Outings alone with babies

[lucky513]

When did you take them out by yourself? I think I'm going to try this weekend they are 16 weeks. I'm so nervous but I need to get out of this damn house

[nomad]

Not for a loooooong time. But they came home on oxygen and weren't both off that till Christmas so we didn't really leave the house even as a family for more than Drs appt till they were over 6 months.

If yours weren't premies and flu season isn't picking up around you I'd try it now in a place you are comfortable. Good Luck! Honestly when they were little they slept so much it was pretty easy to take them out.

[ninjabridemom]

Definitely start now. I did from an earlier age b/c I knew I would have to and I had to be comfortable with it. The earlier and more often you do it, the better.

For parks and stuff when they're older, just make sure you know where the fenced-in areas are Then it's fine. Usually lol.

[origami]

I was terrified the first time I took my kids out alone (4w-ish), but it got better each time I did it so I encourage you to start now, and if it's a mess just try again later. My first outing was in the car - I went to the drive-thru at the bank, then the drive-thru next to it at McDonalds and then came home. lol. I couldn't dig up the guts to actually leave the car. But eventually I went stir crazy and the risk of a public hot mess day was worth getting out of the house.

[linz]

Lol right away. My H was home for 1 week. They were in the nicu a month so the day after H went back to work I had my 6 week checkup with my OB. All by myself. I also met friends for lunch soon after.

My advice...plan outings around nap. Mine would eat, play/rest tummies, then we'd leave. I went somewhere a lot. Even with it being winter if it was above 35 degrees we left the house (my own rule) we went to the mall, target, etc. I never even took a diaper bag with. I had car seats that snapped in the stroller and off we went. I would come back home for feedings/to pump so we weren't gone long.


Also my kids can sit in a shopping cart now and love going to stores. They do very well unless they get hungry so I just bring snacks.

[ninjabridemom]

Oh yeah! I forgot that. Definitely plan around naps. It works out well and then you can usually be out a little longer and talk with grown ups. Which is nice.

[trafficgirl]

It took a while before I felt comfortable taking them out by myself. I remember my first outing with them was a quick trip to the grocery store. I could only get a couple things because they were in their Snap N Go and I had to carry a basket and push the stroller.

I can't quite remember how old they were. Maybe 2 months? I was still out on maternity leave, and I went back after they were 4 months, so that seems about right.

[Koala]

I actually did it yesterday at 3 weeks. But, I was going to my twin group play date, so I knew it would be a safe environment for meltdowns.
It actually went really well. There was only a little bit of fussing. And, I was able to feed and change them there. Then they slept for a while.
I knew I needed to do this to make myself feel human.

[Deleted]

Right away. Though it was a couple of months before I started venturing out with all 3 on my own (J was 21 mos when the girls were born) but I took the girls right away.

I did make sure to go places that I could nurse in the car if needed because I couldn't tandem nurse in public when they were tiny (still never did/do it often).

[josieposy]

I didn't anytime early on because we had been in the NICU/special care for 6 weeks and they came home in late January (in Minnesota). I think it was probably April or May when we went somewhere not a relative's house or doctor's office. If you are comfortable, go for it!

[fryjack2]

The day after they were both home from the NICU. I went on daily walks with them, took them to the park, met up with friends, etc. I also did baby classes with them once they hit 6 months.

I have to say though that it was probably easier because I live in a walkable city ( Boston) I rarely had to put them both in the car. I have a Bumblride Indie twin stroller that they could be in from day one without a car seat. So, I would just lay them in there, pack a few diapers some bottle with powdered formula ( I had to supplement with extra calories) and a bottle of water to mix with, water for me, changes of clothes,and off we went. Being in the city also means I am never far from a CVS or clothing store if I really need something.

There were some adventures for sure, but it gets easier to tackle them the more you are out alone. Good luck!

[breezy8407]

I went on walks almost right away. Anything else? Almost never. Even now and they are 3.5. We almost all go out together or we go places one on one with them.

I had a lot of anxiety about them crying or getting exposed to sickness when they were little. Looking back, I know things would have been fine.

[macchiatto]

I'm not sure if I took them out alone (other than for walks) until they were 10 months. However, that's because DH and I shared a car the first 10 months, so if I had the car, that meant DH was home so he would either go with me or keep the boys while I went somewhere. I think it's doable at 16w though! I would have done it much earlier if I could have.

[RandZB]

I haven't yet, except to pick up the older boys from school. I'm not worried about taking them out by myself, but the process of getting us all ready is such a pain that I would just rather stay home until DH is here. They're only 3 weeks old so hopefully I'll get a routine figured out for getting out of the house.

[twotrue]

I took them out alone from day one. I actually think taking them out alone, as infants was much easier than what I deal with now at 2 years.

[linz]

Oct 27, 2015 14:54:46 GMT -5 twotrue said:

I took them out alone from day one. I actually think taking them out alone, as infants was much easier than what I deal with now at 2 years.

Yes! Mine are 1 and being able to just strap them in as infants and have them sleep was cake.

[linz]

Oct 27, 2015 11:34:44 GMT -5 RandZB said:

I haven't yet, except to pick up the older boys from school. I'm not worried about taking them out by myself, but the process of getting us all ready is such a pain that I would just rather stay home until DH is here. They're only 3 weeks old so hopefully I'll get a routine figured out for getting out of the house.

Plan ahead. I always left during nap time so would tell myself, ok at noon we are leaving. I NEVER took a diaper bag. We would be home by the next feeding anyway. I didn't do all day adventures, more an hour or two at a time.

[regeltx]

Right away. Had them on the 23rd, one home on the 25th, husband back to work on the 26th. We were back and forth 2x a day to NICU for the 2nd. One car, means that if I wanted to do anything, I had to take and pickup the husband.

[demandypants]

Went to the zoo today with them and two 8 year old girls. Probably my biggest solo outing since they were born. They are 9mo now.