Despite the name 'stay-at-home-parent', staying at home too long doesn't really work with an active baby. Little Bear loves his play-mat and ball-bit, but most days he (and Pappa) get a little bored and need to break free.
But lets not kid ourselves, we don't just grab keys and wallet and run for the next bus like we did pre-baby... No.
We grab milk, nappies, dummies, blanket, keys, pushchair, toys, and baby. Then we look for our shoes whilst baby wriggles out of the pushchair. We clip baby in properly following a lot of protest about the shoulder straps, then get ready to get out the front door, before a loud noise comes from the baby's nappy... We unclip baby from pushchair, missing the second bus you'd planned to get, run upstairs to change his nappy. Finish changing the baby, chuck the baby-carrier (almost forgot) under the pushchair and the baby in the pushchair. On the way to the bus, realise you forgot your wallet, etc, etc.
But despite the stress, it's worth it. Little Bear loves a good day trip. Whether it's visiting other babies and their mums (only met 1 other dad so far!), swimming, or trying something a little more adventurous like a baby-concert, another city or a museum, it's great for parent and baby to get out. But the tough stuff in a day trip doesn't stop when you finally get out the door (with your wallet).
Having learnt a few lessons the hard way, I was wondering what a parent needs to think about before they head out with the baby for a day trip. So here would be 7 tips I wish I could have given myself before I started parental leave:
1 - Think what baby would enjoy (and what would make him really tired for when you get home and you want to sleep). We try not to be limited to baby specific activities, although a city like London is really great for these from Baby-Mozart to Baby-Cinema. But things like the Science Museum with lots of lights, colours and things to grab (and try to eat) can catch any baby's interest as well. Sometimes Little Bear just likes a change of scenery, with a trip to a big park or the library. He might also like a trip to a flight simulator...
2 - Think what you would enjoy. Enough said. But keep in mind babies' opinions don't extend much further from whether they're allowed to chew your phone. So going somewhere you're going to enjoy with flashing-lights is going to be just as amazing to them as going somewhere you'll hate but is just for babies. [I'm pretty sure this will change when we move to toddler phase]
3 - Always keep calm. If things start to get difficult, try to remain calm. For instance, after a long day walking around London, Little Bear may start crying to get out of the push-chair as dad steps onto a crowded tube and the wheel gets stuck, and dad realises the bear is getting over tired. At the first opportunity, the bear may then kick dad between the legs. Getting stressed isn't going to help. So take a deep breath of deliciously fresh, cool and clean London Underground air, try not to gag, and take one problem at a time.
4 - Packing, keep it simple. For short trips I have a small bag I can strap to my waist (if using the baby-carrier) or the pushchair. In it are changing things, milk (one day solid food hopefully!), teething stuff and a dummy. Anything else feels extravagant. And we'd never take anything you need to hold like a shoulder-bag since the bear will almost certainly need two-handed attention and carrying.
5 - Don't pay attention to people around you. If your bear starts crying, it's very easy to notice people staring at you and start to feel guilty about disturbing them. Especially when people (who have probably never taken care of kids) start to look irritated. Or people (who have had kids) start telling you what you need to do. We've all been a bit irritated about not being able to relax because of a screaming baby, but the best way to find out how to calm your baby is to ignore the guilt (ignore these people) and focus on parenting.
6 - Find a way to nap on the move. Not for you (although this would also be great) but for the little one. This is a no-brainer for most parents as an over-tired baby many kilometers away from home is not fun. But it can be tough. For the Bear it can change from week to week, but judicious use of the baby-carrier is normally the best way to knock him out when on the move.
25 Comments
29/8/2016 12:01:36 pm
I think the key is staying calm because if you get worked up, baby gets even more worked up. It links into your other point about not worrying about other people too because part of the stress is panicking that you're ruining the experience for others but, as I said, getting worked up only makes it worse. Sometimes your plans don't go to plan when you've got little ones in tow but being flexible means you can still enjoy. Good tips. #MarvMondays
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Dave
29/8/2016 12:20:53 pm
Thanks Lucy. Totally agree, sometimes your best plans just don't work and as you say, just need to be flexible!
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29/8/2016 12:54:31 pm
When my young man was a baby, he didn't really care too much about where went as long as we went. He just relished the visual stimulation of new places and faces.
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Dave
29/8/2016 11:24:54 pm
Yea, loving it at the moment as can take then anywhere. Does it change when they get bigger?
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29/8/2016 02:11:22 pm
Love these tips. It's so easy to get stressed with an over tired baby isn't it? I've learnt not long ago that a deep breath really really does wonders!!
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Anonymous
29/8/2016 11:27:00 pm
It really does! Otherwise parenting can get a bit much at times :)
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Great article! Funny how "a loud noise comes from the baby's nappy" so often right as your are finally ready to go! I like your advice on the various activities you can bring a baby to and to not worry about other people's opinions. I've learned that people are fixed in their views of a crying baby. Whether or not yours cries is not going to change their mind one way or the other, so we can't let it affect our day. Keep up the good work on these articles!
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Dave
4/3/2017 07:47:51 am
Cheers Jeff! Much appreciated
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I used to think that babies were hard work, but it's nothing compared to toddlers (my daughter is 2 now)! Enjoy the fact that they will still sleep in the pushchair, bottles are easy peasy compared to trying to pack an abundance of nutritious and healthy snacks, and don't get me started on potty training...enjoy the nappies while you can! #binkylinky
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Dave
2/9/2016 09:59:13 pm
Every stage seems to be harder than the last!
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Dave
2/9/2016 09:54:24 pm
Little Bear had to sleep on his tummy for a few weeks when he had a cold too! Now he just roles onto his side like his mamma. Agree sleeping on the move can be really tough at times!
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3/9/2016 08:46:28 pm
Great tips! It's great to be organised! Thanks for linking up to the #BinkyLinky
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Nige
4/9/2016 08:24:12 am
Super tips so important to be organised for day trips I also think it's important it should be something you enjoy too Thanks for linking to the #binkylinky come back next week please
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4/9/2016 08:44:49 pm
Great post and great tips! I definitely agree with the point about not paying attention to people around you, especially when you're never going to see them again! Thanks for linking up to #MarvMondays, great to have you join us. Emily
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7/9/2016 02:36:38 pm
Great tips here! Even if my kids are now a bit bigger, I still believe staying calm and not paying attention on the people around is a fab idea for us parents to keep going. Lastly, have fun with them of course, they love the out attention the most. #Whatevertheweather
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8/9/2016 09:33:15 am
Great tips, especially ignoring other people and trying to stay calm. I struggle with these but on days I achieve them the day always goes so much better. #Whatevertheweather
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The keep calm and ignore others is definitely essential. And I'm all for doing things you'll enjoy too. So much so, that poor N aged 5 now moans and asks why we always do things I want to do...not quite true because he gets his way a lot of the time too.
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Dave
4/3/2017 07:46:56 am
Thanks Emma, will look into
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14/9/2016 07:16:54 am
Great tips and staying calm is really important. Kids will always find something to get upset about, so just a deep breath and solve the problem one thing at a time. Definitely important to go out the house for everyone's sanity too, we have to get out every day! Thanks so much for linking up to #Whatevertheweather
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Dave
4/3/2017 07:46:01 am
Totally agree!
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21/10/2016 12:17:11 pm
Whenever we go out, we make sure that baby gets to walk a lot. After a while, she is subdued and is soon asleep!
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AuthorI'm Dave, dad of Little Bear. Also known as 'Pappa' to the little man as we try and bring out his Swedish roots Categories
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