If there’s one thing a lot of parents crave, it’s tips and tricks from people who have been in their position to help them get through the more confusing parts of parenting. Or ways that can shave a few minutes off tasks that are getting in the way of spending quality time with their little ones. Sharing information has been a huge part of what it means to be human for about as long as we’ve existed, and parenting is no exception to that. That doesn’t mean you have to try out every piece of advice you collect, but they can all go into your box of tools to aid you in navigating parenthood, which can so often be confusing and difficult to get to grips with. Today, we’re going to focus on one topic - going out. Being out of the house means you may not have all the things you need to hand to get through, so let’s have a look at some tips and tricks that might just help you out!
Snacks
One of the most common phrases parents hear is “I’m huuuungryyyy!”. Even if you’ve only just fed them, children seem to have an innate ability to decide they’re famished at the most inconvenient times. And when you’re out and about, it can be tempting to duck into a shop to buy a snack, which involves extra money and, depending on the snack, a corresponding drop in nutritiousness. Making sure you have a few snacks in the fridge or cupboard – fruit, for example – you can quickly throw in a lunchbox without too much preparation can make things much more manageable. A quick sandwich might not be the most exciting of options for your little one, but it’s also fast. Bread tends to keep pretty well in the freezer, so if you don’t tend to get through a loaf before it starts growing its own ecosystem, you can instead separate the slices into their own smaller reusable bags and throw them in the freezer, grabbing out what you need, when you need it. If you’re in a real hurry, a very quick warm in the toaster can get them defrosted in no time. Most modern toasters have a built-in defrost function, making it easier than ever.
Change of Clothes
Toddlers get dirty – it’s just a fact of life. And, unfortunately, we can’t always predict when they’re likely to go off on a mud run. Having a bag in the car that contains a change (or two!) of clothing, some wipes or cloths, a spare pair of footwear (can just be jandals or something similar that will serve in an emergency), and a wet bag to put the dirty clothes in can come in handy more often than you’d think. Pick a day each week to cycle through the clothes that you keep in the bag to make sure you’re not accidentally caught out with a set of clothes that don’t fit (kids grow so fast!), and you’ll be able to sort out any messes as they occur!
The Going Out Box
This one is one of those tips that might not be for everyone, but for those who do like it, they find it really useful. Grab a storage box that can fit somewhere near the door. Put in bags of the things you need for your usual trips – insect repellent, swimwear, towels, small activities such as colouring books – stuff like that. If you have regular outings, you could maybe stock it up with the snacks you’ve prepared above (provided they don’t need refrigerating). Then, when it’s time to go, simply grab the bag you need out of the box!
First Aid Kit
Kids trip over – a lot. So having a simple but well-stocked first aid kid in your car or in your baby bag means you’ll have plasters, tweezers, and all those other essentials quickly to hand should you need them. You can build one yourself with what you think you’ll need, or you can try places like St John’s or the Red Cross, which sell simple home first aid kits. You’ll be amazed at how much use you get out of it – and you’ll be glad that it’s there when you need it. And these first aid kits are super easy to restock – just duck into your local pharmacist or supermarket to grab the replacement items as they’re needed.
Associated with this is having a container or bag of general tidy-up items – they can go with the changes of clothes or into your going-out box. Paper towels or wipes, hand sanitiser, that sort of thing – they’ll be a lifesaver when you discover their hands are coated in sand or dirt just when you decide it’s time for lunch!
This is, of course, only a very small sample of some of the ideas out there that can make being out of the house with your little ones a wee bit easier. How about you? What hacks have you found that have helped your family out? Or which tips have you heard about that you wished you’d thought of when your kids were smaller?