Re: In Public Places With Baby?

Wow I feel like I'm one of the few who hasn't really ventured out yet with my LO... The only things that we've done are going for walks, took her to the doc office twice and once took her to my doc appt (which my DH met me at the office to help me with LO)... Honestly I think the two of us are equally terrified that she'll cry in public and my DH says "it's not worth it to take her out if we don't HAVE TO"... Meaning I can go out alone to run my errands while my DH pops home for his break... Or I can watch our LO while he goes food shopping. I def get out of the house to get a break... But my LO stays home. I mentioned to him that we could to food shopping together and I would just push our LO in the stroller... But since she doesn't have her 2 months shots yet he thinks that it's not worth putting her in a situation where she'll get sick. I don't know how I'm gonna get over the fear of going alone... I have such bad anxiety... U guys are right- I really need to get out with her bc the more I practice I get, the easier it's going to be.

Re: In Public Places With Baby?

Don't worry. I didn't really go out with DD, other than walks in the neighborhood, until she was about 10 weeks. My doc said it was better to wait a little until she had her first round of shots. We did exactly what you described if we had errands to run. DH wanted to be safe and there was no real need for us to bring her out.

Personally, when I am out (even before I had DD) if a baby was crying I was never bothered - its normal. What bothered me more was when a parent ignored their kid or did nothing to try and soothe them.

Everyone has different styles. You just have to go with your gut and do whats best for you.

PS - the first time I drove alone with DD I think I went 10 mph. Lol.

Message edited 10/24/2013 4:26:22 PM.

Re: In Public Places With Baby?

In Public Places With Baby?

5 days with DS # 1, 2 weeks with DS # 2

Re: In Public Places With Baby?

At 6 days we went to my job to visit my coworkers after a doc visit. Now we've gone out a bunch of times. I just make sure he's appropriately dressed and protected from the elements and have plenty of diapers and bottles on hand.

Re: In Public Places With Baby?

In Public Places With Baby?

Im sorry for the women with colic babies i know how tough that must be. But dont scare the poor girl lol

Thats not the norm. Just go out and try. Most babies enjoy the outside. Enjoy the constant motion of the car and stroller walks. Use your car seat snap and go and just give it a shot

You will find a way to make it work. You find a new normal thats the best way to describe it.

In Public Places With Baby?

When DS#1 was born I never left the house -- even though it was summer! I had all these plans to take walks with him everyday but it was like 100* and I didn't him to get too hot all strapped into his car seat/stroller. Then I never went out because I was like 'what if he needs to eat?', 'what if he needs his diaper changed?' etc etc. DH ran all the errands I used to run so I never went out to a store or anything. It got to the point where I was sitting around and afraid to do anything thinking he'd cry. I wouldn't shower for days.

I totally regretted that! And even though it'll be winter with this LO (and predicted to be the coldest winter on record) I am going to try and get out whenever I can as soon as I can so he can have fresh air and I can feel human.

Message edited 10/25/2013 9:11:38 AM.

Re: In Public Places With Baby?

I got great advice once about being nervous that my baby was going to cry and embarrass me:

If a baby is crying, everyone understands. That's what babies do. If you try to shush her, walk her around, walk her outside, etc., no one will think twice about it. The only time people (normal people!) get annoyed with a mom and a crying baby is if she ignores it and lets it cry in an inappropriate place (a restaurant, a library, etc.)

Babies cry. It happens. No one you like or care about will think anything bad about you for it. Get out there!

Re: In Public Places With Baby?

We took DD out prior to a month. At 10 days, I took my first solo trip with her to the pediatrician and was terrified! We survived.

We've definitely had some incidents at BJs, Home Depot, even the dr. Like others, I like to have DH with me so one of us can take her out of the situation and soothe her if need be. I haven't taken her to the supermarket or the mall, but she's been to quite a few places. I wait for the weekends when DH is around so I can have a second pair of hands. It's just easier and I feel more comfortable. I've nursed her in the car if need be so no issues there.