Why not stock it as a mini-traveling version of your baby-ready abode? Veteran mom, Lauren Woertz, agrees. The same principle applies to baby supplies. Double up on essentials like wipes, diapers, a changing mat, and diaper cream so you can easily grab and go.
Perhaps even store them in the car. This is a great way to use free samples you might get from store or brand promotions. Alternatively, you could use a hand-me-down or just reusable shopping bag as your extra. For a more minimalist method, spend time considering what you actually need on a given outing. Just popping out for a walk or to the grocery store?
The bottle warmer and extra bibs can probably stay home. Many experienced parents have found this less-is-more style freeing. The baby-gear market is saturated with a dizzying array of carriers and wraps , each with their own pros and cons. The good news is that these devices really can make life easier on-the-go, freeing up your hands and keeping baby snuggled on your skin. Whether you are breast or bottle feeding, feeding baby on the go can not only be stressful, but can bog you down with equipment like bottles, formula, and nursing covers.
Eliminate the need to schlep these accoutrements by feeding baby just before leaving the house, whenever possible.
As any new parent knows, schedules can change from day to day with a newborn. But a routine can go a long way toward helping you determine a good time to get out. The stroller always goes in the hall closet, for example, or extra wipes belong in a particular drawer. There are so many unknowns on an outing with your infant. Will he get unexpectedly fussy? But you don't need to wait until your child is in preschool to start leaving them with a sitter either.
After you and your baby come home, I'd recommend waiting at least a couple of weeks before you go out anywhere. Newborns sleep a lot in the first month, so if you really want a break just to get out of the house within those first couple of weeks, you can load them up and take them to brunch with a friend. Getting a late breakfast or early lunch at a restaurant before the noontime rush is usually faster, and the restaurant will be less busy compared to going at dinner times.
That will give you a chance to get out while avoiding much of the hassle. Plus, you'll be working around the cluster feedings that many newborns seem to want at night time. Taking your baby out to eat with you might be one of the few options available if you're exclusively breastfeeding and not using any bottles, but are still really craving a chance to get out of the house.
Whether your baby is breastfeeding or bottle feeding, it's important to settle into a regular routine at least as regular as babies can be! You'll want to be sure that your baby is willing to accept milk or formula from someone other than you before you leave them with a sitter. Once your infant has established a good feeding pattern and is starting to gain a healthy amount of weight, then you will probably feel more comfortable with the thought of leaving them with someone else while you go out.
Assuming you have family that lives in your area and you're on good terms, most parents leave their kids with relatives the first time that they need a babysitter, rather than finding someone unrelated to them. Your own parents or siblings are probably quite eager to see and spend time with their brand new grandchild, niece, or nephew. So you might be surprised at how your relatives jump at the opportunity to spend a few hours with your baby!
Plus, you already know that your parents have experience with children and exactly what their parenting styles are. After all, they're the ones that raised you! So if there's anyone you would feel comfortable leaving your baby with, it would probably be members of your own family.
If your parents offer to babysit for you, I'd recommend taking them up on that offer even if your baby is only a few weeks old! Of course, it doesn't have to be a big outing. You can just go to dinner for a couple of hours.
Or, more likely, you might even just want the chance to have an uninterrupted nap for once! If you've got friends who already have kids of their own, you might want to consider swapping babysitting services every month or so, too.
Babysitters are expensive, so if you can trade your time instead of money to have someone watch your kid for a night, go for it! And it could become a regular thing for both of your families. To find out what makes a good babysitter, check out this article - Essential things to look for in a babysitter.
When I say a "real" babysitter, I mean another person that you're not related to and that you pay for their services, as opposed to having family members or friends sit for you. Sometimes you might have the luxury of choosing when you want to start leaving your baby with someone else. Other times, the necessity of going back to work might mean that you have to start leaving your child with another person, even only a few weeks after you've given birth.
That's particularly true in places like the United States, where maternity leave isn't guaranteed. If you can't afford to take extra time off, and you don't have a partner who can stay home with your kids, then you'll have to start using a babysitter, nanny, daycare, or some other type of childcare service.
Ultimately, choosing the right time to leave your baby with a babysitter will come down to your personal situation and beliefs. Some parents are ready to hand off their infant to someone else right away, while others might take a year or more before they're comfortable letting someone else watch their baby.
Neither is necessarily right or wrong. If you are feeling a bit stressed at the thought of leaving your child with someone, that's perfectly normal. And if you don't feel any stress about it, that's fine too!
Not sure where to find your first babysitter? If your child is breastfed, then worrying about feeding them is going to probably be the most significant limiting factor when it comes to leaving your baby with someone else. Newborns typically eat every two to three hours, so your babysitter will most certainly need to feed your child while you're gone. If your baby is formula-fed, this won't be an issue for you at all.
Now, relax. Your baby will be fine…and you will be, too! Enjoy the extra excitement both of you will have seeing each other again the next day. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice.
Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. Leaving Baby With a Sitter Overnight. Medically Reviewed by Kyle Monk, M.
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