Stressful going out with a baby

[lizzyttc2017]

I've just back from a shopping and lunch date with my mum and my 2 month old and honestly I feel like crying. She didn't settle at all and struggled to sleep in her push chair so just wondered and cried the whole way round, I also ate my lunch cold. Now don't get me wrong I'm not angry or upset with her at all, I felt sad for her that she couldn't settle and I did not want to be in any shop or restaurant I just wanted to be at home nursing and rocking her to sleep so she could feel better. Not every outing is this bad but I feel like going out is always just such a stress and not worth it but I can't just stay indoors forever. Does it get easier? I feel like such a bad mum putting her through this today and letting her get so overtired 😥 she's finally asleep in my arms and I just want to cry (4 hours sleep last night probably isn't helping)

I have just remembered my first trip out with my new born pfb, she was wailing, I was exhausted, and a woman said to me, enjoy it love, this is the easiest bit. I could have cried! It was a lie though op, it really does get way, way better.

Ah I could have wrote this.

I’ve been sat crying this morning with my 3 week old baby thinking I’m never going to leave the house ever again. We’ve been out a few times but she will only ever go in the car seat if asleep so I have to feed her to get her in. The Mum friends I have met are a 10 minute drive away but honestly the effort it takes to get her out it doesn’t feel worth it. Then there’s the stress of being out if she cries and trying to breastfeed a fussy baby in public.

I’m going to go for walks more with her in the carrycot as she settles better. DH always wants to go out at weekends because he ‘can’t stay in all day’ ffs. He doesn’t understand how stressful it is for me.

@Butterflyrosebud oh breastfeeding a baby that is fussy and wriggling in public is so hard when you're trying to cover up a bit at the same time. That is one thing that's I've been getting better with in public however.

It's just so much more appealing to stay at home in my pjs these days 😅 hopefully things will slowly get easier and we can enjoy days out more as our babies get older

It's funny how people are so different... I would dread the idea of spending a day at home with a baby or toddler (unless having visitors / play date).

I used to time visits to cafes when my newborn was asleep, and like a pp said go for lunches that can be packed up if necessary. It also helps that my other half shovels food down so often he would start walking home with the baby while I finished my meal. But that's what worked for me... just do what you want and you'll soon get into a bit more of a routine.

Cow - same. I was travelling around London by tube with DS when he was 6 weeks. I got so bored staying in.

I did not want to be in any shop or restaurant I just wanted to be at home nursing and rocking her to sleep so she could feel better.

You know that’s ok right?

Your baby is still very small. It sounds like lunch and shopping was too much for you. Which is fine and quite normal.

Life doesn’t have to stop when you have a baby but it also doesn’t have to go on exactly as it did before.

Next time have your Mum come to your home for lunch and then take the baby for a walk.

It’s not healthy to never leave the house but that doesn’t mean to have to force yourself to do things that leave you both miserable!

There’s a middle ground. Find things to do that aren’t stressful and that you do enjoy.

There will be some good days and some bad. DD1 I hated leaving the house until she was about 12 weeks...I managed it once or twice and found the while thing so stressful I just wanted to stay home...but you know what? I was so happy at home! Around 3 months I started to feel like I wanted to go out and it was much easier by then. Do what feels best for you.