Many women choose to stay at home with their babies, whether they are permanently leaving their careers behind or simply putting them on hold for a few years. The U.S. Census shows that 48 percent of children under the age of two are cared for solely by a parent. On average, women stay home with their children 2.2 years before returning to work.

Staying at home with your baby means the loss of your income, but it also can mean a large savings. When choosing whether to stay at home, you need to weigh the loss of your salary and benefits against these savings:

• Work/career clothing and shoe costs

• Dry cleaning expenses

• Commuter costs (gas and car maintenance or public transportation)

• Work lunches, coffee, and other snacks

• Office gifts and parties

• Business expenses (such as briefcase, cell phone, and appointment book)

• Child-care costs

In addition to these hard savings, there are a variety of other ways that staying home cuts your expenses. You will be less likely to spend money on convenience items such as prepared food, takeout, delivery services, and so on, because you will have more time and won't need to rely on these services as often. Being a stay-at-home mom may mean you'll have the time and energy to do things such as cook and bake, clean your own home, make gifts, become a comparison shopper, do your own laundry, or devise low-cost children's activities, all of which can offer significant savings.

Staying at home is not all craft projects and time to read magazines. It is full-time hard work. First of all, make sure that both you and your partner value what you're doing. Raising a child is an admirable task. If you didn't do it, you'd need to pay someone else. Make time for yourself, whether it means hiring a sitter occasionally or getting your partner to assume childcare duties. Set realistic goals for yourself as a stay-at-home mom. For example, if you've never liked to cook, it's unlikely you'll start to enjoy it now. It is very difficult to be a full-time mom, full-time cleaning lady, full-time chef, full-time partner, and more, so don't expect more of yourself than is possible.

At-Home Dads

In 14 percent of families where the mother works, the father stays home with the children. In many families, having an at-home parent is important. The choice about who will stay home is often made by comparing income, benefits, and hours, as well as considering who feels most passionately about his or her career and who is most able to take time out from the workforce. Dads do just as good a job as moms, and it is a choice each family must make for themselves.