Yesterday was Father's Day, and we decided to take a little trip down to Phoenix for the day. The town we live in is about 9 miles away, so, for most, it's not a big deal to jaunt down and back, i actually know folks who commute(they're crazy, I know). So, we left around 9:30, because i wanted to hit a sale at a clothing store i like, and we had planned on having a nice lunch, and then heading to a 'health food store" there that we really like and do not have in the town we live in. Step one, i wanted to make sure that baby had a full tummy and dry diaper before we hit the road, so, i changed him, and nursed him just before we walked out the door, i think i had already even sent my older children out to the truck to wait. Happily dry and fed, i put him in the car seat, and we set out on our way. I've realized that by doing this, the baby is ready to just fall asleep as the vehicle starts moving. It's pretty common, but, i have to say that there have been times when i haven't done this, and he ends up crying and unhappy during a drive, even if it's just running errands around town.
Some of you are avid stroller pushers and many of believe in "wearing" your baby, either way, unless baby's still under 10 pounds, simply carrying in your arms can get to be so tiring, and we all know, tired mom means unhappy mom, so, do this for yourself. Most larger cities have at least one children's resale shop, so, if it's a matter of expense that has disable you from owning a carrier of some sort, seek out a shop like this. I could recommend a thrift store too, but, sometimes you don't know if the item is worn out, or broken, whereas, with a children's resale shop, the owners have taken the time to clean the items, and have also made sure that all parts are on it, and nothing is broken. Another good resource is your local "Freecycle". Never heard of it? I think I'll do a whole blog on Freecycle alone, watch for it. Until then, google it along with the name of your home town.
So, when leaving the safety and comfort of your hometown for the day, whether traveling to a countryside lake, or into the neighboring big city to shop, have a somewhat clear plan. Yes, i know that it may not seem too "modern" to not be able to "fly by the seat of your pants", but, have you noticed, you're not just living for you anymore, there's another little life involved here, and they tend to get cranky when they've been drug around outside of their comfort zone for too long. So, in our case, we had shopping and eating to do, so, luckily i had helpers, i.e., my husband and two older children. I think that knowing where your going is super important, the less time you have to spend in the car, baby in car seat, crying, or on the verge, is, well, not very fun for anybody on board, is it? For those of us that do not have GPS, there are very simple things you can do to make sure you have clear directions to where you're going~you can google map the places you're headed before you leave, or, use your cell phone to make a phone call. There should be no reason that anyone should be lost in a city these days.
What to take~*~
Obviously you're going to have a diaper bag with the essentials, but, here's a list of extras i thought would be helpful for my teether on our day out~*~
~bottle of juice for refreshment if it's a hot day
I've been putting watermelon through the juicer and in the baby bottle, I've put about 1 pt juice to 3 pts water
~teething drops or tablets
most health food stores will carry a natural, homeopathic teething remedy, I've also even seen these things at Walgreens in the baby section
~solid food
by the time most babies are beginning the teething process, they've started on solid foods, so be sure to pack a jar or two of baby food, or a container of rice cereal and something to put it in
~healthy, cold snacks (i.e. veggies to gnaw on)
what i brought was a container of thickly sliced, peeled cucumbers that I'd kept in the fridge overnight. Another option is a cold carrot.
~Infant Tylenol
These few things seemed to help make a day trip with a teether a little more bearable, they did for me anyway~
Safe travels~*~
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