After the first few weeks of a family life at home with your new Baby, it’s time to start thinking about going out with him, perhaps for a walk in the park, a trip to the shopping centre or a visit to one of your friend’s homes. It seems a good idea at first, but by the time you have everything prepared and you are finally ready to leave the house, you may feel so exhausted that all you want to do is sit down and rest, never mind go out with your baby in tow! But don’t give up. Here are 10 tips for going on a successful Outing with your newborn.
1. Do your homework :
After all the preparations you’ve made to bring your baby to a play area for instance, you’ll be disappointed if you arrive there to find that it’s closed for the day. Whatever your arrangements, be sure to check opening and closing times and that baby care facilities are available at your destination, just in case.
2. Take everything you can carry: No matter how many clothes, wet wipes or spare nappies you take with you, chances are that you’ll find they run out pretty quickly. Err on the side of over-stocking, if you don’t use any of it during the trip, just pack them away again when you return home.
3. Have a backup stash in the car: Aside from providing transport, your car is good for storage, too, on a sunny day, you can bring wet weather gear on the off-chance that it rains. You can also bring extra toy and a variety of other baby care equipment as you may end up at a different destination than you originally planned for, and may need these things.
4. Be determined: The effort of preparing for the outing will probably be more than you had imagined and you may get to the point where you think going out is just too demanding. But don’t give up. Remind yourself that you will have a great time.
5. Have a plan: Think ahead to ensure that you have everything you need and try to anticipate possible weather, feeding and toileting problems. This takes time, so it’s best not to leave all the planning to the last minute.
6. Accept help if it is available: If your spouse, a friend or family member can help you get ready, don’t be too proud to accept support. When it comes to getting a newborn ready for going on an outing, every pair of helping hands is welcome.
7. Don’t be over-ambitious: Aim for short outings with your newborn, at least to start with. If you expect too much or try for an outing that is too ambitious, you’ll end up disappointed and frustrated. A short trip of, say no more than 30 minutes, should be just right.
8. Enjoy your baby’s company: Remember that the most important part of the trip is for you and your baby to share each other’s company and have fun together. Do your best not to let the practicalities overshadow the pleasurable aspects of the outing.
9. Talk to your baby: Talk to your baby about what you are doing and what is going on around you while you are preparing for the outing and dressing him for the outdoors, and during the outing itself. This increases everyone’s enjoyment.
10. Give yourself a pat on the back: Self-encouragement and self-praise will keep your motivation high. Tell yourself that you did very well today, that your baby thoroughly enjoyed himself, and that you’ll find things easier on the next outing. Be proud of your achievement.
1. Do your homework :
After all the preparations you’ve made to bring your baby to a play area for instance, you’ll be disappointed if you arrive there to find that it’s closed for the day. Whatever your arrangements, be sure to check opening and closing times and that baby care facilities are available at your destination, just in case.
2. Take everything you can carry: No matter how many clothes, wet wipes or spare nappies you take with you, chances are that you’ll find they run out pretty quickly. Err on the side of over-stocking, if you don’t use any of it during the trip, just pack them away again when you return home.
3. Have a backup stash in the car: Aside from providing transport, your car is good for storage, too, on a sunny day, you can bring wet weather gear on the off-chance that it rains. You can also bring extra toy and a variety of other baby care equipment as you may end up at a different destination than you originally planned for, and may need these things.
4. Be determined: The effort of preparing for the outing will probably be more than you had imagined and you may get to the point where you think going out is just too demanding. But don’t give up. Remind yourself that you will have a great time.
5. Have a plan: Think ahead to ensure that you have everything you need and try to anticipate possible weather, feeding and toileting problems. This takes time, so it’s best not to leave all the planning to the last minute.
6. Accept help if it is available: If your spouse, a friend or family member can help you get ready, don’t be too proud to accept support. When it comes to getting a newborn ready for going on an outing, every pair of helping hands is welcome.
7. Don’t be over-ambitious: Aim for short outings with your newborn, at least to start with. If you expect too much or try for an outing that is too ambitious, you’ll end up disappointed and frustrated. A short trip of, say no more than 30 minutes, should be just right.
8. Enjoy your baby’s company: Remember that the most important part of the trip is for you and your baby to share each other’s company and have fun together. Do your best not to let the practicalities overshadow the pleasurable aspects of the outing.
9. Talk to your baby: Talk to your baby about what you are doing and what is going on around you while you are preparing for the outing and dressing him for the outdoors, and during the outing itself. This increases everyone’s enjoyment.
10. Give yourself a pat on the back: Self-encouragement and self-praise will keep your motivation high. Tell yourself that you did very well today, that your baby thoroughly enjoyed himself, and that you’ll find things easier on the next outing. Be proud of your achievement.
