Getting Out

My boys are 9 weeks old, with the assistance of my mom I get out about once a week, shopping/coffee etc and often for walks, but she is soon going home (interstate) and I dread the thought of organising prams etc by myself....
Just wondering - do others manage to get out and about much with their twins on their own - ie playgroups with other mums/shopping etc ,how often and do you have any methodology to share to make it easier?

thankyou!

 

At two months of age we weren't having playdates, but if you could find a mom with kids the same age or around the same age, I think it would be a great way to get out. At two months, we were mainly going for walks or to local stores. Do you have a snap-n-go? That was what saved my life. It made going out very easy for me. And I also tried to go out after they had bottles so that they were full. Another thing I noticed is that they were in a better mood in the mornings, so I tried to get out then. Good luck and you can do it momma!!

 

I didn't hardly at all in the beginning. It was more important and practical for me to get all my running around done when someone (DH or my mom) could watch the babies. I know a lot of women do it but I just couldn't stand trying to get everything together and by the time I got them ready and all packed up, got to where we were going it was time for them to eat again. So I really only took them out for fun when I had someone with me, not to actually try and get something done. So maybe some of the other moms can help you with their routines for getting their babies out.

 

I started taking the girls out on my own when they were about 6 weeks old. At first it was quite a production, but I quickly got a routine down. I always left right after a bottle, I always leave a diaper bag packed near the front door. The stroller lives in my car and its a snap-n-go so the car seats pop right in, and I always planned the trip so I would be back in time for the next bottle. I didn't really do playdates, but I ran errands (the storage bin under the stroller holds more than you'd think!), take a long walk, or go grab a coffee with a friend while the girls slept in the stroller. Thats the good thing about when they are real little- many babies (not all, but many), will sleep anywhere when they are tired. GL! The first time is the hardest and it only get easier each time you do it.

 

I would always have a diaper bag w/ the essentials packed and ready to go (restock it when u get home) If im going to a playdate i will pack blankets and toys and also bottles while they were asleep-although they were almost ALWAYS sleeping at that age. Feed when they woke up, burp, and straight into carseats and to the car. We do not have the snap n go but the Peg Perego that is the same idea---lifesaver!!!- u can go anywhere w/ that thing! also it has a nice size basket underneath so i would use it as my shopping cart as well-everywhere i went. We also have the Podee bottles that were another lifesaver! I could feed them while I was walking around a store shopping-and still do-i love those things! Same for going out for a walk, they could eat while i was exercising. I would carry a bottle of water and a tupperware container of formula to make bottles on the go. Other times i carry the carseats 1 in each arm-they r really starting to get heavy! Good luck!! u CAN do it!

 

I have only done it a few times as I have been lucky enough to have people here to help for most of the boys life so far, but tomorrow we are going to go to Barnes & Noble to buy the boys some new books and then I think we are going to go to DH's office so that the girls that work in his office can see the babies. I usually feed them and go and try to be back before they have to have another bottle, but tomorrow I will just probably bring bottles and feed them at DH's office. He is self-employed so I can hang out there and get a little bit of a break. Honestly, I can't stand being cooped up in the house all week, so it is worth it to me (despite the big production) to get out of the house.

 

I have gone over to my mom's a few times without any help, I have yet to venture out to stores or anything. It is going to be nice this week here though so I am thinking about maybe taking some walks... if that goes well maybe I'll try the stores or coffee next.
I heard babies r us was a good place to go alone so I might try that. I also heard to do a 'test run', go with someone but you do everything, they are just there 'in case'.

Good luck!

 

So here's a follow-up question: if you go out with dbs by yourself, what do you do when they cry? I have tried to go out, but they both start screaming at the same time and all I can do is rush out of wherever I am. It's such fun with everyone staring at me! But I am going stir-crazy at home and need to figure out how to make this work.

Thanks!

 

QUOTE(Luluthewondercat @ Jan 7 2008, 10:53 PM) [snapback]562283[/snapback]
So here's a follow-up question: if you go out with dbs by yourself, what do you do when they cry? I have tried to go out, but they both start screaming at the same time and all I can do is rush out of wherever I am. It's such fun with everyone staring at me! But I am going stir-crazy at home and need to figure out how to make this work.

Thanks!


Tend to your baby the same way you would at home. I have two older kids so I didn't have a choice but head out of the house alone with 4 kids from day 1. (Well actually week 1!) For example, at the book store. Say one babe starts to fuss- what would you do at home? Pick baby up, check diaper, see if he/she is hungry, etc. You can do those same things wherever you go. BUT your errands will take longer. That is something you'll just get used to. Don't be afraid to sit down at the store and nurse a babe. Especially at a book store where they expect you to linger. Stopping to feed a babe in the bread aisle is another thing!

Once you brave it you'll see how much you are really capable of. I would recommend not putting a baby off, because then you'll end up with two fussy kiddos and that is hard. And forget about who is looking at you. They don't matter- only you and your kids matter, so take care of you and them first!

 

It's so hard, isn't it? For the first 2 months or so, I was freaked out by the idea of getting them out by myself. But once I had someone help me do it a few times (my test-runs), I ramped up the guts to try it alone. We went for walks through the neighborhood. We went to the mall or Target or Walmart. We didn't go anyplace fancy or far away. And we didn't go for very long. But now I feel like I can get them out by myself regardless of where we need to go.

The only tip i would have is to time your departure well. I make sure everything I need to go is already together (car seats by the front door, stroller in the car, diaper bag packed and in the car), then I feed and change the babies and then I leave IMMEDIATELY. That way I know I have several good hours before i need to get them back and fed again yes, I can feed them both by myself but I prefer NOT to feed them while we're out and about unless I have someone else there to help me.

if they cry while we are out - believe me, this happens a lot. I offer a toy or pacifier. I pull over in a corner and play with the crying one, make sure it's not a diaper issue. i do whatever I have to to make him stop crying. like a pp said, it's no different than if we were home and he was crying. I have never left a public place, however, just because a baby was crying.

 

aside from walks, we didn't leave the house alone until like 4 months!! it was way too much work!

Sometimes I think it still is!!

Sorry I couldn't help!