Trapped! How to get out of the house with a newborn?

I feel trapped at home with my newborn. She is 3 weeks old and totally gorgeous, but is not a good sleeper. I thought I’d be going for coffee or to baby classes but don’t understand how to get out and about when her wake windows are only about an hour. By the time I feed and change her I’ve got literally minutes before I need to start getting her ready for a nap, so leaving the house seems out of the question? She only contact naps and is easily overstimulated. I can’t stay indoors forever or I’ll lose my mind.

What am I doing wrong? Kudos to all the mums taking little ones out every day 🥲

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My little one is 4 weeks and we go out most day, what I will say is it’s not an easy task!!! I have the car loaded the night before/bag packed ready so that once he’s in a good place for me to get out I literally grab the car seat and run! Fills me with anxiety every day but i do feel much better getting out!!

Start off with you’re not doing anything wrong! These babies don’t always make life easy - I’ve been kicking myself for not getting out more but it’s really not easy!

As Maddie said, we essentially have a ‘go’ bag that we just put some formula / a bottle in in the morning, and started doing small walks at first to get him used to the pram. First time we went he barely slept but then gradually got there. We’re coming up to 5 weeks and only managed one coffee out so far x

Have u taken her out in the pram/carrier? There might be a protest at first but give it 5 mins and they often fall asleep! Then world's your oyster! Some babies prefer the car then pram, some love a sling (especially if clingy babies). See what works!

I started with just a quick walk around my estate so if he got fussy or upset I could get home quickly but i found he actually sleeps better when out and about than he does at home, if you put her in the pram with the hood up she wont really be able to see much either which should avoid overstimulation x

She doesn't need to be awake for you to go out. You can still go out for coffee. It's probably easier to do when she's asleep, actually.

I started with walks around the neighborhood. It’s totally ok for them to be asleep. Odds are even if you leave with them awake they’ll be asleep by the time you get to wherever you’re going.

You're doing so well take it slow, start with small walks around the block then venture further out tbh babies will cry, they will need feeding but you can do it :)

do whatever you want to do. once they’re in that pram moving you won’t hear a peep

@Maddie well done you! Can I ask, what sort of places do you go to and how long are you out for? Is it just short local trips?

We’ve been to quite a few coffee shops, walks in local parks, been for a few pub lunches and the local golf club (I just sat in coffee shop haha) were usually out for anywhere between 1hr-4hrs. We often go and visit grandparents too who live local and spend a few hrs there! x

Just let her sleep in her pram?

Are you able to baby wear? My son also only contact napped but he was able to fall asleep most places in the baby carrier. He hated the car seat and stroller at first but eventually got used to it. It definitely takes patience but you got this!

I like taking mine out when he’s asleep so I can enjoy a nice walk or coffee in peace 😂😂
We go out every day too as the fresh air is so important for them.
Baby groups - if baby sleeps through them that’s fine. They still take in around 70% if the surroundings even while asleep.
Just try small local walks first, either in a carrier or in a pram. Go to a coffee shop, you can hold the baby if they want that or leave them in the pram. The less you do it the harder it will be, small steps to start and you’ll be absolutely fine! Also getting baby used to sleeping in different environments is really good for them. Take a friend or family member with you if you’re nervous, as they can help. Xx

I would just go out and my baby had to deal with it 🙈. Happy mum is a happy baby! He was usually fine in the pram, either sleeping or just chill looking around.

I didn’t leave the house for months. Only for doctor’s appointments. And I HATED leaving because it was such an ordeal and messed up the whole routine/day. I would only go to our backyard or around neighborhood, but rarely.
BUT I am a home body so this was easy for me.
If you NEED to get out, let her have her naps in the stroller.

I just do it anyways, but my kids are both willing to sleep on the go as long as I'm there. I never go anywhere crowded and I don't really go anywhere kid specific but a nice walk to the bookstore (nap on the way there in stroller or carrier and same on the way back), and some quiet time out is worth the tears while leaving the house.

Mine usually falls asleep in the car otw there and I’ll transfer him ever so slowly into his pram and continue my day. He’s great a sleeping in carseat/pram i think I got him used to it, he always fell asleep in motion and he’s tired. The first couple weeks we went to his Baby bounce sessions he stayed asleep the whole session- the outings was for me, to get out and make some mum friends, it didn’t bother me that he wasn’t awake for it.

Don’t be too harsh on yourself first of all. Ensure she is fed before leaving and she will fall asleep in the pram. My boy tended to sleep better once on the move. It can seem daunting going out of coffee if your girl starts crying so maybe try meet a family member or friends first of all to help you

You're not doing anything wrong! Practically and logistically it's hard in the very early days! I honestly didn't start leaving the house regularly until mine was around 6 months. I also have a contact napper so understand the trapped feeling!

As baby gets a bit older you might find they become OK with napping in the pram which makes things easier. This was about 6 months for us but every baby is different!

Until then it would probably be worth you looking into baby carrying! It allows them to contact nap whilst you're on the go.

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