First outing - what do I need?

[Italianbride]

We're taking DS out for the first time tomorrow. He has a hospital appointment in the morning and we're then planning on going into town for a bit of shopping and coffee.

What do I need to take with me? Got a changing bag with spare nappies etc but want to make sure I'm not missing anything obvious. Also, how many layers do I need for him on a cold day??

May be basic questions but this is PFB!

take a full change of clothing for him. A spare top for you. Add mussies. Are you bfing or will you need to take milk and bottles?

My change bag-
Nappies
Wipes
Nappy bags
Change mat
Nappy cream
Toy
Muslin
Change of clothes
Dummy

I find this time of year baby wears long sleeve vest, normal outfit then cardie/hoodie or coat depending on how long will be outside. If its just car then straight in an out of house/where you're going, just a thick cardi/hoodie.

I'm mix feeding so will take some bottles too.

Spare nappies: take a couple more than what you think you will need (eg you usually change two nappies every hour, you're out for 4 hours, take 10 nappies; chances are you won't need tham all)
Wipes.
Bottle/bottlewarmer/extra milk. Or boobs!
Some bibs/little towel/flannel: good for mopping up spittle, vomit etc.
One change of clothes.
Hand sanitizer, if you get puke/poo on your hands/are alone and can't get into a public loo with a pram).
Couple of dummies, if you use them.
Another soft toy to replace the one they have when they drop it (if they have a toy!)

We've been surprisingly minimalist when it comes to the nappy bag and I check it everyday to make sure we've got enough supplies. We never put stuff underneath the pram, whereas friends have theirs stuffed to the gills with stuff they never use. I always remember my sister saying she took the kitchen sink with her when out and about with her pfb but just a nappy and a flannel with dc2!!

As for clothes, the general advice here in Spain is: however many layers you're wearing, put the baby in the same +1 layer whan you're outside, take off a layer when you're indoors - that could be a blanket. Our DS just turned 1 so he was a winter baby. We'd have him in babygro (with legs iyswim?), top + bottoms, socks, grobag (one of those zippered sleeping bags) coat, blanket than pram cover. He was always toasty when we were out and slept a lot. Gloves would never stay on him. Oh, and a hat - you can take those off when you get indoors. I hope that helps

Thanks all - some great suggestions and I have been upstairs and immediately actioned! Bag is packed and ready to go and doesn't feel like I'm carting too much about. I like the idea of keeping it stocked soI can just pick it up and go each time.

YY to however many layers we're wearing + 1 layer. Just watch he doesn't get too warm when in shops for any length of time.

With DD's change bag, I always leave the flap open when we get in if I've used nappies etc then replace things when I get the chance. When the nappy bag is ready to go, I close the flap so I remember that it's sorted. I always try to do this in the evening so trying to get everything ready isn't such a big faff in the morning (especially if there's not been much sleep!)

Have a lovely first outing.

Two nappies every hour vamos??? Baby in normal clothes in the sling plus sling-cover, bf-ing while out (what's the point of taking bottles if you're mix-feeding and can bf?), muslin, spare nappy and wipes. Thatisall. You don't need a changing mat and he's too little for toys.

We started off with the idea that as soon returned from somewhere the change bag gets re-packed, therefore it's always ready. Doesn't really happen any more but it worked fro a while.

Generally the contents are nappies, wipes, nappy bags, change of clothes, wet bag (to put wet/dirty clothes in), cloths (muslin and hanky usually), calpol, emergency feed/snack, hand sanitizer, change mat, nappy cream.

I have found the change mat useful - it's just a clean/waterproof layer not bulky - when changing DD in random disabled toilets where the floor isn't too clean.

When we took DD into hospital for a pre-op (at about 4 months IIRC) we found that they were running hours late and were thankful we'd got a spare feed in the bag.

Layers wise, she usually has a woolen top over her indoor clothes with gloves and hat (until she takes them off). The pram has a fleecy liner and we sometimes add a blanket.

ZD did your baby never wait until they were in a fresh nappy before doing an enormous poo? I'd rather come back with a few nappies than be the mother crying in the baby change on the first outing because of ruining out of nappies (I gave her one, it was hilariously big but let her leave the changing room at least).

Baby - nappies, wipes, dettol wipes, nappy bags, hand sanitiser, clean babygro & vest, blanket, dummy (if using). If you're going in the car and you've got a travel system and may put the car seat on the wheels, make sure you have any adaptors that you need! As its your first trip out, I'm presuming your DS is v young so you don't need a toy, calpol or anything.

You - keys, wallet, phone

MrsHoarder - nope. On a trip out I would only change for a poo, so the situation never arose.