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Baby, Meet the World

Top Tips for Baby's First Outing

By Renee Roberson

Maneuvering baby gear the first few times, whether it is an infant car seat and stroller, sling or carrier and diaper bag, can take some getting used to. Therefore, wherever you choose to go on your first outing with Baby, try not to do it alone. Ask your husband, a friend, babysitter or grandma to accompany you to make the experience a little less stressful.

"Taking Baby out may be a walk in the park – literally and figuratively – or a horror show of screaming baby and anxious, embarrassed mom," says April Masini, an advice columnist and founder of www.AskApril.com.

Be mindful of the season when deciding how to dress your baby for the occasion. "When going out of the house, dress a full-term infant as you are dressing for the season," Dr. Steltenkamp says. "Your little one can maintain their body temperature, but I would avoid spending long periods of time in extreme temperatures."

"Transport is anything that works, whether it's a stroller, a sling, some other carrier or just your arms," says Masini, who advises that you should dress casually when possible in case a baby-related mess occurs. "White cashmere or silk is not recommended."

There's a reason there's such an abundance of diaper bags on the market, and it's not just because it's a hip-looking accessory. Pre-baby, you probably never imagined you'd need to carry around so many little items, but if you don't pack a spare outfit, your baby will be sure to have a massive bowel movement in the middle of a department store or spit up a feeding that looks to be the equivalent of the contents of an 8-ounce bottle.

Packing the diaper bag may seem like more trouble than it's worth to a new mom, but with a baby even a quick trip down the street can require more items than one could possibly imagine.

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• Talk about it!

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