Errands with kiddo

[lg28]

Honestly I have to mentally prepare myself to do it alone with DD. And I prepare myself for the fact that she will probably cry and be fussy most of the time. I feed her before we go and hope for the best. Lol.

[ssmjlm]

Fed her before we left.

I wore her a lot in the beginning so that she would nap, esp at places like target or the grocery store where I could wander a bit longer.

I had no expectations. If I made it to 1 place a day, I called it a success.

[sookie]

I'm sorry. HJ used to be that way in the car and it was a nightmare. Finally she got to where she'd calm herself with a paci in the car, and it wasn't until about 6 months that if we forgot the paci she could be ok for a short car trip.

I hope it goes ok!

[zarapipe]

feed him before you leave. Realize you may have to leave. Go for it. It will get easier every time, promise.

[leonard131]

My need to get out of house outweighed knowing he would most likely cry through the whole trip. Hugs- it is hard.

I wore him and that really helped. Also muffles the crying a little :-)

[ladygrey]

I always fed DD the minute before walking out the door and she would be good for an hour or two.

Bring a pacifier and hope for the best!

[ilikedonuts]

The second my 15 month old makes a peep I shove food at her. Like non stop. We go through a lot of snacks!

[gerberdaisy]

Good luck. I'd feel right before we left and hope she slept the whole time. We'd usually only be able to do one or two stops then would have to go back home. There were a few times of nursing in parking lots, racing home with a screaming baby, but overall it usually went well.

[DarcyLongfellow]

DD1 was colicky and screamed all the time, so errands were very limited. She ate every 2 hours and she took an hour to eat, so I had an hour in between feedings. I used to get all dressed and ready to go, then I'd feed her, then basically run us out to the car. She would often scream the whole time she was in her carseat, but when you have a colicky baby carseat screaming quickly ceases to bother you :-) I'd then either wear her in a carrier or put the carseat in the shopping cart (less often because it takes up most of the stupid thing plus she hated the carseat) while I ran through the grocery store or Target or wherever as quickly as possible. Other errands didn't get done.

DD2 was pretty laid back, so I'd just bring her along whenever. If your little guys is relatively laid back, it will be easier once you get the hang of it. Try feeding him in the car once you get there -- babies are usually happiest right after eating. Plus, that will give him a chance to calm down if the drive gets him worked up. I actually got to the point where I would just nurse DD2 in the Ergo while I did my shopping. But that takes practice :-) With little babies, it's easiest to wear them if you're up for it/he tolerates it. If not, keep him in the carseat and put it in the big part of the shopping cart. Fit the groceries around it/underneath, or in a hand basket while you push the cart with one hand. I once saw a mom with twins in a double stroller in the grocery store -- she pushed a cart and pulled the double stroller.

For errands to stores that don't have shopping carts, I would always bring the Snap and Go (or a stroller once she could sit up).

Also, doing more than 1 errand, 2 at the most, per outing is about all you can realistically do with a newborn. Spread them out so you have daily activities (and an excuse to get dressed ;-) ) for a week :-)

Oh, and scope out all drive throughs you can. Because there will come a time when he falls asleep in the car and you don't want to risk taking him out, but you'd like to be productive. Returning library books, dropping off dry cleaning, etc. are all great things to do to kill time while he gets to stay asleep in the car :-)

[timorousbeastie]

In the early days, I definitely had to psych myself up for going out with DD. If I didn't mentally prepare myself, I'd chicken out and tell myself it wasn't worth the hassle. But the more I went out with her, the easier it got, to the point where I don't even think twice about it now. Like others said, feed him right before you leave, stock up on diapers/clothes/etc., and just do it. If he cries, no big deal. I swear it gets easier with practice!

[whitepicketfence]

It's extremely rare for me to run errands with at least 1-2 kids with me at a time. With the baby, I usually just always make sure to feed her before we leave and pack the diaper bag full of things to keep her occupied. Even though she's able to sit in the cart now, I still wear her if it's around naptime.

[Deleted]

It does get easier! My kids are now 3.5 and 1 and I don't mind doing errands with them because they think it's fun and it kills time.

At the baby stage though it is tricky. Things that helped me:

*Go at their happiest time or if they will sleep in a carrier at nap, go then
*Feed before you leave make sure they're changed etc.
*People are more understanding than you think

ETA: DD was also a car screamer in the early days. I just drove to wherever we'd be the longest first to minimize scream time and give her a break. You will also get a little bit more "tough love" about it even though it's hard to hear the screaming. I reached the point where I was like, "Fine. Be mad for 20 minutes. Mama needs deorderant. You need diapers. We need toilet paper. I'd like something edible for dinner. You need formula. Mama needs wine!" 

Also be aware you will not get everything done as fast as you used, nor will you get through your list. Gone are my days of a whirlwind multierrand trip. Now it's grocery store and one other small stop. Target is on an off week if I only need a few things at the grocery store or I Amazon all that. I utilize any place that has a drive through (bank, pharmacy).

Take your time, do what you can. I've also learned to just consider it a "social" outing...haha..sadly enough. I get coffee or find a small treat for me as a reward for surviving.

[CloudBee]

Go into the situation knowing that it won't be perfect.

My first time grocery shopping with DS - I did a HUGE shop, and he was an angel as we walked through the store. I thought "this is glorious". I wore him in a mei-tai.

Fast forward to the checkout lane. He starts crying. My milk starts leaking. My cart is FULL. The line's are long, and I'm not surrounded by the friendliest people.

All of my items are scanned, and then I reach for my wallet.

Oops. I left my wallet at home. Something I've never done. This was that moment where in my mind, I secretly prayed for someone to pipe in and offer to pay. Or something. And I don't usually hope for tangibles like that. But no, the people behind me were frustrated, and didn't even offer kind words or a pat on the back, or sympathy.

My cart gets wheeled away and stored in the back freezer, I pack up my sobbing newborn (starving), and drive home. I'm also sobbing.

I hand the kiddo off to DH who feeds him a bottle of formula, and drive back to the grocery store in the pouring rain. I go up to the CS desk, pay for my stuff (I have the voided receipt w/the total), my cart is wheeled out, and in the rain, I load my car up.

Milk still leaking. Boobs throbbing. I have a headache from all of my crying. I go to the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru, and life is a little better.

I look back, and am reminded that no trip will ever be that bad. And also know that looking at that memory, I can do just about anything because I survived all that.

Keep your car loaded with spare clothes and diapers/wipes, treat yourself to drive-thru treats when you need it, and tell yourself you can do this.

I find malls to be easiest because they have family lounges and food courts. So even to this day, I still frequent the Target attached to the mall, vs. a stand alone Target. Grocery stores can be the most difficult because you tend to be there longer, and they don't have any place to park yourself if you need to re-group while in the store.

You've got this!

When DS was tiny, I also did a lot of my grocery shopping at night after he had gone to bed. It was relaxing (ha!), and more efficient.

[carfar]

I feed and make sure the diaper is fresh before we leave, and wear him as much as possible. You can do this, and will find a groove!

[Deleted]

Feb 19, 2015 12:08:11 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Feb 19, 2015 12:05:59 GMT -5 @bunnybean said:

Me too. After she was about a month old, I think I left the house literally every day. If I didn't have an errand, I'd go out to lunch with  my parents. She was great in the K'tan, so we were out a bunch. She loved to see things and be close to me. She was such a buddy! She still is, really. I still usually take her on errands. I pick her up from daycare, then we go do stuff!

When my youngest went to kindergarten, I went through major withdrawal! She was seriously my little buddy and it was so hard to do errands without her.

This will be me. DD loves errands and shopping days out. She's also more well behaved in public than at home so I rarely have a problem with her out. She always asks when we are going to the grocery store...lol. She's also become a little "foodie" and asks all sorts of questions. Out to lunch is her next favorite activity and actually plays it a home..lol. People look at me like I'm insane when I say I love to take her out on those sorts of adventures.

I'll be really sad when she goes to PreK next fall and I have more time to do it alone while she's there.

[Deleted]

ML was easy bc DH was home with me the whole time. It was once he went back to work and I'm home TTh that was the problem the first few times.
I pack the Ergo, a shopping cart cover, diapers, a spare outfit, extra pacifier, and 2 bottles for short errands, with extra powder in a ziplock baggie for longer ones.
I feed her right before she goes in the car seat.
She's fine in the car seat and while driving but is sometimes cranky when the car stops, so I usually end up sitting in the backseat with her for a minute to get her to wake up slowly. This allows me to get on the Ergo and get the straps just right for when she wakes up. Then I plop her in and go on our way. Usually she spends 10-15 minutes looking around then passes out.
If we are going somewhere with carts, I strap her in and keep the paci in the mouth at all times bc she can be a screecher. She sounds like R2D2 once she gets going.
Last week I took her to the grocery store and about a half dozen people stopped me to talk and look at her and I was way behind schedule. She started fussing so I was giving her a bottle one-handed while pushing the cart with the other. Next thing I know, this happens, and she was like this the whole rest of the trip. (The pic looks worse than it was bc of the angle from which I took it). That got me even more stares and comments.

[rondonalddo]

When you do have to leave with the baby again, I recommend a mantra or a song. Something repetitive. I sang "One Elephant Went Out to Play" to DD over and over and over. I think it helped some? At any rate, it gave me something to do with my anxiety. And when she would cry at home, I would think to myself as a bounced her on the yoga ball, "I am a peac-ful brooke" over and over in a rhythm. It sounds ridiculous, but it gave me something to focus on.

Also, in the car, I learned very quickly where all the bumps were that would startle her awake if I got lucky and she fell asleep.

But honestly, I avoided it as much as possible. I'm a homebody anyway, and getting out with colicky DD was misery.

[spk926]

Honestly, you just do it. Make sure you are stocked with everything you may need, make sure baby has a full tummy and mentally prepare yourself for the worst. Like doing anything the first time it's just like a ripping a band-aid off. Good luck! Oh and remember no baby has ever been harmed from crying a little.

[pinkdutchtulips]

I've been running errands w/ dd since she was 3 days old ! I always feed her before we went anywhere and had an extra bottle or snacks handy just in case. she was and still is a REALLY good traveler.

I didn't have a choice, either I ran errands w/ her or they didn't get done at all. xh back then had a totally erratic work schedule so I couldn't count on him to watch her while I ran errands. yes errands took probably twice as long bc I had her w/ me (and even at 5 1/2 errands STILL take twice as long w/ her in tow) but it is what it is.

[gibbylod]

You just have to go for it. Make sure baby is fed, diaper changed, etc. I always had some sort of toys to try to distract DD. She was also a cryer in the car, but I think the more you take them along the more likely they are to getting used to it, making life much more manageable. Good luck!

[everafter07]

I wore her in the Moby, or used the snap n go, or put the car seat in the cart. She didn't love the car for a while, but she got used to it. People don't generally mind crying newborns, I don't think. It's screaming, tantrumming toddlers that are really annoying to some bystanders. It will feel good to get out, don't be scared! And screaming won't hurt her, even though it's hard to listen to.

[redheadk]

For your first trip, go somewhere that you can leave quickly and don't have to have the things on your list. Really, just go walk around target. Wear the baby.

[natablue]

Feb 19, 2015 12:04:24 GMT -5 timorousbeastie said:

In the early days, I definitely had to psych myself up for going out with DD. If I didn't mentally prepare myself, I'd chicken out and tell myself it wasn't worth the hassle. But the more I went out with her, the easier it got, to the point where I don't even think twice about it now. Like others said, feed him right before you leave, stock up on diapers/clothes/etc., and just do it. If he cries, no big deal. I swear it gets easier with practice!

I did exactly this. Most of the time I was pleasantly surprised and he would be asleep in his car seat for the whole trip! If he needed to eat I tried to make sure I had a dressing room I could duck into, depending on where I went.

[Deleted]

Push through it and adjust expectations. I remember how flustered I got the first few times I ran errands with J he inevtiably would cry, refused a paci, and I was still learning to nurse in public. But it does get easier the more you do it.

My non helpful comment is I miss the days when I only hand to wrangle one kid while running errands. Ahh, those were the days. Of course it sure as hell didn't feel that way when I was in it lol.

[kdubs923]

I saw your update that you don't actually have to go out now. Maybe try going out anyway? This way you get more confidence and if you don't actually get anything accomplished, then it's OK?

I always had to psych myself up for an errand and it usually turned out better than expected. Try a BRU or Nordstrom. Both have mother's lounges where you can regroup if needed. Or I've been known to run into a Target fitting room to feed DS when he was little.

If you're into wearing your LO, definitely go that route. DS was often better behaved while out than at home. All the lights and people were so interesting to him, he would just look around, whereas he's fuss at home. Then on the ride home, he'd often fall asleep because the excursion was so tiring. Then, I'd go through a drive thru and get myself a coffee or something to treat myself for a job well done.

Keep at it. It gets easier! And then harder, because your LO can walk and doesn't want to go in the carriage. Then I think it gets easier again, though I haven't hit that point, yet.

[cece]

Feb 19, 2015 12:00:23 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

The second my 15 month old makes a peep I shove food at her. Like non stop. We go through a lot of snacks!

Me too!  The minute I put DD in the stroller she says "snack, snack".  

[luv2rn4fun]

I've done quite a few errands and appointments solo with C. He screams in the car most of the time. It totally sucks so I feel your pain.

I always feed right before we have to leave, put him in the carseat and go (everything else is in the car already). I also know that he just might scream and have my plan of how to get in and out as fast as possible.

I'm actually most likely going to attempt Costco tomorrow...20 min drive each way. C feeds every two hours and takes 30 minutes so we'll have 90 minutes to get there, shop, and get home for another feeding; otherwise I will feed him in the parking lot. I plan to wear him in the carrier. I have done both; carrier and stroller/carseat...just depends if he's going to nap (carrier) or if it's a smaller trip (stroller/carseat).

Good luck! You've got this!

[pierogigirl]

It gets easier. DS1 cried a lot in the early days and DS2 was a little more chill. Someday you'll look back on the days when he was in the bucket and think how easy it was to get out and do things! Now that they both don't like to sit in the cart, I try to do my errands right after work or arrange it so I only take one with me to the store.

[Deleted]

P is almost 3 weeks, we've run errands a few times. I find that if I feed her before we go and I wear her in a carrier, she's happy and sleeps most of the time. The first time was terrifying, but honestly, it wasn't a big deal at all.

Getting out can only help your confidence for when you have to go out, which will happen. So maybe pick a short trip, small errand sometime next week and give it a try.

[chickadee77]

L would fuss in the car sometimes, but usually once I got her into the shopping cart, she'd have so much to look at that she'd relax.

Except in Walmart. Something about that place, man, makes her scream as soon as we enter. I kinda feel the same way, though, lol, so we avoid it.

Good luck! The first couple of times were the hardest!