'The 3 things nobody told me about leaving the house with a baby as a new mum.'

Before I had Lenny, I used to imagine a very romanticised version of what having a baby would be like. I'd chuck a few bibs, dummies, nappies and baby wipes into my cute new designer tote (that I'd insisted on instead of a 'lame' baby bag) and off we'd go to endless coffee dates, lunches and birthdays at the pub.

My baby would basically be a cute plus one that I could smugly pass around while just generally killing it in my everyday life. He would slip right into my existing life. 

Lol. 

Firstly, a bunch of stuff went unplanned at birth, and I couldn't walk outside solo to get some air for about five weeks, let alone drive, which took me almost two months for clearance. By that point, I'd always been sitting next to him in the backseat, so I was under the assumption he didn't mind the car. 

Lol. 

He HATED the car. Still does really. And that was the first thing nobody told me about leaving the house with a baby as a new mum…

Image: Supplied.

Nobody told me that I would accidentally leave the house without Very Important Things.

You understand as a new parent that leaving the house with life's new accessory (your nappy bag!) is an absolute given. Your arsenal is packed and prepared for at least 17 different scenarios with said baby, and there's no way you're stepping outside a 100 metre radius from home without it.

Then you keep forgetting to actually bring it anywhere.

Well, it's since transpired that sleep deprivation can make you very, very foggy. I don't want to admit how many times I just left the house with nothing except the baby (thank goodness I always remembered him), but I will say that I have dealt with many a public fecal debacle at this point and for months, just didn't seem to learn my lesson about taking the essential nappies and wipes EVERYWHERE I GO. 

Kelly's tip: One clever lady slid into my Insta DMs one day to kindly suggest I leave a 'change kit' in the car and this was so simple, yet so BRILLIANT. So I'm passing this advice on to you dear new parents: pack a bag of your own to leave in the boot with a set of things you can trust and make you feel safe and secure away from home. For me, Huggies Newborn nappies were a given. I've never met a nappy so absorbent in all my years of changing nappies for my friends' babies. They're clinically proven to help prevent nappy rash, and actually absorb his *sloppy* numbers (lovely) so he's kept dry. What's surely my favourite feature is they even change colour to indicate how full they are which blows my mind. Next in my 'change kit' are the ultimate for all good cleanups, and that's the Huggies 99% Purified Water Baby Wipes. These were so great and gentle for Lenny's newborn skin as they have no added preservatives, they're hypoallergenic and made of skin-loving natural fibres.

Then of course, spare outfits galore, and a spare dummy if your baby takes one. Then no matter what, you're covered and hopefully have minimised any horrendous situations that may explode (literally). 

Image: Supplied.

Nobody told me that I would spend hours and hours (and more hours) walking with my baby.

They say that babies love the bassinet and walking, and although Lenny didn't adore anything that much, he tolerated walks much more so than being in the car. (Nobody also told me how hard parenting could be with a cranky pterodactyl in the backseat.)

So that's how we survived the first year, really. Many, many walks. They started small, a morning waddle to get a coffee, and they ended up being something I would do for hours each day, just to keep him quiet and keep my unhinged tendencies at bay. Because despite him tolerating the activity, I also can't reiterate enough how important it is to leave the house for your own mind. 

Being a new parent can be so lonely and so isolating, just that little pop to the coffee shop can give you the fresh air and social interaction you need without it having to be a full-on mission. 

Kelly's tip: Take the carrier. The carrier in itself is a great tip because I think most parents benefit from baby wearing.

Image: @kelly_mccarren

Nobody told me I would feel anxious about going new places with my baby.

I just never even considered this, but your mental health can already be a bit iffy navigating new territory after the monumental hormonal, emotional and physical changes you go through having a baby. So add in the anxiety about going somewhere new, and you're not sure who will be there or if they'll have what you need to entertain and keep your teeny pterodactyl calm, and it's just a recipe for feeling overwhelmed and stressed. 

Kelly's tip: In my recent Instagram Live with Maggie Chretien of The Peninsula Mumma (linked below if you missed it), she pointed out how important it is to have safe places to go to. This is almost ALWAYS someone's home because public areas can feel too risky and unknown, and are also an invitation for poo explosions and noisy meltdowns. So that might be friends or family homes that you're familiar with, to help you feel safe leaving the house (and supported if you need it). 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mamamia (@mamamiaaus)

For the purpose of this tip, I’ll just assume you have one and love using it, so remember to pack it on walks. Even now, at 13 kilos, sometimes he will decide he absolutely must be on me mid-walk, and if I haven't packed the harness, I am in for a wild walk home. 

Isn't it wild how much you figure out, and how much unchartered territory there is to learn with parenthood?

What tips would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments below.

Huggies Newborn Nappies and 99% Purified Water Baby Wipes are endorsed by The Australian College of Midwives and Plunket. Shop Huggies Newborn Nappies together with your Huggies 99% Purified Water Baby Wipes at your local supermarket.

Feature Image: Supplied/Instagram/@kelly_mccarren