How to Introduce Your Baby to Strolling
It’s tricky being a new mom. You’re rearing to get back out into the world and feel like yourself again after months of anticipation, but at the same time you can’t seem to let your baby leave your sight. But the fact of the matter is that it’ll do both you and your new baby good to get some brisk morning air, community, and exercise. If you’re still hesitant about introducing your baby to strolling, or simply just don’t know how to go about it, follow this easy guide at your own pace.
Photo by Alexey Shikov on Unsplash
First comes first: choosing a good stroller that’s suited to both you and your baby! The best strollers have three key features:
– Sunshade
– Harnesses
– Storage
It goes without saying why these three features are so important for ensuring that your baby is not only comfortable but also secure in their first experiences with the wide, open world. Harnesses and a deep-seated design, will ensure that your baby stays safe and secure at all times. Strollers with extendable canopies will allow you to make sure that your baby will stay safe from harmful UV rays whatever time of day you find yourself going out. And as for storage? Don’t underestimate the power of being prepared!
As you might already know, I’m a chronic overpacker, but it definitely does provide a little peace of mind knowing that if your baby needs anything in the middle of your stroll, it won’t be of any concern at all. The best strollers offer a multitude of functional and flexible storage options, from removable bags to clips and pouches to store anything from bottles and toys to dummies and blankets. Water for both you and your baby is always a must! Think about what you feel like you’ll need for both yourself and your baby, and make sure you get yourself a stroller that will cater to those needs.
Photo by Micael Widell on Unsplash
Speaking about keeping your baby comfortable, you want to make sure that your baby’s first experiences in their stroller are as enjoyable as possible! That means no uneven surfaces like gravel or other off-road terrain, until your baby feels perfectly at home in their new environment. The adventure hikes can come at a later date, when you know your baby will be truly excited to experience the great outdoors. No doubt, the sidewalk will be adventure enough for the first few weeks anyway.
Strolling with friends and family in the first few weeks might also be ideal, just so you’ll have that extra support if you need it. New parents have enjoyed going on family strolls, as it not only provides your baby with a positive community atmosphere, but it also helps to build your connection as a family. Even if it’s only on the weekends, family strolls can have a great positive impact on how your baby interacts with their external world. You want them to feel confident and perfectly at home, to make sure that your baby values time spent with not only you and your partner, but also their wider community. This can most easily be achieved through your own enjoyment during strolling. If you’re enjoying yourself, you can easily make the experience equally exciting for your little one.
One concern I know a lot of young moms have is making time for regular exercise for themselves. I know that pre-baby, you could just decide to go for a run or attend a yoga class whenever you felt like it. But when you’re on ‘baby’s schedule’, it can sometimes feel overwhelming trying to pencil anything in amidst all the chaos. And if you were a fitness guru before pregnancy, it’s not uncommon to feel like walking or power-walking might feel like a bit of a step down for you.
Just keep in mind that your body is healing after months of intense internal activity, and the best thing you can do is gently rebuild your cardiovascular and muscular endurance before jumping back into more intense training. Maintaining a manageable, regular exercise routine with your new baby can not only allow you the opportunity to lose any leftover baby weight, but it’ll also allow your baby to develop their own comfortable, healthy daily routine, meaning less sleepless nights and more happy days for everybody in the long run!
