Scared to go out

I'v always been a little scared to go out with my boys by myself. Now that they are 7 1/2 months it seems worse. If I think about taking them somewhere I somehow talk myself out of it b/c of all the possible things that could go wrong and I would be alone with them. Anyone eles have this problem?

Also...how do I go shopping by with them? Has anyone figured this out yet? Or is it just not ever going to happen?

 

You need to just make up your mind that you can do it. I waited until the boys were big enough and had all of their first shots. They were about 3 months old before I ventured out to the mall with them. I went to a smaller mall, not the bigger one as I knew there would not be as many people there and I didn't want people to touch my babies. Once I figured out what I needed to bring with me and timed it around their schedules I took them everywhere with me- to the lake for walks, the mall, the grocery store. And as far as grocery shopping I would put one in the snugli and carry him and the other one in the infant carrier on the cart- and I had a double carrier but that was not my favorite as I could see the one in the front but the other one was on my back. I think that becuase I have always brought them everywhere with me they are wll behaved. Be brave- get out there. Otherwise you'll go stir crazy in the house. Just bring extra clothes, enough diapers, pacifiers, bottles (unless you bf-that one is easy-I always had my boobs with me-lol!!!!). Good luck!!!!!

Tracy
Mom to Griffin & Alex :itwins_boys:
03/14/02

 

QUOTE(Tracy-mom to twin boys @ Mar 20 2008, 04:49 PM) [snapback]679718[/snapback]
You need to just make up your mind that you can do it. I waited until the boys were big enough and had all of their first shots. They were about 3 months old before I ventured out to the mall with them. I went to a smaller mall, not the bigger one as I knew there would not be as many people there and I didn't want people to touch my babies. Once I figured out what I needed to bring with me and timed it around their schedules I took them everywhere with me- to the lake for walks, the mall, the grocery store. And as far as grocery shopping I would put one in the snugli and carry him and the other one in the infant carrier on the cart- and I had a double carrier but that was not my favorite as I could see the one in the front but the other one was on my back. I think that becuase I have always brought them everywhere with me they are wll behaved. Be brave- get out there. Otherwise you'll go stir crazy in the house. Just bring extra clothes, enough diapers, pacifiers, bottles (unless you bf-that one is easy-I always had my boobs with me-lol!!!!). Good luck!!!!!

Tracy
Mom to Griffin & Alex :itwins_boys:
03/14/02



Ask you hubby or bf to come with you. even if they dont come I think you should start practising.. I also went out at 3 months

 

I started taking walks with them in the stroller at 5 weeks. Very short walks at first, but we eventually got up to an hour or more. (They mostly slept.) I found it less stressful because I could just turn around and go home if someone woke up and started screaming.

Think about what you're afraid of "going wrong." There isn't really all that much that can go wrong other than crying, spit-up, or a poopy diaper. Sure, sometimes when you are changing one baby's diaper, the other one is going to cry, but that would happen at home too. The biggest thing is to let go of worrying what other people think. Anyway, what they'll be thinking is "That woman is super-mom, getting out and about with two babies!"

 

It can be very very daunting taking 2 babies out, but you can do it! Like pp's have said- the worst things that can happen are crying, spitting up and diaper issues. I've been taking my babies out since birth- I just always made sure I had my diaper bag (which I lovingly refer to as my "worst case scenario" bag- because it's got something to address all the possible issues that can come up when you're out- diapers, changes of clothes, wipes, binkies, bibs, everything)... Also, when I first started taking them out places, I tried to go some where that I could get help if I needed (like to family or friend's homes.) Or I brought help with me. You can do it. It's fun once you do! Good luck!

 

I've been taking mine out since they were 2 months (actual). I had my mom go w/ me the 1st couple of times and the last time she wasn't allowed to help me unless I asked. I take them out at least once a day now and they are really used to it. I even do the grocery shopping (push the stroller, pull the cart). Its just a matter of getting used to it. The more you do it, the easier it is. Get out of the house!!

 

QUOTE(jdio33 @ Mar 20 2008, 04:41 PM) [snapback]679697[/snapback]
I'v always been a little scared to go out with my boys by myself. Now that they are 7 1/2 months it seems worse. If I think about taking them somewhere I somehow talk myself out of it b/c of all the possible things that could go wrong and I would be alone with them. Anyone eles have this problem?

Also...how do I go shopping by with them? Has anyone figured this out yet? Or is it just not ever going to happen?


I started taking my 7 wk old twins out just for walks in the neighborhood.....start small with a short trip or one errand...pick a store that has bigger isles to make your first outing easier...like target or walmart....I was so motivated to get out of the house that I made anything work...even the 50 ton door that I have to open to get out of my apartment building....I agree with pp...the more you do it the better it gets...

Nancy

 

the first time I went out by myself I kept DD in the carseat on the cart and DS in the frontpack and we went to Sam's club and spent all of 5 minutes in there because all I needed was a big pack of batteries for the swings! BUT it was liberating to do it myself - without DH or my mom...

the only things that could really go wrong is a blowout diaper (been there) and projectile puke (done that) or someone crying (bought the t-shirt) - pack a change (or 2) of clothes including a shirt for yourself - 2 extra diapers than you think you'll need and an entire pack of wipes - and GO! its a GREAT feeling!

 

I put one in the Bjorn front carrier and one in the carseat and clip it on the grocery cart. We always get funny looks but I still have the whole basket of the cart to put stuff in. If I am just going to the mall I take them in the stroller. I take mine out all the time. I would DIE if I had to stay in the house. I think after a few times you would get the hang of it! And you know what ... if they cry ... they cry! Babies cry and people will just have to get over it if it bothers them!

 

I too was so scared in the beginning...three flights of stairs, germs. But now I LOVE going out. I don't get to do it often because we are still battling stairs. Once we move into our house....look out world. I will take them for a walk every day. As far as the grocery store...I don't know. Yours are bigger so I don't know how big they can be in the bjorn. I don't see mine fitting in my snuggli for another 2 months. I send DH to the grocery store. If I had to pick up a few items I could use my SBS stroller. Full grocery shopping in between ages...I have no idea.

 

Its all about getting comfortable with it. The first time I went out alone with the girls they were 6 weeks old. I put them in their carseats (all by myself!), got them in the car, drove 2 minutes down the hill to our little town. Parked, set up the stroller, put the carseats in stroller, took a 10 minute walk around the block, loaded them back into the car, drove two minutes back home, took pictures of them in their carseats (because I'm a dork!), and felt very proud of myself!

Of course that first trip was stressful thinking 'what happens if a baby cries?' 'what if there is a poopy diaper?' but I was two minutes from home and it was a nice 'dry-run' for bigger trips.

As for shopping, if I go food shopping with them alone I used to use the double sng because the basket underneath is pretty big. I never did major shopping with them alone (brought a helper or two) because I'm not coordinated enough to push a stroller and pull a shopping cart. Were their occassions when we've been out and they've cried? Yup! Have a fed a baby in home depot? Oh yeah! But do I feel better getting out of the house? Definitely!!!

I agree with pp's about starting small. Take a walk around the block with them, then maybe build up to a quick trip to Target, and then think about taking them grocery shopping or to the mall. GL!!!!

 

I agree with everything everyone else said, you just have to make up your mind to do it and start small. I took mine out by myself for the first time at 4 months. We went to the mall and I had a plan in place as to where I needed to go to do my shopping and worked around the feeding schedule. I was SO worried about it and they ended up sleeping the whole time! After that first time, you start to gain confidence to do it by yourself and it gets much easier. There will always be times when it gets challenging, no matter what age they are or how many babies you have, but my advice is to take advantage of outings NOW, while they're still "portable" and don't want to get down and run around!! My SIL has 7 month old girls and hasn't ventured out alone with them yet and I'm dying to give her a "pep" talk about it. You CAN do it!

 

I know the feeling. I am the biggest worry wort, so it took a desperate need for groceries to get me to go shopping with the girls. I had gone several times accompanied with my MIL or husband, but never just me and the babies. I finally went grocery shopping with them right after they turned 6 months old. They are such good babies, I think I just worry about something horrific happening, it's just my nature. But everything went just fine. THe girls didn't even make a peep the entire time. I googled "how to go grocery shopping with twins" and found some good advice. LUckily I was able to fit both girls in the front of the grocery cart. I put one of those covers down first and then they each get one leg hole and just sit kind of indian style. It was easier then carting around two car seats. I wish they made grocery carts to seat two instead of one. Wouldn't that be nice! Just get out there and do it, I'm sure it won't be as bad as you think it could be. Now that I've done it, I will do it again when necessary and I don't feel as confined to my home. Good luck in your adventure! Remember to take a pict so you can document that first outing

MJ

 

QUOTE(jdio33 @ Mar 20 2008, 12:41 PM) [snapback]679697[/snapback]
I'v always been a little scared to go out with my boys by myself. Now that they are 7 1/2 months it seems worse. If I think about taking them somewhere I somehow talk myself out of it b/c of all the possible things that could go wrong and I would be alone with them. Anyone eles have this problem?

Also...how do I go shopping by with them? Has anyone figured this out yet? Or is it just not ever going to happen?


Agree with all the PPs -- just something you do. I have an extra diaper bag that I keep in the car. It has several changes of clothes, lots of diapers, wipes, blankets, burp cloths, toys, you name it, I have it. This way I'm always ready to go, I just plop them in their carseats and off we go. (If I dawdled around at home packing my diaper bag I always ended up having to change someone's diaper... or someone's clothes... and never got to leave.)

Shopping -- when they still fit in the SNG I shopped with the basket underneath. It works fine for groceries if you do a medium sized shopping trip. For Target (where I buy bulky items like diapers, paper towels, TP, etc.) I pushed the SNG and pulled a cart behind me. Now that they have outgrown the SNG I wear on on my back and sit the other in the shopping cart.