Top tips for leaving the house with a new baby. Share with ASDA Little Angels - £300 to be won! NOW CLOSED!

[AaronMumsnet]

With the responsibility of having a little person to clean, dress, feed and keep happy, getting out of the house with a new baby can prove an unexpected challenge. ASDA would love you to share your top tips for leaving the house with a new baby.

Here is what ASDA has to say: “There’s nothing worse than being caught short when you’re out and about, so we’d love to hear your stories about what being ‘fully prepared’ on the go means for you and your little angel!”

Did packing a bag the night before help you to get out and about without a hitch? Maybe eating breakfast on the go was the only way you were able to eat breakfast at all. Do you recommend recruiting your nearest and dearest to lend a hand on those first tricky trips? Or, perhaps, you finally realised that swapping the over-packed pram for a sling was the answer.

Whatever your top tips for leaving the house with a baby may be, please share them below and you will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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Always take a well-stocked changing bag

I just always heard bag ready packed. Is something is used or runs out when I'm out, I replace it when I get in.

Always pack a bag with nappies, spare change of clothes, baby wipes and a small toy :)

Always make sure your changing bag (preferably with foldable changing mat) is topped up - when you get a minute (!) fill up your nappy stash, wipes, makes sure you have a spare babygrow / vest, a distracting toy, muslin square, bottle / ready to use formula if you're using it, a clean bottle, and snacks for yourself. It just takes the pressure off when you're trying to get out the door and they have just done a poo and you need to change them for the umpteenth time!!

organization is the key. keep a checklist; nappies, wipes, nappy bags, clean set of clothes, a bottle and a carton of formula for use if you are out longer than expected. it worked for me.

Be organised and only take what you really need not 10 outfit changes, 20 nappies, 10 bottles etc! It's so good to go out for a walk or to meet a friend just to be out and about and not stuck in the house.

Be prepared and have a bag to go always on hand. When you use something replace it when you get home. Include the essentials but don't get caught up in all the hype that you need every gadget going as they will only hinder you in the long run. Our mum's went out with just a spare nappy and maybe some wipes back in the day and we turned out ok.

Make sure you are well prepared! Lots of nappies, change of clothes, extra bottles and formula etc!

Forget the purpose built changing bags, they are useless. Invest in a backpack and leave it in the car with spare nappies/wipes/clothes etc. Also have a few stashed under the pram, that way you can pretty much leave the house in a rush if needs be and no matter whether you are on foot or in the car you have spare stuff for a few hours. But if all else fails, there are shops everywhere that sell baby stuff so don't stress about it too much, enjoy your new baby!

My tip would be if you have a car, keep a change of clothes for yourself as well as the baby in the boot, in case they sick up all over you.

nappies and wet wipes

If your partner isn't available take a friend and don't try alone into town as so very few baby changing rooms have a toilet for the parent and if the disabled is full then there is nowhere for you to safely go without leaving baby, pram and everything with someone.
Really is something I never noticed until becoming a parent.
Pack the essentials and don't venture too far the first few times until you feel confident.

start to get ready at least an hour before you plan on leaving, if in doubt if you need something take it with you and a spare as out of the 85 things you take you will have forgotten the one thing you end up actually needing! keep a "going out" bag permanently ready and just replace items as you use them, save time starting for scratch each time!

Make like a scout & be prepared!!
I used the free changing bag I got when I joined Boots Parenting Club & it was great! No nonsense, easy to wear or hook over the pram, & a good size.
I'd pack a change of clothes, nappies, wipes (I noticed they do slim packs of wipes in Aldi/Lidl now which are great when out & about as the fullsize packs are pretty bulky!), nappy bags, hand sanitiser, milk & a travel bottle warmer/hot water flask.
This worked well for us & believe me, I was an anxious mother! :)

i found most things super hard at first and almost always had forgotten to pack something when we had gone out. I kept my bag fully stocked and a spare bag in the car , as often i would forget the bag completely

I keep a bag packed full of things I might need, including long life snacks, so even when I don't have time to throw things in, I can usually find the essentials if I go rummaging! It's handy to keep small versions of things at hand, like small packs of wet wipes, nappy rash cream in a trial pot, and the smallest size of hand sanitiser, so that it doesn't get too heavy.

I like using a rucksack as it keeps my hands free and we travel on public transport a lot so sometimes I need to carry the buggy down steps.

You can never have too many muslins...

Dont stress too much. Whatever you need you wont have in your many bags anyway.
Always leave a change of clothes in the boot, we learnt the hard-way whilst at the zoo.

Take EVERYTHING and more, or at least that is what it felt like I needed to do .... make sure you have a very good changing bag with easily accessible pockets/compartments where you can store all the necessary equipment and always always always remember wet wipes and nappies!!

I always had the changing well stocked up and with a spare outfit. If in a rush then think about prepping a pack lunch the night before.

Spare clothes, loads of nappies and wet wipes. Also allow extra time as babies love doing massive pooey nappies just as you are trying to leave the house!

id say make sure you take everything you need and more, like lots of baby wipes and snacks. and lots of milk

I always packed a spare outfit or two in the changing bag for my son. And then on one occasion, I'd taken him to be weighed and he was sick all down my back!! I was covered in sick and had to drive home feeling very uncomfortable. From then on, I always packed a spare top for me too!

Pack a spare tshirt for YOURSELF as well as the baby’s spare clothes... I have been caught out so many times with baby sick tuning down my front!
Also ditch the pram for a soft wrap sling for ease and speed on the move, and not having to fight for a buggy space on the bus!

Don't expect to be anywhere for a given time. You get there when you get there. Unless it's taking your older child to school then preparation is the key, and having lots of spare time. Even then you will be rushing out last minute; and stressing. Or is that just me?