A checklist is a great way to begin, available on many parenting sites. And a backpack can be more convenient for you, if you are venturing out alone, with Baby in your arms. Double check the content of the bag, and add a bottle of water to keep you hydrated.

Just before you leave the house, nurse Baby so that she is satisfied, and so that you won’t become engorged during your outing and start squirting milk through your shirt!

If you are nursing you might want to add some leak pads for your bra, in case your outing takes longer than you anticipated and you are caught behind the wheel while leaking.

Change her diaper, right before you depart, and dress her according to the outside weather, keeping air conditioning in mind if you are in a warm climate. Remember the slower pace in which we Rethink Baby parents engage with Baby at all times.

When you reach your destination, you might introduce Baby with the same, gentle, dialogue you have been implementing since birth, so that the person/people she meets adopt a similar energy and cadence, serenity and safe space.

Baby assimilates everything, sight, sound, smell, touch, so be super conscientious of this in a new environment. Loud sounds for example will startle her, and imprint her psychologically so that when she leaves the safety of her home, it is not as safe. Every detail will have a lasting effect.

Naturally the world is what it is and there are trucks backing up, and cars playing loud hip hop with the bass up high. Talk to her gently about what you observe, so she knows she is not alone, and that she remains safe. There are unfamiliar scents, like Grammy’s perfume, and some, if not most of her sensory experiences will leave a positive impression. The most important thing is that you remain aware, so that you can support you baby as she grows accustomed to this brave new world.