Outings: Ever been 45 minutes from home and had to turn around and go back because your toddler fell in a huge mud puddle and you didn't have a change of clothes? Yeah. Me too.
- If your little ones are still in diapers, keep that diaper bag stocked with essentials:
- diapers
- wipes
- hand sanitizer
- sustenance: snacks (for you and kids) and water
- formula/breastmilk, bottle
- plastic bag
- sunscreen
- change of clothes
- anything else that you find you always need on an outing
- If you no longer use a diaper bag, hooray for you! But, keep some essentials in a bag or in the car anyway. This is what is always in my car on an outing:
- wipes (still useful even if your kids are out of diapers!!)
- hand sanitizer
- chapstick
- gum
- change of clothes for the kids, including some socks and shoes
- spare shirt for me
- plastic bag
- first aid kit
- tissues
- water bottles
- small snack
Mornings: Mornings are often the most stressful time of day for parents - you're trying to get to work AND get the kids off to daycare or school.
- Wake up 15 minutes earlier if you can never seem to get out of the house on time.
- Do as much as possible the night before - take showers, pick out clothes, make lunches, pack backpacks and your briefcase.
- Try creating a written schedule or checklist to make the morning routine expectations more explicit for your kids (see this post for an example we have used in the past).
- Have some fast, portable breakfast foods on hand that can be eaten quickly (and even in the car if needed):
- Cheerios or other cereal in a ziploc bag or toddler snack cup
- granola bars
- cereal bars
- bananas, orange slices, other fruit
- hard-boiled eggs
- cheese sticks
- yogurt tubes
- smoothie drinks
Do you have other tricks for planning ahead?
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