rest and relax.

Let friends or family know that you may have to cancel your plans if you don't feel up to it or if your baby isn't coping well. As you feel stronger and your baby gets older, outings will become easier to manage.

Carrying Your Baby

Using a sling or baby carrier is a great way to keep your baby close by you while you're out and about. Your baby will be comforted by your familiar smells, the sound of your heartbeat, and your warmth, even as she's being surrounded by a new world of experiences. It's very easy for a baby to become overstimulated, and this is one way to protect her from taking in too much too fast. If you wear your baby on your chest, she can always snuggle her face into the familiar scent and feel of you if the world around her becomes too much to handle.

You've probably noticed parents lugging their babies around in bucket-style infant car seats to and from the car, or even through a store or restaurant. These seats are nice because they do double duty: They function as both car seat and carrier. On the other hand, infant car seats are heavy, bulky, and awkward, and not really designed to be carried long distances. Carrying one all over can strain your arm and shoulder and leave your legs bruised. Unless you have some other reason for needing to take the car seat with you, leave it in the car and carry your baby to and from your vehicle in your arms or in a sling or baby carrier.

Consider the Details

Take the weather, time of day, and where you'll be going into account as you make your plans. If it's very hot or cold, your baby's immature nervous system may make it hard for her to regulate her body temperature. If you're heading to a very bright or noisy location, your baby may become overstimulated and either “check out” by falling into a deep sleep or become anxious and fussy. Also keep in mind that your baby's young lungs won't be able to handle environmental toxins like car exhaust or pesticides as well as most adults'. Take things like smog, ozone levels, and potential pollutants into account when taking a young baby out on the town.