Running errands with newborn

chipmk228

Ok I know I need to get over this fear of my baby screaming at the market but I can't help it as my anxiety level is already through the roof. So I breastfeed and bottle feed. Unfortunately baby gets super frustrated at the breast after 5 minutes due to my low supply and will scream until she gets a bottle. So if she starts screaming at the market, I'm afraid it will continue again in 5 minutes.

That being said, what's the easiest way (other than buying those expensive premade formulas) to have formula handy? I just bought a formula dispenser and my plan was to keep 2 oz of water already ready in her tommy tipee but I can just see me fumbling and getting frustrated with having to prepare this in the middle of the supermarket. Perhaps I'm overthinking but I just want to see what everyone else does. I plan on wearing my baby at the market.

CordeliaD87

I usually try to feed my LO right before we go somewhere. Then I plan on how much to bring accordingly. I breastfeed, but pump so I can also use bottles. If my mother has him, she will take a 4oz bottle of water and scoop enough formula into a plastic bag to mix right before she feeds him. It seems to work for her.

Kye042

I feed and change my LO before we go anywhere and he typically falls asleep in the car. So I know that I have a good 1-2 hrs to get things done. And always just have a bottle ready at any moment haha

ladyteach0505

I could have written this post verbatim.  DD seems to wake up the minute she's out of the car.  I have no idea...

ali0608

You are over thinking this. I try to plan trips right after feedings. I also take my formula dispenser with a bottle ready with that amount of water.
You can't worry if she screams in public. It's going to happen. People understand. I promise. Also your baby's cry is much louder to you than others. People may not even notice.
My son always does better out than at home. He usually sleeps through the whole thing.
Go for it!

chipmk228

Thank you everyone for your help and reassurance. I don't know why this makes me so anxious and my husband keeps telling me to chill out about it but my sympathetic system kicks in every time she cries and even more so when I take her for walks outside. Perhaps I need a Xanax.

Hopefully people in line are very understanding as it will probably take me twice as long now to get items out of my cart.

ufg8rgurl

I feed right before we leave the house but keep a couple of bottles in the diaper bag in case. I am like you that I breastfeed but also sometimes need to supplement with formula due to low supply. I put the formula powder in the bottles and also bring one of those small 8oz water bottles, just pour and shake! Super easy!

Hawk&Eye

Babies cry, mama. It's your job to take care of your child's needs, it is not your job to silence them 24 hours a day. Even those who may give you a nasty look for having a baby in crankfest mode were babies once and they cried. But you'll probably find more sympathetic people than you think.

BrooksManor

Breathe, while there crying. I keep water in my bottles and a formula container. I try to feed him before I leave and get him ready. But a baby screaming in a store is nothing new. Just stay calm and act like a pro. It will all be well.

MegsB1112

I actually make a bottle before I go and bring that. If I don't use it I just toss it (formula) when I get home.

ali0608

I'm serious about newborns being quiet criers. The 2-3 year old are who are the loudest in stores.

Hawk&Eye

ali0608 said:

I'm serious about newborns being quiet criers. The 2-3 year old are who are the loudest in stores.

exactly! It's the toddlers and preschoolers that can make a scene!

justkeeptrying

Agreed with PP. I nursed my LO at church yesterday. Partway through he started to cry (per usual) and I was freaking out because this was during the sermon. I asked DH after how loud it was and he said he didn't even hear him cry at all. It always sounds loud and forever to the person holding the babe but in truth it's pretty quiet and usually only a couple of minutes.

My MIL had DS yesterday at a BBQ. He was screaming so FIL had to come and get me. I was sitting not even 20 feet away and didn't hear him. Yep. Stellar mom over here!

katiebug66

I felt this way with my first. I can tell you to other people newborn cries are just sweet. If they have a problem with it, that is THEIR problem - not YOURS. 

Jerseymommy11

It happened to me today. Ds had meltdown at store. I ebf and did right before we left but it didnt work. I tried to remain calm and rock the carriage he was in

I got more sympathy than anything else

marthaudani

I was out with my sister today and about 2 hours after we left the house (fed her before we left) Little Miss got hungry and started screaming. I EBF so I started fumbling with the blanket as we were ordering lunch in the restaurant. I'm still getting used to that.

Just remember that babies cry and it's ok. Be ready to feed your baby any time and any where and expect that it will happen. Most importantly, relax. You got this.

hmcconn

Yeah, I would work on finding ways to calm your self down about the crying, or you'll just feel stressed trying to live life. For babies, crying is talking, their only way to communicate - do you get mad at people for talking in the store? If not, then if they get mad at a baby for crying they are jerks, not reasonable people to pay attention to. The other example someone gave made me think - I am a Pastor, and when babies cry in church I have just never ever been mad at them. Sometimes I feel sorry for the parents if it's one of those intense cries that makes you feel helpless, but its just something no one in the situation can help. If your baby is going to learn to be in the world, people are going to hear it cry. Try breathing slowly to yourself, ignoring other people, and talking yourself through it. You have no social obligation to other people to keep their world quiet, unless you're in a movie theatre or a mime show. They do have an obligation to understand that the next generation of humans needs some understanding, because they are little and helpless and have no language but cries. Good luck!  

chipmk228

Thank you everyone! You all have me the strength to take her on her first outing to the optometrist to pick out glasses. She stayed in her car seat with a cover and it went so well! Granted I now have a migraine and my shoulders hurt from rocking the car seat but it's definitely an accomplishment! Luckily the only other person there was a mom with her toddler and she laughed when I explained it was her first real outing and how nervous I was about it. The only bad thing was that the optician was clearly sick so I'm sure he probably noticed that I was panicked.