Nervous About Going Out With Your Toddler? You're Not Alone
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s get something straight:
- You’re not behind.
- You’re not doing it wrong.
- And you’re not the only one who feels trapped at home.
This guide is here to gently walk you through your first outings—no judgment, no pressure, and no perfection required.
STRAIGHT TO IT
What Counts as an “Outing”? (Hint: Almost Anything)
Let’s reset expectations. You don’t need to “do” anything fancy to get out the door.
Here’s what counts as a win:
- Walking through a department store with zero agenda
- Driving to a quiet park and staying the car with music and a juice box
- Going to a drive-thru and getting yourself a treat then back home
- Doing one errand instead of five
You’re building a new muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. Your outings will grow as your confidence grows.
5 Beginner-Friendly Outing Ideas
Start with places that don’t demand a lot of you—and are okay if you need to leave early.
Meaning, avoid packing for a 4 hour zoo adventure for your first rodeo! Start small, short and close to the house for those hard car ride stages too. We all have babies that cry in the car. It can be so stressful.
5 “No Pressure” Destinations
Let your toddler run in an enclosed tennis court
Visit a friend’s porch for 15 minutes.
Walk around a garden center or hardware store (yes, really).
Grab a coffee and sit on a bench while your toddler digs in the dirt or you feed the baby.
Grocery store just to roam.
Download our Free & Easy Toddler Outings for the greatest low lift and low effort indoor and outdoor outing ideas while you find your sea legs and build that outing confidence. We have SO many easy ideas in there.
Because there is a time in your life where the kids are ittty bitty, and there’s nothing on your calendar. No sports, no school, no rushing around. In fact, you are LOOKING for ways to fill your time each day for survival purposes.
Moms Away Free & Easy Toddler Outings is proving:
Low-lift outings can keep your toddlers' attention without a 10–step mental gymnastics plan
They keep you out of the house without having to entertain your toddler all day.
And might we add this is actually FUN for mom and for kids?! Nothing on the agenda but quality time with your sweetie (and the occasional meltdown from hell obvi! )
~It’s this or we’re all rotting watching TV all day, overstimulated, kids are destroying the house….and you in a constant loop of chores on a short fuse mmk!!!
What to Pack for a Toddler Outing (Keep it Simple!)
For your first outings, don’t overpack. You’ll feel more mobile and less stressed.
Bare Minimum Bag:
1 diaper + travel wipes
1 snack (nothing sticky)
1 water cup
1 small toy or sticker sheet
Change of clothes in a ziplock (leave in car if needed)
NOT Optional: Something just for you—coffee, fav drink, lip gloss. It matters!
MOMS! AWAY TIP
Keep your car packed like a diaper bag so you can throw everyone in and go. This eliminates the *extra* chaos in the morning trying to pack a bag and think through all the details while everyone is crying, needing last minute diaper changes and/or creating more messes before you walk out.
Download our Free Moms Away! Car Checklist here to find out exactly what you need to keep in the car for each season. It will save your life. You wont have to lug around a huge on-the-go bag all the time while still feeling prepared for anything.
Mindset Tips for First-Time Moms Going Out
Confidence builds from experience. It won’t come from thin air. OF COURSE you’ll be nervous your first go around, but with every trip out of the house it will build —you just gotta start girl!
Before You Leave, Tell Yourself:
- “If we make it five minutes, maybe we’ll make it 10 minutes next time. It’s a win!”
- “Meltdowns happen. It will happen. I’m prepared to deal with it.”
- “I can always go home early and try again tomorrow. It’s really no big deal"
- “My baby will cry. It’s how they talk to me. It’s okay if others hear her”
You aren’t training for a toddler Olympics. You’re just trying to figure out how to manage all the logistics your first couple of tries. You’re reconnecting with the world—and with yourself. This is why these low stakes outings (Our Moms Away! Free and Easy Toddler Outings!) are so great in the little years. If we need to bail we didn’t waste any money, resources or a ton of brain cells. We’ll try again another time!
Common Fears & Real Talk Reframes
“What if my kid melts down?”
They might, absolutely! They also might have a perfect day. If they get off track, take a deep breath. Exit if you want. Cry in the front seat and swear you’ll never leave again if needed.
“What if I forget something?”
Oh you will, and you’ll learn how to pivot in the chaos too. Baby blowout with no change of clothes? Guess the baby is wearing their brothers 4T t-shirt because that’s all I have. These are actually the best stories and learning moments - and moments for you to learn how to be flexible rolling with the punches.
“What if people stare or judge me?”
Let them. You probably won’t ever see them again, so if it’s a disaster, ehh. It happens.
Like we always say: “The more hard you see the more hard you know!”.Meaning: the more experience you have in the WTF moments, the more confident you’ll feel handling anything a future outing might throw at you.
When It Goes “Wrong” (Spoiler: It’s Still Worth It)
Outings won’t always go smoothly. And that doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth trying.
Reset Tools:
- Offer a snack or change scenery.
- Narrate what’s happening: “It’s loud in here, huh? Let’s take a break.”
- Laugh. Seriously. It helps.
- Try again tomorrow. Or next week. Or after a 5 day vacation because it was actually that terrible.
Toddler Outings Are Cultural Change in Action
Every time you show up in the world with your kid, you’re quietly changing it.
You’re helping normalize:
Babies and toddlers in public.
Moms who need coffee and connection.
Inclusive spaces that consider strollers and families.
You’re part of the culture shift we need. One small, brave outing at a time. For you and for us!