How do you leave the house and go places?

karatechrissy

I am 4 weeks away from giving birth to a little baby boy. My daughter will be 1 on Monday. I was pretty devastated when I found out after my daughter was 4 months old that I was pregnant again. I'm happy and okay with it now, at first it was just incredibly shocking.

Anyway, as I get closer and closer to delivery, I keep thinking about little things I do now, that are going to be next to impossible when the new one comes. Was wondering if anyone had any tricks of the trade? Getting DD out of the car just to go grocery shopping is an easy example. Get myself out, get her, diaper bag, cart cover, put cart cover on by myself with a squirmy baby in my arms (and God forbid anyone offer help), finally get her in and off we go. HOW do I do that with an infant in an infant carier? DD stands, and walks around furniture, but she isn't (and I don't think will be) walking on her own yet. How do you do it?? I'm terrified to leave my house for the first time. lol. Calm my craziness please?

kcisthebombdotcom

Its going to be about a million times easier than you imagine.

Fist, ditch the cart cover. If you're really worried abou germs wipe it down with a wipe instead-it's actually more sanitary and easier. You also dont need to bring a fully stocked diaper bag into a store. I never bring it in, and in the chance we need it it's easy enough to run outside when both the kids are in a cart/stroller and grab it. If I fear the baby will be hungry, I just throw a bottle in her carseat and I keep a small snack in my purse for DS just in case.

I have 3 different approaches to going out with 2u2. If I'm going to a grocery store/walmart and I only have a few small items to grab, I park my car next to where the carts are, get the oldest out and put him in the seat, then push the cart to the other side and put the baby carrier in the basket. It takes about 2 seconds extra than it did with just 1 child. If it's going to be a big trip, I wear the baby in a carrier and put DS in the cart. If its somewhere we're going to be for a while I use the double stroller and put the diaper bag underneath. Another trick too if you go grocery shopping, you can get those reusable bags, a stroller clip (sold at BRU) and clip the bags to the double stroller.

mrsseguin

I also try to park near where the carts are kept.  Although DS was 2 when DD came, it still took a bit to get used to it.  I take DS out and put him in the cart.  Then go get the baby and put her in the bottom of the cart in the infant carrier.  I try to pull the cart close to the car while getting the kids in or out...I'm paranoid about other drivers hitting it.  People are crazy in parking lots. 

Putting them in is a bit easier.  I have DS get in on the baby's side and he walks over to his seat.  I put the baby in, then go around to DS's side and buckle him in.  You'll get used to it.  I never really went anywhere for a bit after DD was born too, I was nervous.  

PAmiler82

I basically have the same system as the pps regarding in and out of the store.

One thing that helped me was starting slow.  The first times we took them out, DH was there too. Then a week or so later, I just got the kids ready, put them in the car, drove around for 10 minutes, and came home.  Basically I was practicing maneuvering two in and out w/o having anything I actually had to do or get so there was no pressure and no risk of meltdown (them or me!) out in public.  Then I did a quick trip to walmart (again, didn't actually need anything, just walked around the store) and after that I felt totally confident.

I was very scared of taking them both out by myself, but now it's easy as pie.  I actually really enjoy going out b/c she usually falls asleep and I can chit chat with Drew while we do our shopping - it's some special one on one time.

thomas&lynn

I totally agree with PP regarding starting small to build up your confidence. Doing that will also allow you to perfect your strategies because you'll immediately see what doesn't work and can fix it before any "bigger" errand.

My first few outings were a stroller walk (with the Ergo on hand in case I needed it, which I did) to our neighborhood park about 8 houses down. Then I think we drove to a close by park. Then maybe a friend's house. Things like that. Within the month I was grocery shopping and taking them both to the beach. Hey, with a 2yo you have little choice but to get out of the house! lol

memali26

The second half of my 2u2 isn't here yet, but I just finished babysitting a 3 months old for about 6 weeks. I had to take both girls with me to dr appts and Target/grocery store several times, and honestly never enough thought twice about it. Which is so weird because the thought of doing it with two of my own was terrifying to me, LOL.

Like PP said, park close to cart returns, especially if you can find one with a cart in it, so much easier than carrying two into the store. I always got DD out first because she was expecting me to, then the baby in her infant seat. I borrowed a double stroller from a friend for dr's appts and it was fantastic. I didn't try wearing the baby (she had a brace for some leg/foot issues) but I will probably break out my mei tai when my LO is born.

To get the girls in the car at home, I would strap the baby into her seat in the house, set her right inside the door, then carry my DD to the car and strap her in before going back for the baby (maybe 10 ft from door to car, I could see the car the whole 30 seconds it took to go back). Honestly, so much easier to figure it all out than I thought it would be!

sweetpea2003

My daughter wasn't a great walker when my son was born.

Honestly?  You just DO IT.  It gets easier with time, and it can be a struggle, but you just have to will yourself to try.

For example, last week I needed to do a big trip to the grocery store.  DH is deployed so I am 100% on my own with things like that.  I have a babysitter one morning per week but I had to go to my own dentist appt. so grocery shopping didn't fit.

I park near the cart corral, grab a cart, put dd in the card.  I then take ds out of his carseat and put him in the ergo.  I shop with DD in the cart, DS in the ergo.  It works, groceries are purchased, etc.

I also have two good double strollers.  The BJCS (which I used with the infant seat when DS was little) and the BOB Duallie.  I use them both a lot.  If I only need a few things I will take the double stroller and just grab a basket.

I will admit I don't stop and run in for a coffee or dry cleaning or anything like that very quickly or easily anymore.  I tend to group my errands for times when I have help (babysitter, friend/family member in town).  When DH was home I would do errands in the evening or on weekends.  I just make it work.  You will too.

moonfaerie

KC_13:

Fist, ditch the cart cover. If you're really worried abou germs wipe it down with a wipe instead-it's actually more sanitary and easier. You also dont need to bring a fully stocked diaper bag into a store. I never bring it in, and in the chance we need it it's easy enough to run outside when both the kids are in a cart/stroller and grab it. If I fear the baby will be hungry, I just throw a bottle in her carseat and I keep a small snack in my purse for DS just in case.

I have 3 different approaches to going out with 2u2. If I'm going to a grocery store/walmart and I only have a few small items to grab, I park my car next to where the carts are, get the oldest out and put him in the seat, then push the cart to the other side and put the baby carrier in the basket. It takes about 2 seconds extra than it did with just 1 child. If it's going to be a big trip, I wear the baby in a carrier and put DS in the cart. If its somewhere we're going to be for a while I use the double stroller and put the diaper bag underneath. Another trick too if you go grocery shopping, you can get those reusable bags, a stroller clip (sold at BRU) and clip the bags to the double stroller.

This. Don't saddle yourself with things you can easily live without, such as the cart cover. Make your first trip by yourself on a day when you don't have to be anywhere at a certain time, such as for a dr appt. Just do something easy, like run to Target or the post office. That way, if it's a disaster, you are not late for anytihng important, and you can just leave if you are overwhelmed.

I do carry my diaper bag with me to most places, however I often ditch the purse and stick my wallet in the diaper bag. I don't bring the diaper bag if I'm taking just one kid out. Then I just stick a diaper or two and travel wipes in my purse. Consolidate where you can.

My older daughter didn't walk until #2 was a few weeks old, and having two non-walkers wasn't that bad. I could wear #1 and still carry #2 on my hip. Carrying #1 was a little rough at first since I had a c/s and she was so heavy, but you just do what you have to do. It seems overwhelming now, I know, but things fall into place.

roundtheworldgirl

Yours will be about the same distance apart as mine (12 months and 18 days here). DD1 started walking a couple weeks before DD2 was born, but she wasn't very stable yet.

Number 1: Get a baby wearing carrier - a Moby or an Ergo or whatever. That way you don't have to do anything with a squirmy baby in your arms - the squirmy baby will be strapped to you.  (And ditto pp about the cart cover - not necessary).

I live in the middle of a large city with great public transportation, so I don't drive alone with the kids.  I use the heck out of my double stroller, though.  I used the Moby and Ergo more when DD2 (now almost 8 months) was smaller, but now I usually just put them both in the P&T.  I traded my over-the-shoulder diaper bag for a roomy backpack, so I have my hands and arms free.  I stow the Ergo in the stroller basket in case I need it. 

It's all totally doable; it just takes practice.  The first few times I took DDs out by myself, it took me 45 minutes to get out the door.  Now I can do it in 15.  You'll get there, too!

 

karatechrissy

Thank you all for the encouragement. I know I can and WILL do it. I think I'm just starting to get overwhelmed the closer it gets to DS arriving. like you all said, takes practice! :-)