Errands Made Easy

One of the hardest things for me as a new mommy was to be 'stuck' inside. Bryn was born in the middle of winter and fresh air would have had us both frozen in minutes. Once Brandt went back to work I was home by myself with Bryn and that presented a whole new list of challenges.

At first, going out with Bryn would give me anxiety. She hated being in her car seat! Every time we would put her in it she would scream and scream until we started moving. Even when we got in the car and she was slowly rocked to sleep on the way to the grocery store she would wake up and cry every time the we hit a red light or stop sign. I found myself looking for pot holes just to make the ride a bit more bumpy.

That time has passed and she still is not a huge fan of her car seat but she does tolerate it. Car rides are more pleasant and there is far less crying involved in short trips.

After 12 weeks of practice I have finally developed a travel plan for Bryn and maybe some of these tips might make your outings a little more pleasant as well.

1. Start small: Don't plan on making huge pantry stuffing, shopping trips right away. Go for a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread. There is nothing that made me more panicky than a crying baby when I am by myself at the store and I am only half way through my list.
2. Make a plan: Have a list of items you need to get or errands you need to run and know exactly where they are. I know my Shoprite like the back of my hand so I make my list 2 x. Once for the items I know I need and another to put them in order of where they are in the store. This cuts my shopping trips almost in half!
3. Do a practice run: Before you are set loose with baby ask your husband or other support person to go with just for support. They are there if you need them and that can put you at ease which is a HUGE factor in keeping your baby calm. They are more intuitive than you may think and can pick up on your emotions VERY early on.
4. Pick a time when your baby is sleepy but not overtired: I take Bryn after she eats because is usually about 20 minutes before her nap. It gives her a little time to work any gas out and to relax. They do get more flexible I promise but you really need to work around their schedule for a while.
5. Clean diaper and full diaper bag: Change their diaper right before you put them in their car seat. I may have the only baby that actually LOVES having her diaper changed but this actually works to my advantage before errands. I bring a the necessities for a short trip: diapers, wipes, a toy, pacifier, and blanket. Don't stress yourself. You will only be gone for a short time.
6. Bring a Bjorn: Any baby 'holster' will do. If you HAVE to get your shopping done this is the way to go. Bryn loves hers and could be in it for hours if she needed to be. This will put your mind at ease and help calm a cranky baby. It also frees up your hands and your eyes. :)
7. GET A CROSS BODY PURSE OR COMBINE YOUR DIAPER BAG AND PURSE: This helped me a ton. Cross body bags help free up your hands if you need them and make everything easier.
8. Park near any cart return: No matter where in the parking lot you end up make sure it is near one.
9. STAY CALM: like I said before, the more relaxed you are the more relaxed baby will be.
10. Don't care what others think: A babies cry can be irritating to people but they will get over it. Most people who have either had babies or have been around babies can sympathize with a new mommy. You worry about your baby and not other people. We were trapped in the checkout or "Linear Hell" one time and Bryn was screaming bloody murder. I swear that everyone in the store could hear her and the cashier was taking her sweet old time. I was sweating bullet and about to have a breakdown and the lady in the checkout next to me with a cart full of kids said to the lady behind me after hearing her say "Can't she shut that baby up?" "You have obviously never had kids lady!" I was so thankful for the support from a complete stranger and thanked her after escaping from the store. Moms really do stick together!
11. Don't be discouraged if your your trip doesn't go as planned: I have left mid shopping trip a few times. Don't be frustrated with your baby. They are trying to get the hang of this whole outside world thing and it may take a little bit.
12. Don't avoid it going out: I did after a few bad experiences and let me tell you, it really hurt my mental health. I felt even more trapped by my anxiety and overwhelmed with staying home all the time. Don't let yourself become a domestic prisoner.  Make plans with friends to go out to lunch, set short goals like going to the post office or bank, and don't make excuses. Just do it! If you 'fail' the first time don't let it get you down. Bryn can now take on longer shopping trips and is more patient as she starts to enjoy the world around her.

Everything gets easier with time and practice. That is all part of being a new parent. I really do believe in the "4th trimester theory" about how a baby takes another 3 months after being born to really adjust to the outside world.

Take a deep breath and get out there! :)