People who have never had kids before are often astonished and maybe even amused when they meet up with friends and their new baby somewhere outside of the house. Perhaps you are going for a meal and your friends roll up with multiple bags of supplies in addition to their pram and baby. This sight might have even made you laugh a little, that is until you found yourself expecting your first little one.
Preparing to take your baby out of the house, especially for the first time, can actually be a bit anxiety-inducing. At home, you have everything that you need right on hand. However, when you are out and about, you never really know exactly what your baby is going to need based on how the day progresses.
The first thing to remember is that as long as you have the essentials, you and your baby will be just fine. Here are a few of those essentials that you will want to pack when you leave the house with your sweet newborn.
Table of Contents
Milk/Formula
The first thing that you will want to make sure that you have on hand is the right amount of milk or formula. If you are breastfeeding your little one, then you might want to bring along a cover, although this is by no means necessary or required. Some mothers find that their baby feeds better under a cover, while others do not. Simply do what is best for you in this regard.
If your baby drinks their breastmilk from a bottle or is exclusively formula-fed, make sure to bring along the right number of bottles. These should be clean, sterile, and prepped with your baby’s formula. It also never hurts to bring along an extra bottle as newborns feed with a higher frequency than older babies, and you don’t want to be stuck without.
Baby Blankets
When you are out and about, you never really know what the weather is going to be like or what the temperature in a restaurant or shop will be. It is always good to have at least one or two quilted baby blankets with you so that you can keep the little one cosy and warm.
You might think that one blanket is enough; however, all it takes is one spit-up, milk spill, or nappy leak to render your single blanket useless until you can get home to wash it. Just like with outfits, it is always best to have an extra on hand just in case.
Your Own Essentials
When you are obsessing over making sure that you have all relevant clothes, bottles, and toys packed for your outing with your baby, it is easy to overlook the things that you need yourself. Before you leave the house, make sure that you have your purse, phone, keys, and any other items that you require packed as well.
If you are still recovering from your delivery, there are a few extra things that you can bring for your own comfort, like maternity pads and ibuprofen, especially if you are going to be out of the house for a long time.
