Yes, there’s an art to leaving the house with a toddler.

Sometimes, in the chaos of getting out the door, I marvel at just how approachable our front door once felt — the days when all I needed was a handbag, a drink bottle (just one of them!) and maybe a reusable cup filled with something caffeinated. 

Being a mum of pandemic babies, I got really good at being a stay-at-home parent. We never had to go anywhere or be on time for anything, so when the time came that we had places to be, I was suddenly thrust into a world of cold toast, half-finished coffees, meltdowns (not just from the kids) and crusted-on Weetbix that I didn’t have time to clean up. Being out of the house was a learning curve to say the least.

Now with three kiddos in tow, and some real world experience, our outings look a little different. And while there’s no antidote to chaos when it comes to getting out the door with toddlers, these non-negotiables have been key to saving my sanity and leaving the house without (too many) tears. 

Dressing for success

I always feel more ready to take on the day once everyone’s dressed. As much as I love colour-coordinated outfits, my top priority is to make sure that the little ones are dressed in comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes. And if your little ones are anything like mine, and a muddy puddle is just too good to resist, you’re going to want backup outfits in the nappy bag.

For us, a great outfit for a great outing always starts with a great nappy. There's nothing worse than having to change a full outfit before even leaving the house because someone's poonami has leaked up their back or down a leg — and heaven forbid the same thing happens in the car seat or mid-way down a tunnel slide. 

That’s why I trust Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants to minimise disasters on the go and keep our little ones comfy for longer. With new Rapid-Dry Technology that absorbs wetness in under 10 seconds, and providing up to 12-hour protection, I can confidently leave the house knowing that my child’s delicate skin is protected. 

Image: Supplied.

Protecting our baby's skin is always front-of-mind when they’re first born, but when they're bigger and more robust, skin health can become less of a concern. However, for as long as our kids are in nappies, their delicate skin could be in contact with moisture throughout the day and night, not only making them uncomfortable and more prone to becoming frustrated, but also causing them to be more resistant to nappy changes and wiping.

It can be a bit of a gamble going out without the guarantee of an appropriate changing area, so choosing nappy pants that keep them dry and comfortable while protecting their skin is a win. Plus, you’ll only have to pack one or two spares in the nappy bag — and let’s be honest, who has space for more?!

Prepping the night before

We all know that those couple of hours after bedtime are sacred (even if you’re just spending it scrolling through photos of the kids you just got down), but do your future self a favour and do as much as you can the night before.

For full disclosure, I don’t always remember or have the willpower to do this. But on the days I don’t, the morning’s an absolute scramble.

Get some snacks ready and drink bottles in the fridge, unpack the dishwasher when it’s done so bowls can go straight back in after breakfast, lay out clothes and nappies, re-pack the nappy bag, and locate any activity-specific items like towels and goggles. If you’re really feeling motivated, you could even prepare some overnight oats to make breakfast time a breeze. 

When it comes to snacks, I’ve found that things generally go more smoothly if we pre-pack a lunch box for the whole day. Of course they’ll always have a very specific request for a random snack you may or may not have, or decide that they don’t like bananas all of a sudden, but having morning tea and lunch at the ready has saved many a hangry tantrum and made spontaneous plans easier to say yes to. Make sure you look after yourself too, because nothing’s more difficult than wrangling a toddler on-the-go while you’re hungry yourself!

Car toys

Whether you’re trying to distract your child from going stiff as a board while you’re buckling them in, keeping them entertained from point A to B, or preventing a disaster nap five minutes from home, having an arsenal of toys that only get played with in the car can be a real lifesaver.

Car toys don't have to be fancy — think along the lines of a few plastic dinosaurs, fidget toys like pop balls or spinners, or my personal favourite, an LED drawing tablet with an attached stylus (because trust me, you don’t want to be fishing around for it while driving). The important thing is that they stay in the car and get rotated every now and then to keep the excitement alive.

Make bids to connect

For us, a chaotic morning often equals a chaotic outing. It’s easier said than done, but finding pockets of time to slow down amidst the craziness of trying to leave the house can be really valuable. As every good temper tantrum humbly reminds us, our kids can’t always emotionally regulate themselves. But if we’re regulated and make 'bids' or attempts to invest time in them, they might not take it quite so hard when you need to say "buh-bye" to the park or "no" to picking up dog poo. Or they still might — but at least you know you’ve tried your best. 

Moments of connection can be as simple as pulling up a chair beside them and eating breakfast together, reading a short book, or pretending to be a tiger while chasing them around the house trying to put their shoes on. It might seem small, but it all fills your toddler’s emotional tank.

No matter what you do to get out of the house, or however successful your outing is, the most important thing is… you’re doing it. And if it all falls apart, there’s always tomorrow.

Shop Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants from your local supermarket.

Feature Image: Getty.