Help please, how to cope newborn outings
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27058
Printed Date: 06 September 2025 at 4:18pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Help please, how to cope newborn outings
Posted By: dinkyminky
Subject: Help please, how to cope newborn outings
Date Posted: 18 June 2009 at 8:54pm
This might sound stupid  but when & how do you take your newborn out without them getting too overtired and stimulated by the outing? im not wanting to go out very much really but would like to atleast go out for a walk with girlee in her buggee, but am a little frightened to attempt it, as we've had lots of days where we've had to go to the hospital or plunket or when the midwife visits and after any of these she just is so unsettled by it, and constantly crys & I can't seem to settle her. Am I starting too early? should I just stick around home for a few more weeks? What did/do you guys do? Thanks heaps!!!!------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Replies:
Posted By: Mum2L
Date Posted: 18 June 2009 at 9:08pm
|
I know you are bottle feeding, so hopefully what I say will have some relevance as I am exclusively breastfeeding. I would always make sure that Lucian had a full feed before going out when he was a newborn (I still do this now), and normally do things between 9am to 2pm in the day. This normally gave me a 2 to 3 hour timeframe to do things before he was due for a nappy change and feed. I would also make sure I knew if there were any parents rooms to change and feed Lucian as well.
You should be fine, just make sure that the buggy is covered, so it retains warmth. I have a MB Urban Elite, and use the suncover on top first, then the rain cover on top, and zip it up so Lucian doesn't get cold from any wind blowing into the buggy. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Mum2L
Date Posted: 18 June 2009 at 9:24pm
|
oh, btw, if you notice that your PP bleeding increases significantly, stop and take a rest. When going for a walk, it is normal for the bleeding to increase slightly, but not too much. If you had a c-section, it is best to wait till 6 weeks PP before going for walks (speaking from personal experience). ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: hannibal
Date Posted: 18 June 2009 at 9:29pm
|
Hi - I had bubs out and about straight away and we only had probably 2 days at home full stop without venturing out at all! Our day was something like this
Breakfast bottle Sleep Lunch bottle In the car off we go - mum needs coffee!!! and has chores Afternoon bottle Sleep Dinner bottle Sleep Supper bottle Some days we even went out for a walk later on if the afternoon sleep turned to custard and off she would go to sleep. I found it quite easy to duck out and was pretty lucky I didn't need to take a nappy bag really at all - we fortunately never had a poo while out! I used to find she would sleep quite contently for me while out and about - now at 8 months she wants to know what is going on all the time - no chance mum gets a quite coffee now - but it is so much fun watching her watching everything. Probably to start with 2 hours would be fine. You might get some tips from thesleepstore.co.nz - I found this a great site. Good luck. |
Posted By: dinkyminky
Date Posted: 18 June 2009 at 9:43pm
|
Thanks girls, so both your babies didn't experiance being over tired by going out? Today
I had to go out to the hospital, I fed her at 10am left about 11am, was out till just before 1pm and she was awake the whole time, when I got home I tried to settle her to bed for a sleep as if we had been at home all morning she would have slept from her 10am feed till her 2pm feed. She would have it, and was beside herself, this is what got me thinking about demand feeding... ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 18 June 2009 at 10:19pm
|
I am so with you on this one- Im terrified to go out too. Locky is a super into everything kinda baby- so he wont shut his eyes if there is anything to see- then gets reeeeally over tired and impossible.
------------- 
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: hannibal
Date Posted: 18 June 2009 at 10:22pm
| Hi, no I had no real problems at all - I found she slept quite well in her car seat. I had to work a little bit at getting her to sleep in her cot just as well! With the feeding I had a few hiccups (we are bottle feeding) - 3 hour feds didn't work for us at all - it turned into a huge battle and I couldn't believe a 3 months old could reduce me to tears, after being admitted to hospital we went to 4 hour feds and since then we haven't looked back. I had also tried demand feeding and it didn't work for us - I liked having some idea of how our day was going to be. You will work out what is best for you and bubs unfortunately I found it does take a little bit to work it all out. Maybe try to venture out for 1.5 - 2 hours a couple of times and see how you go?? |
Posted By: dinkyminky
Date Posted: 18 June 2009 at 10:29pm
|
KitKat where are you? if your in weely maybe we can be brave together and meet up? :)
Thx Hannibal! xx ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: lisa85
Date Posted: 19 June 2009 at 9:18am
The earlier the better I say. I didn't start until the girls were about 3 weeks old (I was a wuss) but it's soooo much easier at that age all they do for the first 4-5 months is sleep in the pram. After that its a nightmare lol. I can never keep my two entertained long enough to do anything remotely useful anymore  Make the most of peaceful outings while you can they really don't last long. It's the same for holidays. If you have family out of town newborns are the easiest to take away. I wish we had done more trips while the girls were immobile.
I miss my 2 hour walking marathons with my 2 little angels that would just sleep the whole time. Now I'm lucky to get to the letterbox before a fight over a toy erupts or someone wants to be carried. Just make sure you have lots of warm clothes/hats/mittens and cover up with heaps of blankets. In this cold weather I used to use my rain cover even when it wasn't raining just to keep the cold wind off their little faces. -------------  
TTC #3 since Jan 2010 - PCOS MC April 2010 |
Posted By: Flutterby
Date Posted: 19 June 2009 at 9:56am
|
I have been dragging Cody around with me since he was 2 wks old. Normally an outing for us is just into town to do a few things and go to the supermarket. I would just feed him and change his nappy before I go and he normally falls asleep in his carseat. When he was younger he often stayed asleep in his capsule and now that he is bigger and we are using the pushchair he will often fall alseep in that as well. He also loves to look around at everything. When I was up in Auckland everytime I went shopping he would just sleep in his pushchair for the whole time.
I don't use a routine during the day and just watch for the tired signs and basically leave it up to him to decide when he wants to sleep. Seems to work well. I bascially just try and go with the flow. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Ella1
Date Posted: 19 June 2009 at 11:39am
|
I think every baby is just different.
We took Mika out from when she was a week old. And she would often be asleep while we were out and about, up to 3 hours sometimes! While at home she was a very difficult sleeper. I would usually try to feed her before we go. Then from about 6 weeks old she'd often be awake for parts of the time we were out and she's fine. (Although I do remember the 1st time she woke up in the middle of a big supermarket shop  , my heart skipped a beat ... but luckily she was all smiles and let me finish the shop without any problems)
Obviously you can't stay at home all the time, but maybe do listen to your baby and try to fit outings in with his schedule. (we don't have a routine, maybe that's why outings are easi,er?). Cause if that's easier on him, ultimately that makes it easier on you, IYKWIM 
|
Posted By: crakars
Date Posted: 19 June 2009 at 11:44am
|
the more you do it the more confident you become - i found at that age - a walk in the pram around 4ish was well needed - he generally slept in the pram - good luck -------------  http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 19 June 2009 at 11:51am
|
Jake's first outing was at 7 days old to his grandparents house. The next outing was about a week later and I fed him than we went out for a couple of hours and then home before the next feed.
Jake was a very sleepy newborn but he did cluster feed a bit if we had been out that day. He does get overtired now if we are out too long or too often during the week. I tend to try and only be out for a few hours at a time, but thats more for my sanity as I hate it when he is unsettled. We also have a new rule of only going out one day of the weekend as otherwise monday and tuesday are custard. Perhaps you could try visiting a friend or relative, that way bubs wont get to overstimulated and you will be able to have some adult conversation! (I do find that while jake sleeps fine in his car seat he doesnt seem to go into a deep sleep so we take the carricot that fits on our buggy with us for him to sleep in when are visiting). -------------   
|
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 19 June 2009 at 11:57am
|
Yeah I also think the earlier the better, it can be hard at first but the more you do it the more confident you get. Going for a walk in the buggy sounds like a good idea as generally they will fall asleep in there and if she does start crying you can just turn around and head back home.
I find going to the supermarket is good as well as they seem to like sitting in the trolley, they can have a look around and then normally fall asleep once they are tired, they can wake up at the checkout though  but normally some rocking of the trolley sorts that out.
You can buy some good travel sleeping bags for buggies or get a snow suit, babyfactory had some on sale. If your bottle feeding just make sure you always have a bottle with you because when all else fails a feed will normally calm them down. I'm also a big believer of not having a routine, if you don't have one you can't get stressed about it not working but then I'm not a very organised person by nature and prefer to just watch for tired/ hungry signs but if you are a highly organised person then having a routine may work better for you.------------- 
 
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 19 June 2009 at 12:51pm
|
I was housebound for weeks cos of a slow recovery from my c section, but once I was up and about and allowed to drive(after 4 weeks) I took Caden out quite a bit, I found that as long as he had a feed and was warm and comfy he was fine, and would sleep in the pram or capsule in the car and stuff.
I would however try to keep going out for the mornings, as I found caden was more grumpy and tired in the afternoon. ------------- |
Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 19 June 2009 at 5:29pm
|
It so depends on your baby. My friends baby could only cope with an hour being up and if you got her over tired, she was a total nightmare for the rest of the day, so for her it just wasn't worth going out much - however that does change and now at 8 months she is fine, in fact I think she got a lot better at even a couple of months old.
I used to feed him up before we went anywhere and tried to time going out with him sleeping, he normally went to sleep in his capsule and we could lug that around anywhere, it gets easier and easier honestly. Try short trips so if it all turns to custard you can head back home again. ------------- 
]  [/URL]
|
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 19 June 2009 at 6:48pm
Im in Tropical Dunedin- bummer! Lol- quiet times in the first few weeks- wow, I cant wait to see how much louder he can get!!! Locky screams the moment he goes into the capsule, to the moment he gets home again. I have been told over and over though- keep at it, it gets easier for both of you... its new for bubs too, he just wants to be close to you after all. -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
dinkyminky wrote:Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 19 June 2009 at 8:48pm
|
I made a point of leaving the house as soon as we was home from the hospital and we haven't stopped really! Also a fan of no routine (during the day anyway), as shes always in bed for the night by 7.30. I just told myself that everything would be fine and on the odd occasion she does spit the dummy I just deal with whatever the problem is then - I tend not to worry about what 'might' happen. If you're apprehensive and anxious chances are bubs will be too.
DD didn't like the carseat too much at the beginning but she loves it now, she now knows we're going on an adventure! I'd highly recommend getting a frontpack/wrap of some sort, they are brilliant and babe feels alot more secure 
|
Posted By: dinkyminky
Date Posted: 19 June 2009 at 9:36pm
Thanks!!! I might be over thinking my days ahead tooo much. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 20 June 2009 at 8:41am
|
Enjoy! You'll soon become super confident and enjoy taking your babe out... And babe will become use to being out and about with lots of people
|
Posted By: MissAngel
Date Posted: 22 June 2009 at 1:21pm
|
To be honest, I was out and about when Thomas was a week old. I HATE sitting on my bum doing nothing! He coped really well in his capsule - I didnt take him out of it much unless we were at the mall etc (that was by week 4) I put the capsule in the trolley at the supermarket.
Just try a little bit for a little amount of time and she'll gradually get used to being somewhere that doesnt involve getting poked and prodded by everyone :D ------------- Alex, Thomas and Lily http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: SpecialK
Date Posted: 22 June 2009 at 2:09pm
|
I was going stir crazy after about a week, so started by going out for a walk with H in his buggy.
As much as I wanted H to be in a very strict routine it just hasn't happened, so I normally feed, change, bundle him into the car or buggy and off we go. He does feed every 3 hours, so I know to be home by then. I do find I have to plan better, and I usually have his nappy bag and buggy ready to go and in the boot of the car before he wakes up for his feed. H hates his car seat, so cries while I get him in and out... used to really stress me out, but now I am used to it... Also, I find that if the buggy is covered up and warm, he'll sleep really well. Good luck chickie, the first few weeks can be scary!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 23 June 2009 at 1:53pm
|
LOL! I was still struggling to walk properly after a week! Let alone contemplating an outting with a newborn! -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: LG
Date Posted: 24 June 2009 at 11:51am
|
I had one of those babies that hated being out - screamed in the carseat and wouldnt sleep while we were out so just used to do very short trips to try and get her used to it. Think we just used to go to close friends/relatives houses so she would get used to it. Shes a bit better now but hates being out for longer than 1.5hrs which is hard when we're 40 mins away from town but am sure it will get better. I feed and change her and then leave and always take more stuff then i need (nappies, change of clothes etc, not sure why because i rarely need it). Good luck, like everyone else has said the more you do it the easier it gets for both of you -------------  Angel Baby Aug '12, Feb '13 |
Posted By: Lea455
Date Posted: 24 June 2009 at 3:16pm
|
When my boy was a newborn I was terrified to take him out anywhere in case he cried too much and didn't go out at all for the first few weeks but once I did pluck up the courage I found he usually slept most of the time he was out or if he was awake he was too busy studying his surroundings to cry. I would definetely suggest feeding baby before you go out, even if not due a bottle, give bubs say half a feed just to take the edge off their hunger. As far as routine goes, it can take a few months to get baby into a routine so I wouldn't stress too much at this stage. Like someone else suggested, the Sleep Store has heaps of info on sleeping and routines, I bought a book called the sleep easy solution which helped me get my boy into a routine from 4 months onwards and it has heaps of info right up to age 5 as of course babies are constantly changing in terms of how long they can stay happily awake and how much sleep they need each day. It definitely gets a lot easier to go out with bubs the more you do it and the older they get ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  
|