Getting out and about with your baby

I was exactly the same with my first, so how you're feeling is totally normal! What I found helped is planning in advance, at least for the first few outings where I felt anxious. This invovled getting the nappy bag ready and by the door the evening before, planning where I went to ensure there were nursing and changing rooms nearby etc. You can do this!!

I’m starting to feel the same with my 10w old. During the days where he just slept I tried and tested almost every cafe/restaurant nearby to see which are baby friendly and which aren’t so now I know where to go if I need to.. but it’s getting very mundane rushing to the same spots 🥲 I don’t know where you’re based so I can’t offer much advice, but I just want to say I totally get it! x

I totally understand ! I am the same My 12 weeks old boy start to be more awake doing the day time yesterday I went for long walk and he hade massive mild down I was so stressed and running back home! Today I just took him to shorter walk he was a wake but not crying I was so happy lol. Tomorrow I will pack his nappies and milk and I am back to long walks fingers crossed he will be ok and don’t worry we can do it girl ! 😘

Yes, it helps to go out with another mum and to just go to baby friendly cafes. I only go out with mum friends or family. Feels like I have moral support even if I were to get judged (probably won't be) :)

I felt exactly like this, it is a chore to get out the door and my son didn’t like the pram (still not a great fan as he wants to be held all the time). I didn’t go out for a period of time but it will be so much better for you both when you do. It does take planning though. I get my son’s bag ready the night before so all I need to do is add his feed. I get myself ready ( a military operation in its self!) When he has had his feed, burped, I then put him in his pram and go out straight after his feed and then I know my time window before his next feed. Also same if we are going in the car. I have to say that I have got to the point of not caring if he is bothering other people with his cries or if I need to sit and feed him. I don’t even think about it. Try not to worry if you LO cries when you are out, be confident in that you know what to do when she cries. The more you do it the more it will get easier. Maybe start with a walk around the block and the build up x

Thank you all for sharing your experience and advice. I am going out each day for one hour and yesterday I extended my walk and ended up in a Cafe Nero to breastfeed her which was fine. She cried a bit but then she was settled. She also hates the pram and prefers to be held in a carrier so most of the time I leave with her in the pram and come back with her in the sling/carrier. I basically use the pram as a cart for shopping and carrying her nappy change bag haha I just see all these mothers with their sleeping babies in the carrycots and I feel jealous hahha and think "why only me?" But it's obviously not just me. Thank you for making me feel less alone in this.

Just remember, you only see those mums for a fraction of their day. I often get people coming to me saying how sweet and well behaved he is, yet they have just missed the total melt down that we had 30 minutes before 🥲 you’re doing amazing lovely!

We go to one specific shopping centre/mall because there's a big clean baby changing and feeding room with sofas. It's better than just walking to the local supermarket which has a terrible little cold changing room (we also need to use the bus and LO needs medication and special formula, so extra things to make us stressed) I'm sick of the house, local shops, and the mall. But the thought of going further fills me with dread still. I'm sure we'll get there. I do find just going out to walk around the houses gives me the feeling of getting her out without the fear of going further afield. I'll try to do so right after feeding/burping so I know she's likely to rest and not need much mid walk. And if she does I'm still close to home.