Running errands with 2u2

msnehz · November 2011

Do you go out and run errands (grocery shopping etc) with your infant and toddler? How do you handle the logistics (feeding, diaper changes, toddler running around) of having 2u2 when youre out and about? Do you have specific time of day that you go out?

kcisthebombdotcom · November 2011

Yes, Ive been doing that since my youngest was weeks old.

It's not bad logistically. When my DD was younger and ate a lot, I'd just plan errands around her bottles. I'd give both kids a fresh diaper before we hit the road. If one of them pooped, I'd go into one of the family bathrooms with both kids.

When grocery shopping, I'd either put the carseat in the basket portion, DS in the shopping cart seat, and store my items underneath the cart. Other times if I was going to be walking around a lot and doing a big shopping, I'd wear the baby in a carrier and put DS in the shopping cart.

memali26 · November 2011

Yep, I do 99% of my errands with both girls in tow. I always take a bottle and diapers with me and feed/change wherever we are - usually can find a bench somewhere to sit to feed. I give DD1 a snack to eat wile I feed DD2 to keep her occupied.

Grocery shopping gets tricky space wise, but it's do-able. DD1 goes in the seat of the cart and DD2's carrier goes in the basket of the cart. I grab one of the little carrying baskets and stick it on the bottom of the cart for little things, and put big things around it. Not a perfect system, but it gets the job done Shopping someplace without carts, or places like the library/post office, I use the double stroller. I wish I could wear DD2 and put DD1 in the cart/stroller, but so far DD2 HATES the mei tai. She's nosy and doesn't like that she can't see when she's in it since she still needs the head support.

ETA: We usually go out in the morning and are home in time for lunch and DD1's nap after. Not sure when we'll go once DD2 has more of a schedule instead of sleeping whenever, wherever.

BabyFun · November 2011

I typically wear the baby and put DD in the front of the cart. Now that the baby is bigger, if the carts are big enough, they both ride in the front. I have found that mornings are the best time to run errands-they are both happy and well rested. I do a lot of feeding in the car while we sit in parking lots-the toddler is contained and I can take as long as I need.

12bailey18 · November 2011

I do all of my errands with the kids in the morning- before lunch and naps- usually anywhere between 9:30 and noon. I make sure the baby has had a bottle and a diaper change. I also make sure DS has either had breakfast or some snacks and a clean diaper. Of course, I always pack bottles and snacks and sippy with me but I've rarely had to use them while we're out. I also limit our errands/activities to 2 hours. Usually after the 2 hour mark someone is getting hungry, bored, or just fussy. As far as toddler running around, most of my errands (that aren't our "kid" activities like park, story time, etc.) are places that have shopping carts so I just put DS in the cart and either the carrier in the big part or I wear DD. If it's like the mall or somewhere that doesn't have carts than I'll use the double stroller.

CaitlinJ22 · November 2011

I had to do it from the time DD was 2 wks and I was left alone when DH left for the rig.

I would nurse her before, and change both diapers. Pack a bag with snacks and diapers/wipes etc and go. I would get DS in the car first and then stick her car seat in. I would always take out the mobile one last and put him in first. I always made sure I had an option to strap DS in, so a stroller, a highchair etc. If I needed to nurse DD I did it while he was contained. The car was the easiest...sit in the parking lot and let him play in his car seat while I nursed DD. Diaper changes would happen if someone pooped, and I would do it in the back of my van. I would usually go right after she woke up and was fed, then the clock started ticking. As she got older, nursing while out was fine. I also made sure DS was not hungry as that would cause a tantrum. I would always be home for his nap and hers when she got more consistent. Oh and I would always stick a baby carrier under while stroller in case she needed to nap while I was walking around.

Mereou12 · November 2011

It's a lot easier than I thought it would be.

We don't go on extended outings right now, so feedings generally aren't an issue. I nurse DS2 before we leave. I've only done diaper changes in the car, so that hasn't been an issue, either. For grocery shopping, DS2 rides in the Ergo and DS1 sits in the cart. Not too complicated.

90% of our outings are in the morning, before naps.

jerseymom98 · November 2011

i usually don't go out for hours that would require diaper changes, but change both of theirs before i go out with two in tow. I don't wear ds2 a lot and usually he is in his infant seat and ds1 is either in the basket or walking. But most of the time i do try to not run a lot of errands, where we are drive here and then there etc. Grocery shopping i do take advantage of my gs shop at home, so i just go to the gs, give them my name, creditcard and coupons and they have already done my sshopping for me and load up the vehicle.

rgtsmom01 · November 2011

No, I have a sitter and I go the same time every Monday morning. I keep a running list all week of what I need and I plan out the meals for the week. I only have to go the one time every week. I will not take both to the store.

mrsseguin · November 2011

You'll get used to it. In the beginning, I would take short trips....like to walmart to get formula, that's it. When I was comfortable taking them out by myself, I'd take longer trips. We do feedings and diaper changes before leaving the house, so I've only had to change diapers while were out a hand full of times.

I'll go to the grocery store, but I won't do a full shopping trip. DH and I go on the weekends. I also prefer to go out in the afternoon, after naps, I'm not a morning person.

LDQAM516 · November 2011

I quit going with the both of them when I had bad experience after bad experience at the store...which in return leads me to have to go back because I forget half the stuff on my list.

bulldog_mama23 · November 2011

In the beginning, we were out running errands the first week! I usually used the double stroller for running errands. But if we went grocery shopping, I either wore DS and put DD in the cart seat or I put DS in the carrier in the basket and just stacked the stuff we needed on the bottom or around his seat. Luckily, DH likes to grocery shop so he did most of that for us. Now that they are older, I still use the double stroller if I am alone with them and it works for the most part. If we are at the mall, DD likes to get out of the stroller and walk around next to me in the store but goes back in when we are in the main part of the mall. If DH is with us when we are out shopping, then DS goes in the cart and DD walks with us.

etude de la vie · November 2011

Its harder now than it was when DS was little!

I wore DS and carried DD on my hip until we got to the shopping cart and she would sit in the shopping cart seat (front). She was too young to hold my hand, and not run for it, in the parking lot. If DS was sleeping I would use my double stroller and put his carseat in the stroller. I have the Kolcraft contours and the basket is so large I could do my grocery shopping no problem!

Now DS is too big and hates the carrier (he is already 25 pounds!) so he sits in the front of the shopping cart and DD sits in the main part where she plays with all the food in the cart or throws stuff out or eats the produce (like apples) I am going to buy.

I planned my trips after his bottle or nap. If anyone needed a diaper change I would change them in the car (I have an SUV and would use the trunk space). I always packed lots of snacks for DD incase I needed to feed DS and we were stuck in the car while he ate.

firsttogo · November 2011

Not super mom here, but I just don't get why people do not take their kids out together. Yes it is hard, and a hassle, but that is how kids learn. That is how they gain valuable life and language experience. Your toddler is not going to know how to behave at the store without repeated exposure and modeling of expected and appropriate behavior.

So, to answer the OP, Yes, I take ALL THREE of them to the store, library, park, ect. It is not always easy, and not always fun. It takes work, and effort, but is worth it to know that my kids and I are not housebound, and unable to have fun outside of our property!

NCMichelle · November 2011

Everything is doable if you have a good carrier (mei tai, Ergo, ring sling, etc.) or a good double stroller!

jaymeltoth · November 2011

I do it all the time. My daughter loves slim jims. So I keep a secret stash of those and raisins in my purse to distract form the meltdowns building up. I only give her treats as an absolute last resort.. Along with a small coloring book and colored pencils. I put Nate, my 7mo, in the car seat in the large part of the cart. Katie sits strapped in in the seat part. I pull a second cart of all the groceries. The carrier doesn't work for me anymore since my little turkey is pushing 20lbs.for the doctors I just carry Nathan in the car seat and hold Katie's hand. I do put her leash on though. Some people make comments, but I know she is safe and can't all of a sudden run out, or get hit by some distracted driver. The leash is my best friend. I use it everywhere. We made one for her baby doll and her little robot dog. I love watching her mimic me, " are there any cars? look again, No? Ok walk swowly. Hold my hand baby"

Megan.10.06 · November 2011

If we don't go out, we don't eat!

Double stroller. I'm out a lot during the day, so naps happen on the go a lot. I just plan my drive thru and long trips in the afternoon.

Small errands, ds1 goes in the seat, and the carrier goes in the back. If i need more room, I wear ds2. I also have a backpack 'leash' for ds1 if he wants to walk,

I take them out almost everyday.

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