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Multiples
Am I missing an obvious solution? re: leaving the house
We live in a townhome but have no driveway/garage. So our parking spot is kind of around the block and I can't pull the car up to the door because there's no shoulder and I block neighbors' driveways if I do. Plus I would essentially be putting a baby in the car and leaving her alone in the car while I ran inside to get the other, and she is then unattended in the car on the street. NOT ok with me.
That means to get my girls out now that they are too heavy to carry in their Snugrides, I have to:
Get my shoes, coat, etc on in the foyer downstairs, and set up the stroller
Take baby 1 downstairs, strap into stroller
Take baby 2 downstairs, strap into stroller
Go back upstairs, get all of my stuff and the diaper bag (and pray they aren't screaming)
Take the stroller to the car
Unstrap baby 1 and put her in carseat
Unstrap baby 2 and put her in carseat
Fold stroller
Stow diaper bag
Put key in ignition.
Am I missing an obvious solution, or is this just my life from here on out? It just seems like a LOT of steps. I wish we had a driveway... (sigh)...
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Am I missing an obvious solution? re: leaving the house
How old are your girls? It sounds like they're big enough to go in a baby carrier like an Ergo. I would leave that stroller in the trunk of your car and not even deal with it until you get to where you're going. I would try to put everything you need to take with you in a backpack style diaper bag, put one baby on your chest in a carrier, and carry the other baby sort of on your hip while you walk to the car. Or, out a baby on your back, carry your diaper bag on your shoulder and carry the other baby in your arms.
I know you probably need to use the stroller when you have any groceries, etc, but getting them buckled in and out of the stroller before you even go anywhere, and then stowing the stroller in the car, seems like a lot! If it's a short walk, I would just carry them.
Mom to Megan(5), Bridget(4), Tessa and Annie (2) and Mary (brand new)
The more you make yourself do it, the less of a pain it's going to seem to be. It's okay if your baby cries for a minute.
I had to remind myself of these things with just one. GL!
me too!!!!! i am doing the (((sigh))) with you. i am on 2nd floor in a condo, with garage not attached. we have exactly the system you describe. except unless you are carrying a ton of stuff you really don't need the 3rd trip up... just bring stuff down with the babies.
it is a PITA, and i don't know what else would work. it is mentally and physically draining to do this everytime we need to go somewhere in the car. i just take a deep breath and... GO.
well, my choice would be to move, but not in the cards right now.
it does get easier (well, more routine) the more times you do it. but for the most part i've stuck with neighborhood walks to get out with them, and save the car trip stuff for when dh is around. now that mine are getting older i plan on getting out with them more on my own.
i might give this a try soon! our steps are a bit precarious, so not sure if i'm comfortable getting down them with all that... but worth a try.
They are 5 months... the carrier idea could work but then again if I wanted to go for a walk or use the stroller, it would be in the car and I would have to put them in the carrier, walk to the car, then set up the stroller while holding a baby? Or put them in the carseat while I set up the stroller... sigh again. Oh, to have a garage... Thanks for the suggestion though!
would require advance planning of stroller placement, and i'm not sure it would be worth while.
my first choice would be to move - that just sounds miserable to ahve to do all the time... and i can't stand being stuck at home - ugh... you poor thing!
my other comment = put all your stuff in the car FIRST - not the babies. leave them in the townhouse in a PNP or exersaucers (somewhere safe they can't get hurt) and bring everything to your car - get the stroller out of the car - and then bring babies down one at a time and strap them in. I would not carry 2 babies down stairs together - not sure what the stairs are like - if just a couple - maybe OK - but if there are a lot - that is just too dangerous IMO.... esp if wet, etc.
we have kept Gray in the infant seat as long as possible (he's got 2 more pounds to go before he maxes it out) just b/c it's so much easier to have ONE baby in the infant seat --- Gibby was out at 4mo (he was 18lbs) so I've been carrying him on my hip and Gray in the car seat at the same time when going out to the car- but it's only steps away from my front door.
we have had two similar situations, we've moved but neither place had a garage or driveway to park in
the first place I could put the kids in the stroller and walk it to the car. it was only a bit down the block and seemed ridiculous (I used to think it was a pain) but I did indeed load them in the stroller to take to the car every time we went out, then load them in the car and load the stroller in the car. the reverse on the way home.
our new place is even smaller and with no place to store the stroller so we do store the stroller in the car. it is a HUGE pain and I'm telling you, taking them to/from the car in the stroller is way better. we have a hallway and then 10 stairs between the front door of our place and the street, so I can't load them in the stroller at the front door because I can't roll the stroller down the stairs, and I'm not comfortable leaving the stroller at the bottom of the stairs while I go to the apartment to get the kids... so our only option for walks is to carry them both (one in the ergo, one on my hip) to the car, put them in the car, take out the stroller, set up the stroller, put the kids in and shut the car - and to do the whole thing in reverse when we get home.
needless to say we took a LOT more walks at the old place because it's such a pain here. so yeah, I think the plan you've set out is the best thing. and just be glad you have a spot to keep your stroller that's not your car