“Look at you!  You have a baby…in a bar!”  (Reese Witherspoon, Sweet Home Alabama)

Now, while I’m not recommending you take your baby to a bar, this is a perfect example of feeling the freedom to take your baby anywhere.

A lot of mothers feel they cannot go places because they have a baby.  Not because they feel unwelcome, but because of all the baggage that comes with the baby.  And I’m talking about the real baggage: diapers, wipes, clothing changes (for both of you!), bottles, formula, water, nursing cover, blankets, etc, etc.  It’s enough to make a grown man cry! (We ladies are tougher than that, right?)

After the birth of my first daughter, I felt it was much easier to stay home rather than lug all that stuff around with a baby.  It was not until my second daughter was born that I knew I had to find another way.

So, what options does a mom have?  I mean, there are things you MUST bring with you.  This is where the phrase, “everything in moderation” comes in to play.

• Keep your main bag in the car. You can stock the bulk of your diapers, clothing changes, formula, water, and bottles here.  There is no need to haul all of that stuff into Target to get groceries.




• That being said, pack a (much) smaller bag with 2-3 diapers, a small container of wipes, 1 bottle (ready-to-go), nursing cover, burp cloth, your wallet, keys, and cell phone.




• Scale down your wallet to contain only what you need for that trip (debit/credit card/cash, license, coupons, etc).  Keep your other info (i.e. insurance cards) in your big bag in the car.




• If your baby is smaller, try putting her in a sling.  If he is bigger, pop him in a front-or-back carrier.  This can help with keeping your hands free.




• If a sling or carrier is not an option, my favorite is the umbrella stroller.  Invest in a nice one with long handles and a basket (mine cost about $80 three years ago).  I use it with my #3 all the time.

While this may not solve all of your shopping issues, hopefully it will get you out of the house, baby, baggage, and all.
Photo by Baby Zoop

Amy is the wife of a youth pastor and has four girls that call her Momma. When she isn’t blogging about her thoughts or her girls, Amy spends her days happily homeschooling, counseling, and cleaning up after everyone. Oh, and drinking lots of coffee!