Leaving the house w/ the baby

Dmb2283 · May 2014

Sorry if this is a repeat post...

Does anyone else feel completely miserable leaving their home ( comfort zone) with their baby? My husband and I have tried going out to dinner about 3 or 4 times and I feel miserable. Can't drink my drink or eat my food. We are trading off holding the baby and consoling her while we should be enjoying ourselves. Anyone else trying to bring their baby out occasionally? How is it going? Do you have any tips? I'm to the point where I think I might just not go out to dinner with the baby until she is like 6 months old.

theluckiest9 · May 2014

Laura8388 said:
I have been going out for dinner with baby since coming home from the hospital (went for lunch today actually).
I ensure he is fed and happy, then leave him in his car seat with the canopy up so the lights don't bother him, until he is asleep. It's best if we get a booth so he can go in next to me so he can see me if he opens his eyes. If he wakes and is hungry, I feed him, as I would at home.
Maybe baby is picking up on your anxiety. Keep practising if you want to be able to go out with baby!!! Maybe start with a fast food place, so you can leave quickly if it gets too much, and work your way up to a proper sit down meal. Good luck!

This!

Dmb2283 · May 2014

Thanks ladies!!
The places we have tried have been like a TGIFridays. Nothing fancy. I think it might just be that whole "witching hour" thing at night. She wants to eat every 1.5 - 2 hours at night. Maybe I'll just wait til she is a little more predictable in the evenings.

pepperedmoth · May 2014

I've done breakfast and lunch several times, but not dinner yet. As you mention it's his witching hour, but tbh it just hasn't come up yet.

Anyway I pop him in my wrap and he goes right to sleep. Sometimes I've dropped food on his head, but babies are washable, and it's worth it to be hands-free! I haaaaaaaate lugging hos car seat around but that is another good option for people who are not me. :-)

BabyVDM · May 2014

We've been taking the babies out since their first week home.

I haven't had a problem yet, but I always anticipate that there might be one cranky baby or another.

The other day I met DH for lunch after my Mommy and Me yoga class. It was their feeding time too. So before they started cranking we each took a baby and fed them at the table while we waited for our order. (of course LOs are mostly FF so we have bottles).

Then B started to fuss so DH took her and changed her. P snoozed on without complaint.

Sandwiches arrived about half way through the feeding. But were still warm when we were done.

It's been great. But our babies are used to noise and lights and lots of people.

Kewii · May 2014

pepperedmoth said:

I've done breakfast and lunch several times, but not dinner yet. As you mention it's his witching hour, but tbh it just hasn't come up yet.

Same with us. We go out for breakfast or lunch, but always make an effort to be home by 5. There's no way I'd be calm with her out for dinner during witching hour.

fish8412 · May 2014

We won't go out with LO past 5 because she now has an earlier bedtime of around 8 and we want to protect bedtime routines.

liamandlettie · May 2014

Laura8388 said:
I have been going out for dinner with baby since coming home from the hospital (went for lunch today actually).
I ensure he is fed and happy, then leave him in his car seat with the canopy up so the lights don't bother him, until he is asleep. It's best if we get a booth so he can go in next to me so he can see me if he opens his eyes. If he wakes and is hungry, I feed him, as I would at home.
Maybe baby is picking up on your anxiety. Keep practising if you want to be able to go out with baby!!! Maybe start with a fast food place, so you can leave quickly if it gets too much, and work your way up to a proper sit down meal. Good luck!

Yes to this!!

I would add that the more you do it the easier it is. I bounce around everyday somewhere with my girl. The biggest deal is making sure she still eats on time. I throw my pump in the car just in case. That way if we decide to eat I can just pump and let my husband give her a bottle at the restaurant.

htn1763 · May 2014

I take him out during the day but not at night. That scares me!

KariB509 · May 2014

I've learned from experience that going to quick places with kids is best. We're big fans of Panera Bread. I just make sure she's changed and fed before I go anywhere and that tends to help.

Brich3321 · May 2014

We go all the time. Mostly he stays in his car seat and sleeps. Last night at a dinner with a girlfriend he did not want to sleep so it was a challenge to eat but he was happy, just wanted to be held. You just have to get creative with holding/bouncing him in the seat or booth. I would go crazy if I couldn't get out to eat a few times a week.

CruiseGirl28 · May 2014

My mom and I took her to lunch once, and DH and I took her to dinner twice. Lunch and 1 dinner were perfect. During our first dinner, she had gas. DH was embarrassed so he took her to the hallway until she felt better. Everyone just thought she was cute and gave us credit for bringing her out.

She has been a ton of places- lots of family members houses, a baptism reception, church twice, shopping, car dealership, etc. Its all about being prepared and having an open mindset.

cdnmomma · May 2014

We've gone out for nice dinners with her at least once a week. For us it helps if we go according to her time. I feed her and then we let her fall asleep in the car and she stays asleep at the restaurant. I also feed her again at the restaurant before we head home so she's not crying in the car. She's almost 8 weeks so I'm not sure how much longer this will last but were gonna try to enjoy it while it does.

LiFeIsAmIrAcLe · May 2014

My DH and I always comment on how blessed we are every time we take her out. She's generally a very good baby and only cries unless there's something wrong. We've been taking her out since week 1. I second what everyone else is saying.....try to learn your baby and try to plan your time out around the best time for her....at least until she's a little older. And just try not to get frustrated. It won't last forever, promise.

dancer7889 · May 2014

Practice! I was nervous taking Kinley out at first but now I'm very comfortable doing it. I leave the house with her fed and clean diaper. Extra pacifier. Try shorter trips then maybe work your way up to dinner.

novelblessings · May 2014

We have been taking DD out since week 1. We always try to plan our best to make sure she is fed and happy before we go. I've taken her out to eat a few of times and she has always slept through it.

Like others have said it just takes practice of repeatedly doing it. I was nervous taking her by myself anywhere for a while and just recently got over it. She cries, oh well, everyone thinks she is cute and forgives me anyways.

stephcrosby09 · May 2014

I feel your pain. LO is great during the day, but we have taken her to a evening retirement party and she fussed the entire time and it was just more stressful than fun.

LittlePigeon · May 2014

We have been out a few times and so far it has been good! We try to pick a restaurant with a 15-20 minute drive. I feed her right before we lead the house and that drive time generally puts her to sleep. She is a very alert baby, so she usually wakes up when we get inside. We keep her in her car seat and face her toward me and/or DH. She usually is pretty content to look around while we eat and doze here and there. We request a booth so that if she does need to eat it is easier. We generally leave right after we finish so the whole thing only takes an hour or hour and a half (we are speedy eaters by nature).

clo1982 · May 2014

I agree with what everyone else said. First...remain calm!!! If you are anxious the baby will probably pick up on it, plus you will also just have a crappy time. If you bottle feed, just take a bottle, if not take a nursing cover. The main things they need at this age are food and somewhere safe to sit/sleep, both of which you can have anywhere. The worst that can happen is the baby cries which really isn't a big deal. I have been taking ds out since we got home. I wouldn't go to a super fancy restaurant because on the chance that he did cry or fuss, I don't think it's appropriate to possibly interrupt others who are havingn an expensive meal. But family friendly places are usually loud enough that no one is going to notice crying! Overall just keep trying and eventually you will gain more confidence and get more comfortable!

SomersIsles · May 2014

Like many other people have said, I aim to feed Robert right before we head out so he has a clean diaper and a full tummy. He is usually very content in his car seat at this point (must be the tight space that sooths him). If he goes in his car seat awake, depending on the length of the car ride he's usually passed out when we get to where we are going.

MA&CB · May 2014

We've gone out to eat quite a bit, and it's always been fine. I try to time it with the start of a nap if I can, but always tank him up first. I usually bring a bottle too so it's easy to feed him. If he isn't content in the carseat, I pop him in the wrap which always settles him down. He and and I and DS1 went out for lunch today - sure he has a little goat cheese in his hair, but he doesn't mind

Mcsweets · May 2014

Dmb2283 said:

Thanks ladies!! The places we have tried have been like a TGIFridays. Nothing fancy. I think it might just be that whole "witching hour" thing at night. She wants to eat every 1.5 - 2 hours at night. Maybe I'll just wait til she is a little more predictable in the evenings.

@Dmb2283 - just want to say I'm jealous you have a Friday's -- our's closed a couple years ago

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