Snacks packed, stroller loaded--tips to make going out with your grandchildren easier!

I personally didn't feel quite comfortable getting out and running errands with my first grandson until he was sitting up, at five and a half months or so. I was worried about pulling the stroller in and out of the car in a parking lot, and I wanted to just be able to have him sit in the shopping cart, to make it easier on myself. So we took lots of walks around the neighborhood in the stroller those first few months, but didn't venture out until a little later. When we finally got out and I was more confident, we had so much fun together! I told him we were going on an adventure and made sure I packed a bag with everything we would need for about an hour and a half or so. I tried to time it around bottles and naps, just to fill some wake time! Here are the (affordable!!!!) things that worked for me as far as equipment and things I packed in our bag: (and yes, some things have affiliate links!)

Car Seat and Stroller combo: So many variables to consider......but the most important to me was that it shouldn't be too heavy for me to lift in and out of my car, and it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to collapse a stroller after we're done. I got this Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System with LiteMax Infant Car Seat and it also has a bassinet attachment that then sits upright later to hold babies that are ready to sit up. And when the next baby arrived, I got this lightweight Dream On Me Twin Venture Umbrella Stroller with adjustable seats so the older baby could sit up and the new baby could still lay down. My second car seat is this one that swivels- Maxi COSI Andi 360 Rotating All-in-One Baby Convertible CarSeat I love that I can twist the heavier older baby around sideways to get him out--Granna's back isn as strong as it used to be!

In the car, I got this Munchkin Baby Car Mirror for Refacing CarSeats with Remote to attach to the headrest of the seat, so I can see him while I drive. And this Infantino Go Gaga! Musical Travel Bar Activity Toy is great to keep them playing with something on our trip.

I got this cute Universal Thread Square Backpack in black from Target to use as my "Granna bag"--allowing me to use both of my hands with the kids! It holds plenty and I try to keep it light.

I always pack diapers and wipes, a pacifier and pacifier clip, and a teether (also connected to a pacifier clip to keep him from throwing it onto a dirty store floor!) A couple of pacifier clips that we like: Bibs Braided Pacifier Clip and the Ruby Pacifinder Baby Pacifier Clip. I keep a travel back of Boogie Antibacterial hand wipes . We take our Munchkin 7oz Weighted Straw cup and these Happy Baby teething crackers in case I need a few extra minutes to shop and he is growing fussy. When the boys were able to eat snacks, these Munchkin Snack Catcher Toddler Snack Cups are great and there are no Cheerios in my backseat because these work so well!

If I use a shopping cart while we're out , I put in this Boppy Shopping Cart Cover and it washes great in the washing machine when we get home.

I usually don't eat at a restaurant with him while we're out, but we do go out with the kids some, and these Babebay Disposable Stick On Placemats are really nice to have. It's a 40 pack and there are different designs; I love the Animal Alphabet ones. Also love the KILS Disposable baby bibs , and they are individually packaged so it makes it easy to toss a couple in my bag at a time. We have the Busy Baby Silicone Mat Bundle--it has the original mat plus the mini mat, and those work great at a restaurant or even at home on the highchair! They have tethers for a cup and spoon, so they don't get tossed to the floor, and love it, too!

I honestly save my "real" errands for times I am not watching my grandchildren; I like to consider our outings as teaching adventures, where we are just walking around exploring and talking about things.....and yes, I might pick up a gallon of milk or some bananas or a new toy along the way, but that way when we've made a couple of stops and the children decide that adventure time is over and they are ready for a nap, we can simply pack up and go home and no serious business is left undone. Enjoy your adventures with your littles!