This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Little Spoon, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.
"There is so much overwhelm that comes with going out with a baby, and truly, it can feel like you’re packing for a 10-day trip every time you leave the house. Then, you hope that where you’re going is accommodating, and most of the time, it’s not. Like finding a place to put an infant car seat in a restaurant or at someone’s house? Yeah, kind of impossible. You feel bad putting it on the table, but you don’t want anyone to trip on anything, and they can’t be in a high chair yet, so you kind of always feel in the way anyway. And once you finally get settled, it turns out you tragically left something in the car. Leaving the house with a baby requires you to overthink every possible scenario, and that’s just exhausting.
But regardless of how much work it is to go out, I was determined to find our stride after becoming a mom to maintain some sense of pre-kid normalcy. We started going out pretty early after my son, Tanner, was born—he was at his first brewery at 3 weeks old! Looking back, I think it’s much easier to take a newborn out and about than it is an older baby or a toddler, since they don’t move much and can sleep pretty much anywhere. But once they’ve passed the adorable potato stage, there’s a lot more to coordinate and consider, like where we can go, how long we can keep him happy, what he will eat, the possibility of people being rude if he’s loud… the list goes on.
Now that Tanner is reaching his first birthday and we have a whole year of outings under our belt, I can confidently say we’ve figured out how to enjoy summer outings as a parent. From helpful hacks to my favorite products for on-the-go feedings, here’s how I make going out with a baby easier:
Simplify on-the-go feedings
I used to think the newborn phase was convenient when it came to on-the-go feedings since all I needed was a bottle. But once he started solids, I was pleasantly surprised to find that things actually got a bit easier. Now he is distracted by eating, so I’m not rifling through the diaper bag for toys to keep him entertained the entire time. That said, feeding him table food comes with its own set of challenges—cleanup is a lot more involved, I almost always forget to pack a bib, and ordering five different sides like rice or mashed potatoes adds up quickly (especially since he’s still too little for a real kids’ meal). So instead, we started bringing puree pouches. They strike the perfect balance: They keep him happy with a meal he loves while cutting down on mess and cost.
As long-time fans of Little Spoon Babyblends, I swear by their new Babyblends+ packaged in pouches. Tanner, like most toddlers, loves fruit, so the sweetness that comes through these pouches makes them a huge hit (even while having zero grams of sugar per serving). He literally says, “Mmmmm” after every bite and tries to snatch it out of my hand for more. I love that even though he thinks these are a sweet treat, they offer a variety of foods that I don’t often keep on hand but want him to have in his diet (turmeric, white bean, Acerola cherry, pitaya). I feel better knowing he is getting a well-rounded snack instead of just giving him puffs or ordering French fries for him to snack on. And in typical Little Spoon fashion, the vitamins and minerals in their new pouches are naturally sourced from whole foods, unlike others on the market.
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More faves for on-the-go feedings
Amazon
Amazon | Inglesina
Amazon
Time outings around naps
This is a big one for obvious reasons. Going out when your baby is in desperate need of a nap is a recipe for disaster, unless your baby is a pro at on-the-go naps. If that’s not the case for you, it’s just not worth the gamble. Whenever we have plans after naptime, we prep his outfit and pack the diaper bag, snacks, and toys in the car right after putting him down. That way, we can make a quick escape the moment he wakes up. Sticking to their nap schedule can feel tough if you’re a more spontaneous person, but I promise it won’t last forever. And it’ll make life a little bit easier in the beginning.
Keep the car stocked
To avoid packing your entire house in the diaper bag, keep your car stocked with all your baby necessities. Anytime you restock diapers and wipes around your house, take a few to the car as well. Keep a backup set of clothes and shoes, diaper cream, a changing mat, additional toys, a stroller, a baby carrier, and anything else your family frequently uses.
Rotate toys and activities
If your kid has a black belt in car seat battles, rotating toys can help mitigate their resistance. Bring a set of toys designated for the place you’re going to, then a different set for when you get back in the car, which will make getting strapped in again much more compelling.
Melissa & Doug
Razbaby
Amazon
Amazon
Pick noisy locations
It always stressed me out when we’d bring Tanner to a restaurant and he’d start being a tad rambunctious (a totally normal occurrence with children, of course). But I didn’t want to let my anxiety or even the reaction of other not-so-friendly people stop me from living my life. So, I’ve started picking places that have a noisy atmosphere (obviously not too loud for a baby), outdoor seating, or are overall very kid-friendly. It helps minimize my worries, especially when he’s using our table as an opportunity for an offbeat but very adorable drum solo.
Prep for the heat
Although summers where we live in the Northeast aren’t as hellish as the South, a 90-degree day is still pretty hard on any kid. We keep a zip-pouch in the car or diaper bag with a UPF sunhat, sunscreen, and an attachable fan for the stroller or high chair. Also, a pair of sunglasses because, c’mon, how cute are these baby Aviators?!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hailey Tagliarino, Assistant Managing Editor for The Everygirl
As an Assistant Managing Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Bouche oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. When she’s not working you can find her in Buffalo, NY cheering on the Buffalo Bills with her besties, visiting her friends to brewery hop in Fort Collins, or flying to the beach with her family.
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This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Little Spoon, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.