As a stay at home parent, you are most of the time with your young child. It is great to be able to bring him where you have to go so when your partner comes home you can all be together instead of rushing to the stores to get what you need.

PLAN

Get up in the morning before your child does and prepare the day ahead. Try to visualize yourselves, where you will be and what you will need. Then, prepare everything needed, such as clothes, snacks, and specific things like sunscreen.

Make sure your child has eaten and is changed before leaving are effective tips that can save you from a temper tantrum because he needs that during your journey.

Bring what he needs. Carry around snacks, milk or juice, diapers, and wet cleaning tissue or toys. Provide a nice car toy if you have to do a long car-ride. He’ll be occupied with that and let you time to shop or drive for a long time without interruption (be careful of choking hazards with snacks in the car, most of the time I don’t allow them if I’m alone with my young children, but I use them in shops). I do stop my car in safe places if needed to respond to their needs sometimes, I find it prevents a huge crisis and makes the trip more enjoyable.

If you’re still nervous to the idea of bringing your child with you, when you go to your weekly shopping places spot if there’s a shopping cart big enough for all your children if necessary, if you can easily move your stroller around, etc. I use the basket with handles provided in most stores that I fix on the stroller sometimes if the shopping cart isn’t appropriate, or I attach with a scarf my 2nd child into the cart so he can sit securely.

For a baby the portable cart seat allows you to carry him around, from home, car, to places you have to go without getting him out of it, allowing him to sleep all the while. It was great for my twins, I could bring them everywhere since they were babies. Choose the family-friendly places where you can breastfeed if you need to.

BE RESOURCEFUL

You’re at the grocery store and your child is hungry, offer him a healthy snack picked from the shelves. You can pay it even if it’s open (make sure the bar code is intact).

Be calm and cool. Don’t overstimulate your child, making him agitated and more prone to crisis. If he’s bored and to make him learn new things, talk to him about what you see and what you are buying, and introduce him to people that are interested.

Remember that children will be children. People understand that in general so don’t be afraid to bring your child with you where you go. You’ll have fun together plus you’ll improve his skills like learning about the world and socializing.

Thanks for visiting \”Blissful Stay-At-Home Moms and Dads\” website for more useful articles like this one and improve your lives! At http://www.stay-at-home-parent.com

Author Bio: You can use it for your site! But include this : Marie-Eve Boudreault is a sociologist and the author of the website and ebooks on how to be Blissful Stay-At-Home Moms and Dads. Improve your life by subscribing to her ezine and get 2 free ebooks as a bonus \’\’10 Tips to Be A Blissful Stay-At-Home Parent\’\’ and \’\’Activities For Bored Kids\’\’, a limited double offer! Articles, ebooks, exclusive stay-at-home parent forum, and more at http://www.stay-at-home-parent.com

Category: Family Concerns
Keywords: home parent, father, stay-at-home dad, child, at home, work-from-home, stay-at-home mom, mother