Leaving the house can be super stressful as new parents, or, let's face it, parents. Still as a mom of a twelve year old and a ten year old we have to factor in about 30 minutes to make sure everyone is "really really ready. Like leave the house RIGHT NOW ready" and still there's a mad scramble as the clock maxes out. For parents with new babies, and especially newborns and toddlers, leaving the house can be very daunting, or seemingly impossible.

I recently had a doula client with a two month old and a two year old and she was transitioning from her husband being on paternity leave to having to do the daytime parenting solo, and she hired me to help build her confidence that she could do it on her own.

One of the things that overwhelmed her the most was the idea of leaving the house with both kids. First time parents have the luxury of really never leaving the house in that first chunk of time if they don’t want to, except for maybe the occasional doctor's appointment. When we add a toddler to the mix, it just isn't possible to hole up.

So we made a plan to go to the park one of the days I was there. My advice is to plan ahead, decide that you are doing the thing the day before and stick to it. If you put it in your head that maybe you'll go if the stars align, guess what? You probably aren't going. So make the plan, and pack everything you can the night before, especially if you have a partner around to help you out with this. Put the stroller and carrier in the car. Make sure you know how to open and close your stroller beforehand (yes, we had to look up a video in the parking lot, there will likely be some hiccups and that's ok!). I also provided her with this checklist of things to pack in her diaper bag. This list will vary based on whether you're nursing or bottle-feeding, and what age children you have, but it's a good starting point.

- diapers

- wipes

- changing pad (I recommend one like this if you don’t have one already: https://a.co/d/g8UXnjW) it folds up nicely and cleans easily, no fabric to have to wash later. 

- Change of clothes for baby, toddler, (and maybe extra shirt for mom)

- burp cloths

- toddler and mom snacks

- toddler toys

- bottle of breastmilk/formula (cooler bag), nursing cover, and/or nursing cami like these: https://a.co/d/gM0xoKB) 

- pacis

- baby carrier  

Plan to get out early, either right after breakfast/nursing, or right after baby’s first nap. If it’s after nap, give toddler a big snack and something to entertain herself with while you nurse. Change diapers, throw last minute stuff in the diaper bag, and go! 


I highly recommend having a carrier that you're comfortable with on outings. It frees up your hands and keeps you mobile so that you can chase a toddler down when needed. Plus a new baby may possibly sleep the whole time there.


I can't stress enough how beneficial it is to find another mom/person with children of similar age that you can get together with for outings, especially at the beginning. Not only will you have extra hands that can tag team your kiddos, but it's also insanely good for your mental health to be able to have someone to share this experience and commiserate with. Your toddler also has a built in playmate so you maybe get a few minutes to actually chat with an adult human.


What else would you add to your diaper bag?