Whether it be for an appointment, a lunch date with a friend or getting ready for daycare, leaving the house when you have children is not an easy task. There is always someone who has to go to the bathroom after they have their snowsuit on, or something important you realize you forgot when you are halfway to your destination and without fail you will have one child in tears before you leave your driveway. With it being such an ordeal, it’s a wonder that parents ever leave the house at all. Here are some tricks that you can use in order to help the transition from inside the house to inside the car happen more smoothly.
Assess each child’s potty needs
Perhaps you have a small baby who is completely content being bundled up in their baby cars eat. Get this child ready first because they are least likely to put up a fight. Save the recently potty trained children for last and always insist on a quick stop in the bathroom prior to leaving the house, even if they say they don’t have to go. Once your children’s bladders are empty then proceed to get them ready to leave the house. Load up the infants into the car first followed by the older ones.
Provide car incentives
Not all children love a ride in the car. For some, being strapped into a car seat and told to sit there until your destination is reached can be quite traumatic. Figure out an incentive that will get your child into the car and sit there at least semi-happily. It can be a yummy and healthy snack, or perhaps a favourite toy. Experiment with a few things to find what works and stick to it. Once a routine is built, the association with the car will become the association with their car treat as opposed to confinements of their seat.
Make a list the night before
If you know where you are going the night before and approximately what you will need to take with you, save yourself the time and get it ready the night before. Put everything you need in your car, weather permitting, and that way you minimize your risk of forgetting anything. If you can’t put it in the car at least put it near the door. It’s easier to make a list of what you need when you aren’t trying to wrangle children and rush out the door.
Unfortunately, there is no magic that will make leaving the house incredibly easy 100% of the time, but with a little planning and patience it can at least become a manageable task!
