Running Errands with LO

Starfish+77 · June 2014

So I never know when to run errands with my LO. Do I go after a nap so he should be calm and happy (and fed of course)? Or do I go when I can tell he's starting to get sleepy so hopefully he'll fall asleep in the car? Last week I was THAT mom at Target with the screaming baby so I ditched the couple items I was going to buy and left. Especially when I saw how long the lines were. It's not a long car ride to Target so even if he drifts off to sleep, getting out of the car, car seat into cart, etc, will inevitably wake him. Lately I'm feeling trapped in the house and unable to run errands especially since he HATES his car seat. What do you do? Any advice?

rockstarlaw · June 2014

I leave immediately after eating. My little guy still likes to eat every 2 hours during the day, so there is a limited window to get out and run around before the next food-related meltdown occurs.

mrsB68 · June 2014

I try to get my DD ready before feeding and then when she's done she gets into the car seat and we go and run the errand. As soon as she starts to stir I take her to the car and feed her. If it's somewhere further away we leave then I'll feed her in the car before going in. This usually works best but I don't really like feeding in the back seat!

Lizmullen · June 2014

Feed, car seat, go. I sometimes do car seat slowly. Get her in and let her calm before I buckle her up. my little one loves being on the move. If the car or shopping cart is in motion she is happy.
I've been solo with her all week since my husband is out of town for work and have had to go lots of places. It took a few trips to figure out what was easiest for her.

fourthnlast · June 2014

Now that the older three are on summer vacation, we run errands after she eats, but during the school year, i like to get everything done in the morning. So we would drop everyone off at school and then feed her and then go run errands. She also hates the carseat, so i have been carrying her or using the peanut shell, but my Ergo should be delivered tomorrow!!

Avion22 · June 2014

Eat, diaper, go! The only time he gets fussy when we're out doing errands is when he's hungry. He hates getting buckled into the seat, but once he's in and we're moving, he's usually fine, and will almost always go to sleep. We use this as a way to get him to take naps when he's being really fussy.

Rrrrrachel · June 2014

Have you tried swaddling him in the car seat by just tucking a blanket around him?

Xxlilies · June 2014

i go whenever but try to go after hes been fed.

I am lucky and have the kind of baby that passes out in the car no matter what, and usually doesnt wake until long after we are home.

Starfish+77 · June 2014

Ok thanks everyone for the advice! I don't want to be a prisoner in my house so DS will just need to learn to like his car seat!

Starfish+77 · June 2014

LalaMama81 said:

Starfish+77 said:

Ok thanks everyone for the advice! I don't want to be a prisoner in my house so DS will just need to learn to like his car seat!

Why not get a baby carrier for the store itself? Obviously he still needs to be in the seat for the car, but you can keep that time minimal.
I have a Ktan and ergo that I use at home but generally he screams until he passes out in them. He's not very tolerant of either when awake.. He basically just likes to scream period before falling asleep. Lucky me!

Mrs.Kohalic17 · June 2014

Eat, change diaper, out the door. I wear him in my ergo tho while shopping. He either falls asleep or is content the.whole.time. If left in the car seat even moving in the basket he has a meltdown.

strawberrytree · June 2014

celticlullaby said:

Also - babies this little cry, even when you do everything right. It's not like letting a toddler have a tantrum and take out a display or something. I'm not saying I'd shop through a purple crying meltdown, but a little crying is to be expected, and shouldn't scare you into being stuck at home! People tend to side eye me more when the toddler's having a fit, but they say, "Aw, how cute!" even when the infant is wailing. :P

ITA with this bit...I was grocery shopping this morning with LO in the Beco when he started to wake up halfway through. I had my toddler as well and was dancing around the produce department like a lunatic trying to get him to sleep and people kept stopping to talk to me and ask how old he is. Like I'm really in the mood for small talk right then!

snowbound · June 2014

I typically put LO in the car seat after he eats and is showing signs of a calm but alert state. If he doesn't seem settled then it takes a lot more work (swaddling and swinging the car seat). As for being in the store, it's a hit or miss. I have started using the ktan more and now he's more content (or asleep) and I'm more relaxed which makes our outings much easier!

fourthnlast · June 2014

poru said:
@fourthnlast‌ peanut shell?

It's a sling. Worked great as a tiny newborn, but not so much as she's getting bigger.

Andrewsgal · June 2014

We are constantly on the go with two others there isn't really a choice. DS hates his car seat and cries in it. It is what it is. I wear him using my ktan or ergo in stores and he gets nursed in a lot of parking lots.

selina1113 · June 2014

I wish my LO liked being worn. He hates that worse than a non-moving car seat so I am basically trapped at home or leave him with DH while I run errands alone. It stresses me out too much to not know how things will go.

PaperBowl · June 2014

I go after he's eaten. We have a convertible car seat so that has never been an option, so I bring the ergo and if he needs to nap that puts him right to sleep anyway.

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