How to Stock Your Car to Take Baby Places

A lot of people don't realize that one of the best things to do with babies is to take them out in the world. I speak from experience-I was a dad, at-home with my son, throughout his babyhood and early childhood.

But, to the point. I'm assuming you're the kind of parent who wants to keep life interesting for both you and your child, and that you would like to provide your child with a variety of life experiences. Both of these goals can be accomplished by getting out of the house, and I don't mean going shopping. I'm talking about going to the zoo or to a town or state park, or maybe dropping by the shore of your favorite river or lake just to be outdoors, look around, and see what's there.

If you're going to go on outings, it's a really good idea to have your car well supplied with items that will make the outings more pleasant and convenient. Here are a few things you'll want to keep in the car: a low, lightweight beach chair; small pair of binoculars; an old bathing suit for yourself and an extra pair of shorts for your child; a ground cloth (at least an old table cloth you can put down when the grass is still damp from morning dew); something convenient for digging in a sandbox-perhaps a trowel from the garden store or a large spoon; suntan lotion; bug spray that can be used on a child; something for bug bites (we like "After-Bite" which immediately stops itching); a couple extra diapers; a half-dozen baby wipes in a zip lock bag so you don't need to haul along the whole box of them; a hand towel to put down in case you need a diaper change somewhere unexpected; an old sweater or jacket for each of you in case the weather turns colder.

When Jack was a baby, I kept all of these things in the car all the time. In addition, we always had along a metal mug, the kind you get from a camping store. If you're at a park it's extremely inconvenient to hold a baby in one arm suspended over the fountain while trying to get the spout of water just right, and it's much more pleasant to simply fill the mug and go sit on the bench of your choice.

Follow these tips and you'll discover that both you and your baby will enjoy getting out more. I also recommend taking along your own food as it's more nutritious and convenient than bothering with restaurants or fast-food outlets, but that's another article.