Taking my newborn out

[moomin35]

What do I put my relative newborn in to take around other peoples houses. We will travel in the car seat to get there but once there I hate to see DC cramped in it for any longer than necessary so what would you put your child on or in when going round someone's house? Stupid question I'm sure I'm a first time mum with no clue!!!

[GinGinGin]

Up to you really, if he's asleep he could stay in the seat for a little bit, but I suspect everyone will want a cuddle so he won't be in there for Iong! Congratulations btw!

[BackforGood]

As GinGinGin said - you don't need to take anything - everyone will be queuing up for a cwtch, so (s)he won't be scrunched up in there for long anyway

Congratulations btw - and, remember, if you are wondering about it, then it's not a stupid question at all. I wish MN had been around when I had my pfb.

[ThirteenMeetings]

Can you take a soft blanket so if you really want to lay him down flat you can pop him on the floor? As PP's have said - he'll probably just get cuddled the whole time. If you're driving, we also sometimes took our bouncy chair as DD loved that when she was teeny and meant she could be with us if we were sitting down to lunch or something.

[Charingcrossbun]

Agree with all above. Mine is a little older now, 4 months so more active but not able to sit etc. I take a small playmat with me so if we run out of people for cuddles (or everyone is eating) I can sit on the floor with him next to me.

[ILoveYouBaby]

I also take a playmat or blanket, works well unless they have dogs. In which case just cuddles.

[madamweasel]

Thick, padded blanket or playmat. We used to take the fabric baby gym and pop that on the floor.

[BertieBotts]

I just used to hold them. Usually there is a pair of willing arms if you need a break for a minute!

[Lovelise]

An old blanket that the LO can kick around on. They love nappy off time, get some air circulating!

Or if you have a pram attachment to your buggy that they can lay down/sleep in? Depends how long you are there for really.

[Iggly]

I held my baby!

[moomin35]

My baby doesn't particularly like being held....

[lola88]

OP my baby didn't really like being held he like the freedom to wriggle and kick mothers with clingy babies can assume that you don't want to hold your baby when in fact you are doing what your baby wants ignore them. ds is 2.5 now and loves a good cuddle he started liking to be held and cuddled when he was big enough to come for one and leave when he wanted to about 8 months.

I used to take either my buggy or the soft part of play mat for him to chill on he just got annoyed being passed around otherwise I sat on the floor with him propped up between my legs he wasn't a fan of lying down either.

[YellowYoYoYam]

Often I would take a very old school bouncer with us when visiting. It was gifted to us and was probably around 10 years old, no flashing lights or music or anything, just a padded metal frame covered in fabric. It held them off the floor and DH or I could bounce it and DS would go to sleep (getting DD to sleep was never that straightforward). I don't know if you can still buy such basic bouncers, maybe check eBay or gumtree?

I get what people are saying about a blanket or play mat on the floor, but I would not have felt comfortable doing that until they were 3 or 4 months old, and I had 9lb+ newborns! Also, as they start becoming more aware, this style of bouncer lets them see what's going on and feel part of the action!

[YellowYoYoYam]

I just googled it and this is the exact sort of thing!

[MysteriousCircusZebra]

Just a blanket or small playmat does the trick.

[aroha77]

I take our moses basket if we're going to be ages or it's likely we'll like her to sleep (e.g if going round for dinner!)

[moomin35]

Thanks aroha. Baby sleeps in the Moses basket when at home so this is what I thought I'd take but just wondered whether other people did. Will people think I'm a bit OTT?!

[Sapat]

We take our baby rocker. I have Chico one which goes flat and various levels of upright. I also have a M&P one which is a travel one and folds flat, two positions, and even vibrates.

[CafeAuLaitMerci]

Only if you take the stand as well

Most people will forgive new Mum's for pretty much anything anyway - so long as they get a cuddle off the baby! :)

Try not to worry, do what feels right and enjoy your lovely lovely wee baby - in five minutes time you'll be wondering which school you should choose!

[zeddybrek]

We had a Sleepyhead thingy. It has handles and is flat so easy to carry around.

[Mrsgrumble]

I used to bring the bouncer too, if going to relatives for a while. Or the carrycot and buggy.

Mostly though, baby was nursed.

[Laundryangel]

It used to depend on where we were going. Friends with similar age children, the nothing as they would have a bouncy chair, play mat etc and the babies would take turns in each; elderly relatives with a cleaning fixation & carpets, very little as the baby would be held much of the time and, if not, they could go on the carpet but I might take a towel to put on the carpet in case they were sick; going to child free friends with wooden floors for Sunday lunch, bouncy chair and play mat as it essentially a child free event and, whilst DD got the odd cuddle, I was enjoying being the "old" me and happy to leave her to bounce in the background; going to see a pregnant friend who was having marital problems, everything & anything as the focus was going to be my friend rather than DD.