" What you should have with you on your first outing with baby "
What is that? In the first few weeks, your baby is already observing its surroundings with alert and curious eyes. Every day it discovers new, exciting things within its own four walls. There is still a whole world outside waiting to be explored by the little ones. New parents are usually a little unsure when the ideal time for the first walk is or when they can even go on a day trip.
The first walk
Contrary to popular belief among older people, you don't have to wait weeks to take your first walk. Today, new moms and dads take their babies for a short walk in the first few weeks. However, 15 to 20 minutes is usually enough at the beginning. The wonderful fresh air is not only good for the child, but of course also for the parents. However, there are a few things to consider before you get started.
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It is important that your baby is full and freshly changed. These are the best prerequisites for spending a few minutes in the fresh air. Neither hunger nor a full diaper will spoil the experience. However, make sure you pay attention to the weather conditions. Storms, fog, frost and extreme heat are still taboo for babies. In summer, the ideal times are early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the heat is less intense. In winter and fall, the hours around midday are ideal for a walk.
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Always make sure you wear the right clothing. As a rule of thumb: dress your baby the way you dress yourself. No more and no less. To check whether your child's body temperature is optimal, feel the back of their neck. It should be nice and warm there. However, the skin should not feel sweaty or even cold. During a short walk, it is sufficient to remember the pacifier and the pacifier chain. No other items are required. However, diaper bags and the like become interesting if you are going further afield or even planning a longer trip.
Planning an exciting family outing
Every day your little sunshine grows and thrives a little more and of course your baby wants to discover the world slowly but surely. Parks or zoos are suitable destinations for young families.
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For babies from the age of six months, a longer family outing is exciting and an unforgettable experience for parents. Good planning is an advantage. Although there is nothing to stop a spontaneous outing. It depends first and foremost on the child's well-being. However, you will need a few more things in your diaper bag for an outing than for a short walk.
Regardless of whether you are still breastfeeding your baby or giving them a bottle, think about food and drink for your little sunshine. This includes not only the bottle, but also porridge, cookies, tea and one or two spoons. Diapers, a change of clothes and the like should not be forgotten either. You can put all these important items in a changing bag. Let's take a closer look at them here:
What all belongs in the changing bag?
As the name suggests, the diaper bag is primarily important for changing utensils. A few diapers, wet wipes, a small baby blanket and possibly powder and cream are necessary if your little bundle of joy needs to be changed on the go.
You can also stow a pacifier in the bag. The use of a pacifier bag is recommended here . This keeps the pacifier safe and ready to hand at all times. You can attach the other pacifier to your child's clothes using a pacifier chain. There is usually room for a change of clothes and bibs in the diaper bag. A change of clothes is particularly important on longer outings.
When the little one gets hungry
Breastfeeding in public is not an option for all mothers. Consider this situation too. You can either express breast milk and put it in a bottle or use a cloth that you discreetly place over your child while breastfeeding. If your child is already eating solid food, you should take good precautions.
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As already mentioned, an outing should include some porridge, fruit and cookies. Your baby can nibble on these little treats in between and then continue on its way. It goes without saying that you should take a longer break for the porridge. Sometimes you can eat together.
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Many restaurants provide high chairs so that you can eat together as a family. Feeding in an unfamiliar environment is a new challenge and it is not uncommon for something to spill on the clothes. You are therefore well prepared if there are a few spare items in the changing bag.
This also includes baby shoes. Even if your little one is not yet able to stand on their own two feet, baby shoes are an essential part of their clothing. Baby booties are particularly suitable for the little ones. They keep tiny feet nice and warm and fit comfortably in any changing bag.
Plan for bad weather
The outing begins in glorious sunshine and suddenly the weather changes. You should therefore have a rain cover to hand for the baby carriage, which you can quickly attach to the baby carriage in an emergency. If the sun is too good, sun protection in the form of a small parasol is important. Remember that the weather can change before you go out.
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In addition to sun and rain, it is essential to protect your child from insects. A cover that acts like a mosquito net and protects your baby from biting insects is a good idea.
You're ready to go
Now that the changing bag is packed with all the essentials, it's time to stow the baby carriage. On a longer family outing, a carrying strap may be an advantage in addition to the baby carriage. This allows you to carry your little one comfortably for a certain amount of time.
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Close contact is extremely important, especially in the first few months. After all, your child may feel uncomfortable and even the pacifier may not be enough to calm them down. If your baby doesn't want to lie in the pram any longer and needs to be close to you, a baby carrier is a good alternative.
Make a checklist
It is very helpful to create a small checklist that can be used for every subsequent outing. This will prevent you from forgetting anything important. Especially with very small babies, items such as a dummy chain, dummy bag, baby bottle and cuddly toy are not available on every corner.
The same applies to diapers and changing accessories. You can enjoy your family outing with peace of mind if you think about these important things.
