• Earning Income and Bringing Up Babymom with baby image by forca from Fotolia.com
  
  New mothers often face a difficult choice: entering the work force or staying home with the newborn. Work-at-home opportunities offer alternatives that provide income without sacrificing those important first few months.
  
  

Direct Sales

• Direct sales companies are a good place to start.woman on phone image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  New moms interested in a sales career may wish to explore opportunities with direct-marketing companies. In most instances, you'll actually own your own business and be in charge of your own success. These opportunities are suited for people who are gregarious and have an aptitude for sales. A good source to check is Direct Sales Moms, which lists opportunities and resources for people interested in these careers.
  
  

Freelancing and Telecommuting

• Consider freelance opportunitiesAsian woman image by huaxiadragon from Fotolia.com
  
  Personal services is another potential avenue to explore, especially for those who are not comfortable selling or have concerns that a newborn might disrupt business phone calls. Stay-at-home mothers often provide services such as childcare, research, and typing or writing services. Websites such as http://www.elance.com can offer a chance to find freelance opportunities and bid on them. Other sites like www.craigslist.org and www.kijiji.com allow individuals to list opportunities as well. Be wary: some Websites post attractive job opportunities in the guise of advertising
  
  

Local Services

• Find a local need and create a work-from-home business designed to fill it.cute babies indian image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
  
  Another great way for new mothers to earn an income is to fill needs in their local communities. If there are lots of dog owners in need of someone to walk their pets, it's simple enough to put your baby in a sling and walk a few dogs. If you have a baby that travels well, you could offer to run errands such as grocery shopping for busy people in your neighborhood. Be sure to take into consideration the personality of your baby to ensure you choose the appropriate business idea.
  
  

Arts and Crafts

• Use your artistic skills in a home-based businessfemale artist image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
  
  Creative people often get great satisfaction from designing and selling products. Women working from home are making everything from soap to baby slings, selling them both online and at local craft fairs. Companies such as Bloomin' Belly Soaps, or Go Green Baby Shop began were started by moms who wanted to stay at home with their children while still earning an income. If you have a background in art, you can start a mural design/painting company, make lamps to match kids' decor, and offer art classes or creative birthday parties for kids, all from the comfort of your home. A good place to start is with a shop on a handmade community site such as http://www.artfire.com or http://www.etsy.com. This is an economical way to grow your clientele and test out new products.