5 Tips For Getting Out Of The House With A Toddler
Leaving the house on time when you’re a mom doesn’t have to be mission impossible! Try these 5 tips and tricks for getting out of the house with a toddler.
We like to go out a lot, but when you’re a mom that does take some pre-planning. You can’t just leave the house like you used to pre-kids. It can definitely be a struggle getting out of the house with a toddler, and even more so if you’re trying to leave on time! So here are my top 5 tips which have helped us when we’re going out and about.
Snacks, snacks, snacks
When my daughter Sage turned a year old, I started to notice she was a lot more cranky when it came to leaving the house. When I spoke to my mom about it, the first thing she said was “Do you have snacks?” It’s so true! Even if she’s not hungry, having snacks on hand gives her something to distract her and keep her happy. We now never leave the house without snacks. We love freeze dried fruit, organic crinkle chips, avocados, bananas, brown rice puffs and cereal, which Sage can eat out of these little snack pots so that there’s no spillage. I also sometimes bring pouches, although she is kind of picky with them. For more toddler snack ideas, check out this blog post where I list our favourite finger foods! Variety is key so that they don’t get bored of them!
Don’t forget water too! Sage used to always drink out of this no-spill sippy cup, but lately she’s been stealing my drink so I got her one of these which keeps your drinks cold all day.
Prepare things in advance
I like to always have a pre-packed diaper bag ready to go at all times. A change of clothes is always essential when leaving the house, but there are a few other things I like to bring with us too, especially if we’re going to be eating out. In my opinion, you can never overpack when you have a toddler. Better to be over-prepared than under-prepared! I always make sure to have these on hand…
- A silicone bib, especially if she’s going to be eating a messy food like a pouch. They’re great because they’re super easy to clean.
- Utensils that she’s used to. I also like to keep them in a waterproof wet bag so that if they’re dirty they won’t mess up my bag.
- A light blanket in case I need to shield her from the sun, extra warmth if the air conditioning is on in the car or she needs a nap.
- Extra shoes
- Toddler sunglasses and a sun hat (I get her sun/water hats and swimsuits from here, use my code HEALTHNUT15) if it’s hot out
- Non toxic Sunscreen
- Lots of wipes. I usually bring a small refillable pack for diaper changes and another full pack for cleaning up messes and sticky fingers.
- Hand sanitizer, which I usually hang on the side of our bag so that it’s easy to get to
- Toys
Pro Tip: For toys, I like to opt for soft stuffies or lighter toys for when we’re going in the car so that they won’t fly up and hurt her if we were to stop suddenly.
Entertainment
No matter how exciting the place is you’re visiting, there will probably be times when your little one is bored, especially while you’re traveling to your destination or if you’re in a restaurant and they’ve finished eating. I always make sure to have music on my phone for Sage to listen to, as well as a couple of her favourite shows. I do try to keep watching shows as a last resort because I don’t want her getting into bad habits (ie: only eating if there is a screen in front of her), but sometimes you just need it. In general though, distraction is key. Toys, snacks and water are your friends, and try to switch up what you bring so they don’t get bored.
Food
If possible, eat a main meal before you head out. That way you can make sure they’re sticking to their usual healthy meals. But if that’s not a possibility, I recommend packing something that you know they’ll eat and that doesn’t require heating up. We’ve been loving peanut butter and banana sandwiches lately. If we’re ordering at a restaurant, I try to avoid the kids menu because that tends to be where all the fries and fried foods are — aka the less healthy options. Instead, I’ll order an appetizer or some sides off the main menu. Avocado, rice, steamed veggies, fresh fruit, grilled fish (watch for bones), scrambled eggs, are some great go-tos.
Bring a travel stroller
I definitely recommend using a travel stroller for days out instead of a big pushchair. It’s so much easier to bring around with you on the go, and also take up way less space.This one below folds up so small you can carry it on her shoulder and stores well in the overhead storage on an airplane.
There you have it – 5 top tips for getting out of the house with a toddler! What are your top tips and tricks? I’m always looking for new ideas, so let me know in the comments below!
If you want to see more of my travel tips, check out my Travel Must Haves post and my 7 top tips for flying with a one year old.
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Hello!
I love your videos. I felt confident to make my own baby food for my now 10 month old after watching your baby food prep video. I loved the soft cube toy with pull ribbons you showed in your video about leaving the house with a toddler. Do you have a link for that toy?