New mom, big stroller, tiny sleep schedule. A diaper bag checklist and a walk tracker that adds up your minutes.
Loading the tool… (it needs JavaScript turned on)
The Only Prams diaper bag checklist covers diapers, wipes, a changing pad, a spare outfit, burp cloths and more, and it saves on your phone. Check it off before you head out. Forgetting the wipes only happens once.
Start with more diapers than you think you need, wipes and a changing pad. Add a spare outfit, a burp cloth and feeding supplies. Zip in your keys, phone and snacks, and go.
Blowouts and spit-up don't only hit the baby. Toss a spare shirt for yourself in the diaper bag. Trust every parent who learned this the hard way.
My diaper bag weighs more than my baby. It has diapers, wipes, three snacks and my entire personality. I am the pack mule now.
Set the brake whenever you stop, even on ground that looks flat. Don't hang heavy bags on the handle, since they can tip the stroller. Little habits, big safety.
Get the okay from your doctor, then start with short, easy walks around the block. Add a few minutes each week as you feel ready. Log them in Only Prams and celebrate every one.
Log each stroller walk in Only Prams and it adds up your minutes for the week and estimates steps. At about 100 steps a minute, a 30-minute walk is around 3,000 steps. Baby naps, you walk, everybody wins.
Expectation: a peaceful sunrise walk. Reality: the baby fell asleep, so I walked circles in the driveway for an hour. Ten thousand steps, zero miles.
Only Prams tracks your week against a goal, set to 150 minutes by default, which matches the general adult activity guideline. Check with your doctor before starting exercise after giving birth. Then go slow, proud and caffeinated.
Draping a blanket over the stroller can trap heat and block airflow. Use the stroller canopy or a breathable shade made for strollers, and walk in the shade. Babies under 6 months should stay out of direct sun.
Practice folding and unfolding at home before your first outing, not in a parking lot in the rain. Learn where the release buttons are. Ask me how I know.
My purse used to hold lipstick and keys. Now it holds a pacifier, a burp cloth and a single mysterious sock. I've never been more prepared.
Change the steps per minute in Only Prams if you're strolling slowly or power walking. A brisk walk is often around 100 steps a minute or more. It's an estimate, so your watch may disagree.
Restock diapers, wipes and snacks every night so you're ready to grab and go. Keep a list on your phone of what runs out first. Future tired you says thanks.
Choose smooth sidewalks or paved paths with shade and a place to sit. Avoid busy roads and steep hills at first. Bonus points for a coffee stop at the halfway mark.
Baby napped from 1:00 to 1:20 and I got nothing done. I spent the whole time looking at photos of the baby. The baby was right next to me.
Want to celebrate a new mom? Send her the Only Prams tracker and offer to push the stroller on the first walk. Bring her a coffee too, and that's the whole gift.
Bring a water bottle on every walk, especially if you're breastfeeding. Start with short, easy walks and build up slowly. Rest is part of the plan too.
Fill a small bin with diapers, wipes, cream, a spare outfit and burp cloths for the living room. No more running upstairs for every change. Your knees will thank you.
My stroller has cup holders, a basket and a canopy. It's the nicest car I've ever owned. It also gets zero miles per gallon.
Public changing tables aren't always clean, so a portable changing pad is worth it. Hand sanitizer covers you when there's no sink. Wash hands with soap and water when you can.
Head out right after a feed and a change, and time walks for when baby usually naps. Many babies doze off in the stroller. Pack the bag the night before.
I cleaned out the diaper bag and found crackers from a previous era. Historians are on the way. Restock nights, people.
Register your stroller so the maker can contact you about recalls. You can also search recalls on the federal site saferproducts.gov. Two minutes now saves a headache later.
Check the manual first, then vacuum crumbs, wipe the frame and spot clean the fabric. Many seat covers come off for washing. Let everything dry fully before folding.
I sleep in 2-hour shifts like a security guard. My post is the crib. The baby is the night manager.
A common rule of thumb is to dress babies in one more layer than you're wearing. Check the back of the neck to see if they're too hot or cold. Sweaty means peel a layer.
Invite a friend or another new parent on stroller walks. It's easier to show up when someone's waiting. Adult conversation is a bonus.
Pack a granola bar and a water bottle for yourself, not just the baby. Feeding a baby makes you hungry. Hangry parents deserve snacks too.
Buckle the harness every ride, even for a quick trip down the block. Adjust the straps as your baby grows. Snug and safe is the goal.