How to Get Out of the House With Your Baby
In my pre-Ella days, I enjoyed the freedom of impulsive plans: spontaneous friend meetups, weekday happy hours, random trips to Target. I knew once I had a baby it wouldn’t be quite so easy, but I thought, “It can’t be that hard, right?”
But I was wrong. It’s hard. During the first few weeks, it felt like there was an anchor on me and my newborn, tethering us to the house. Eventually I felt comfortable taking stroller walks near the house, but as the days rolled on, I realized I had to get out of my neighborhood. I even had to get the baby in the car – and then in public. I was a mess of questions:
How do I take the baby to the grocery store?
What if I forget the formula?
What if I need to breastfeed – or pump – while I’m out?
What if my baby has a blowout?
What if my baby needs a nap and we are on the go?
What if I forget the stroller?
Here are my solutions to these questions:
The Grocery Store
The grocery store can be especially overwhelming for both you and your baby. Help baby feel secure by keeping them nestled in a familiar environment: use your carrier (like a Solly wrap or Ergo Baby) to keep them snuggled on your chest. If your back needs a break or the baby falls asleep on the ride over, the car seat will fit securely in the carriage of the grocery cart. You can also skip the cart entirely and use your stroller and put your groceries in the undercarriage.
Feeding or Pumping On the Go
Eventually you will learn to feed your baby everywhere and anywhere, but I remember the first time I had to breastfeed while trying to drive home. Ella was sobbing and my breasts felt like they were going to explode, so I pulled into a sketchy parking lot and hopped in the back seat. I started balling. “Is this what I’m supposed to do?!” I wailed. “Am I a bad mom because I’m feeding her in some random place?”
For breastfeeding mamas, if you’re uncomfortable nursing in public, you can always buy a cover. I like the “Milk Snob,” which looks like a scarf or wrap. Even an extra-large shirt works, or tying a swaddle blanket around your neck to create a loose tent! If you think you’ll need to pump while out and about, you can invest in a chargeable breast pump like Elvie or Willow. You can also bring a manual pump like a Haakaa.
If you’re formula feeding, I recommend keeping an extra can in your car, or a ziplock baggie full in your purse. If you forget your formula, you can always grab something similar from the grocery store – your baby will be okay if it's not the same brand this one time.
Blowouts
We’ve all been there. Keep extra clothes in the center console of your car or diaper bag. Always, always, always have extra pants, diapers and wipes – but guess what? You can swing into Walgreens or even a gas station to find most of what you need if you totally spaced. A bottle of water and a roll of paper towels doesn’t hurt in case it gets REALLY messy.
Sleep
Napping on the go when your baby is an infant is actually magic – cherish the stage where they will sleep through anything! Once your baby has a set nap schedule and needs their specific bedroom environment to fall or stay asleep, it’s harder to plan outings around naps. Items like a portable noise machine or draping blankets can help recreate that soothing home environment while blocking out the stimulation of the outdoors.
Forgetting the Stroller
It sounds silly – like how could you forget the largest object that you need for your baby? But with everything else you’re thinking about when you’re preparing to leave the house, it can happen.
I recommend leaving a baby carrier in your car at all times. That way you can wear your baby, and they can sleep if you’re walking around. Worst case? You can always carry the infant car seat into the coffee shop and sit the baby next to you on the floor. Remember not to beat yourself up – we’ve all been there.
I hope this helps empower you to take those first few trips outside of the house!
Remember to give yourself that extra time to feel prepared, but also, mistakes happen! Lean on your friends or community to help you get out of a sticky (or messy) situation. And get ready to forgive yourself when things don’t go as planned – your baby already has.