My past two weeks have been chock full of playdates! For babies and really young kids, playdates are great exposure to unfamiliar surroundings, new people, and an opportunity to teach basic social skills like sharing. Let's face it though: for children aged up to about 9 months the "date" is for the Moms and the kids just happen to be there.

As a new Mom, playdates are an opportunity for me to socialize and with and learn from other women who are Moms too. We pick each other's brains about developmental stages - “what is he eating?” “how long can you store frozen breastmilk?” “when did she start crawling?” and "which cloth diaper is best?" Our kids are the primary topic of conversation and I have gotten so many great ideas – from my favorite baby food book to the best nursing bras to awesome consignment sales – from my Mommy friends.

Here are some ways to find potential playmates for your child – and founts of wisdom for yourself!

Moms Groups. I didn't know too many women with kids my son's age at first, so I joined my local Mommy Group - it has hundreds of members and a range of activities on an almost daily basis. The group-sponsored playgroups seemed to be the place to start. The "party" atmosphere of a huge group of preschoolers can't be beat, but certain times of year can be bad for seasonal illnesses and naptimes don't always match up. I've made some great friends through my Moms Group and we've been able to schedule our own smaller playdates as well. If you can't find a Moms Group near you, start your own! A friend of mine did this with fantastic results - it's HUGE now, and all the families have become fast friends. Group Activities on MIRL is the perfect place to begin.

Online. I met some great women online while I was still pregnant! We were due at the same time, so our kids are incredibly close in age. It's really fun to go through all the milestones together. We are already having fun talking about our kids' first birthday parties. Of course it goes without saying that you should meet in a public place when getting to know a complete stranger for the first time, especially if kids are involved.

Swim Lessons. Almost every kid I know is in swim lessons, and since they are set up to be age-appropriate this is another great way for you and your preschooler to meet new friends.

Anywhere! It's amazing how quickly my Mom-dar goes off when there's a cute kid my son's age in a nearby stroller. I've met some of the Moms in my neighborhood walking on our bike trail, and we've spent some quality time together as a result.

Here are some things to keep in mind - “playdate etiquette” if you will - whether you are hosting or a guest in someone else's home.

Timeframe. A playdate for kids under 12 months of age should be kept to around ninety minutes or less, depending on the kids. When my friends and I want to spend more time together, we plan ahead to feed and/or nap at each other's houses, but this is not the norm. Be sure to check with your Mommy friend ahead of time to see if she is up for this. With close friends I find setting up a Pack & Play or bringing food for the little guy is appropriate sometimes when we both agree on it beforehand.

Stay Home, Sickies. No explanation needed! Don’t attend a playdate or play group if you or your child are under the weather in any way, shape or form.

Consider Your Pets. Not everyone is a dog or cat person, and some people are allergic. Mention your pet ahead of time, and put them outside or in another room with the door closed before your playdate arrives. Give your guests a chance to settle in before you introduce the pet, and make sure you give the other Mom the option to keep Fido or Fifi separate from the kids if she wishes. This was literally one of the most unexpected surprises that came with Motherhood for me! I am the world's biggest dog person and I think kids and dogs together are one of the world's greatest things, but I'm not a fan of dogs I don't know around my 7 month old.

Watch What You Say. Talking about our kids is a whole new language for me! For example, you might not want to blurt out “wow, your son is so small to be walking!” unless you actually know the child's age. I thought I was complimenting a woman in my Mommy Group on what I thought was an incredibly young walker only to learn he was just a smaller than average 18 month old. Some mothers may not want to hear their little one is on the small side.

Let Them Be Themselves. Don't suggest that your child is reaching milestones more quickly, has better motor skills, is potty trained sooner, etc. Never compare your child, brag or get competitive about developmental milestones. Grandparents might agree that your child is a prodigy, but this type of talk will just irritate your friends.

Don't Be a Food Nazi. A few cookies at a friend's house won't undo your child's good eating habits. On the flip side, if you are overly strict about your child's diet you could create an unhealthy obsession with junk food. Unless your child has a food allergy, simply being appreciative that your playdate hostess has offered to feed you at all is your best move here.

Don't Micromanage. Your preschooler will learn valuable social skills like sharing, taking turns, saying “please” and “thank you,” and conflict resolution from friends during playdates. This is also a good opportunity to teach your child a little about how special and fun it is to have company over – for example, we let company play with toys first, we clean up for company, we make snacks for company etc. Set the ground rules for older kids, then step back. Let them resolve their own disputes unless things get physical. The more you hover, the the less resilient they'll be.

Be sure to give your kids a chance to “say goodbye” to their friends and toys before the playdate ends, and if they are old enough encourage them to help with the clean-up process. If you are picking your older child up from a “drop off” playdate, avoid meltdowns by letting them know ahead of time when they are going home. Don't linger at the hostess's house when picking up your child - she needs a break!

Here's a super cute video I enjoyed watching. It contains some DIY ideas for “green” playdates. At this point, the new toys and surroundings at a friend's house are usually enough for my little one, but I like the way this playgroup was run and the guitar sing-a-long was a great touch. I think I have some new ideas for my next playdate!

Please post your comments – I'm a new Mom, so this blog is just a start. I would appreciate some guidance from some more seasoned experts!

I'd also like to hear from anyone - Moms or not - about your experiences on MIRL. Please email me at info@mirl.com and tell me about the activities you're involved in, the types of people you are meeting, and how we can continue to improve the site for you. We want to continue to be a user-driven community of like-minded people. Our best improvements to date have been based on feedback from folks like you.