Are you itching to get out of the house with your baby, but are not sure where to go? Finding baby-focused activities is a great way to get out and to meet other mums and babies in a supportive and friendly environment. Here are some ideas to get you started

On the move
Gone are the days when you skipped out of the door with just your handbag. Getting ready to go out with your baby can feel like a military operation and so often you've got one foot out the door, there's a rumble and your baby needs yet another nappy change. Keep your change bag well stocked with nappies, wipes, cotton wool and a couple of changes of clothes by the door. That way you're not scrambling around to find it when you're in a hurry to get out. If you're carrying bottles make sure they are sterile before leaving the house.

Meet-a-mum
Caring for your baby can leave you feeling overwhelmed and drained at times, which is why it's important to get out and socialise and share experiences with other mothers. Mother and baby groups are a great starting point. To find out about groups in your local area, contact the local council for information about the children's services. The NCT organises drop-in groups and coffee mornings for new mums. And on days when you can't make it out of the house, chat to Mums with babies the same age at the iVillage Mums Club.

Baby massage
As well as being a fantastic way to bond with your baby, baby massage has a multitude of positive effects, from easing colic to helping your baby to sleep. Joining a class is a good way to learn the massage techniques and spend some time with other mothers with new babies. Your local hospital and health centre often run classes, or visit The International Association of Infant Massage for a list of baby massage courses in your area.

Post-natal exercise classes
While there should be no pressure to get back into shape straight after having a baby, gentle exercise that focuses on the post-natal recovery is hugely beneficial to mothers. Look for post-natal classes where you can bring baby too. Mother and baby yoga will help to ease and stretch tired muscles and improve posture and tone. Or you can take walking your baby to a new level with a buggy fit class, an outdoor workout class for new mums.

Baby swimming
Teaching your baby to swim before he can even crawl is a growing trend. Specially designed lessons for babies are very popular and some book up even before birth! Normally running in courses of six or eight weeks, the swimming is fun for both mother and baby. You often have the option to get a very cool underwater photo taken of your baby. For more info see Little Dippers or Water Babies

Baby music
You'll be surprised how quickly a baby recognises a tune and even if you're tone deaf, singing to your baby is bound to bring a smile or chuckle. Baby music classes are great fun, and you'll enjoy watching your baby develop as they start to shake the instruments and clap and wiggle along to the music. You can start taking your baby to music classes usually from three months. Try Monkey Music.

The big scream!
The last thing you imagined doing with your baby is watching the latest movie, but taking your baby to the cinema is proving a popular outing for mums. The volume is lowered and the lights are raised to make it a bit more of a baby-friendly environment, so you don't have to worry about tripping over in the dark if you need to get up and change a nappy. Odeon cinemas run special screenings for mums and babies nationwide.

Feeding on the go
It's increasingly easy now to find somewhere a little more private to feed your baby while you're out. Many shopping centres, department stores, baby shops and supermarkets have special feeding rooms where you can breast and bottle feed, and change your baby's nappy.

Vicki Scott, Feeding & Wellbeing Advisor says, 'It may help you to feel more confident about feeding in public if you practice at home first, certain types of clothing or a scarf can help you to feed more discreetly - many mums find that quite often people are not even aware they're breastfeeding and think you and baby are just having a cuddle!'

One advantage of expressing your milk with a breast pump is your partner can also get involved with feed and bond more with your baby. The bottle you choose for your baby is an important consideration because you want your baby to find feeding from a bottle natural and comfortable. Look for a bottle teat which is naturally shaped and promotes proper latch-on with a wide open mouth, as at the breast. A bottle with a wide neck will be easy to hold, stable when not in use and simple to fill. The AVENT Airflex Feeding Bottle (from £4.25) is designed to work with baby's natural feeding action so your baby controls the milk flow, similar to breastfeeding. It also has a soft, naturally shaped teat and is clinically proven to reduce colic.*

* Clinical trials available at www.philips.co.uk/AVENT