Getting used to involving your new addition in your day-to-day tasks can sometimes seem overwhelming, especially when those tasks include errands like grocery shopping. As a new parent, it’s hard to get used to the rhythm of things for the first few months since you’re both new to this. Baby doesn’t know night from day, their appetite may be a little off, sleeping routines aren’t quite consistent. You, on the other hand, may be exhausted from a sleepless night, or dealing with some postpartum quirks. Here are a few tips to help with making a run to the store a little less intimidating for you both.

Go straight after a feeding

Because you won’t know your baby’s schedule until he or she gets into the groove of things, you won’t have a set time for baby yet. At this point, the best time to make a trip to the grocery is immediately after a feeding. Most newborns eat every two to three hours. This should give you enough time to walk down the aisles, including the drive to and from, before the next feeding. This tip also helps if you’re breastfeeding. If you leave as soon as your baby eats you won’t have to worry about leaking while shopping.

Bring your shopping cart hammock

Newborns, for the most part, tend to sleep like a rock all day, with the exception of feedings and diaper changes. While some babies don’t get disturbed easily, others may be a little pickier and wake up with noise or movement.

Carrying a car seat and trying to figure how to situate it on a shopping cart, without waking your baby or getting impatient, can be challenging. By investing in a shopping cart hammock, you have the option of keeping your baby in their car seat without moving them too much. , You also have the option to leave the car seat in the car and lay your sleeping baby directly into their hammock with a blanket. If you choose to leave your baby in the car seat, make sure you’ve read over the guide on how to put a car seat in a sho

pping cart properly before attempting to do it.

If this is your first time using a shopping cart hammock, it may be a good idea to go on a trip to the store prior to taking baby so you can get some practice in.

Avoid crowds

If you’d like to avoid lines or being in public for too long with your little one, the best time to go grocery shopping is late at night or early in the morning, Monday through Thursday. With less of a crowd, you’re likely able to get in and out quickly. Another perk to avoiding crowds, is that you’re able to avoid the germs that come with being around to many people.

Late nights can also mean that you’re able to have some extra help watching the baby while you make a run to the store kid-free.

Grocery shopping with a newborn is a breeze with the right timing and tools. The real challenge is when they’re in the toddler stages and are aware of how boring errands like these can be. Enjoy this stage with your baby, they grow up so fast and soon you’ll be looking back and missing these days.