In the Stroller: How to Get an Uninterrupted 45 Minutes

 
Stopping to look at the cows near our house on a morning run!

Stopping to look at the cows near our house on a morning run!

 

Have you ever been on a relaxing walk through your neighborhood only to have a kid or two start screaming bloody murder about 10 minutes in? It’s happened to me, and I get super stressed out because I’m too far from home to carry someone and push a stroller, and if my kids get out and walk we won’t make it home for a week (they only move fast in very limited circumstances)! Plus, people start staring at you because you’re obviously a horrible parent for making your kids cry…So, how do you actually fit in a workout, relaxing walk, or walking meeting (because working moms need to get stuff done too!) without everyone melting down? It all comes down to strategy!

First things first, it comes down to timing in our house. If you have a little one that will nap on the go, a nap is a perfect time to make this happen. With my daughter, she would take almost every morning nap in the stroller so that we could get out of the house. Afternoon naps were a little less predictable for her, so we mostly stuck to mornings for my stroller runs and workouts. You know your kids best, mine are least likely to lose it before 11 AM and don’t want to be cooped up in the afternoons at all. Another major factor is hunger. I always pack snacks or plan to stop at a coffee shop en route so that no one is hungry during our outing. Planning your stroller strategy around meal times is actually an excellent go-to. If you or your partner are breast or bottle feeding still, try to feed baby just before leaving the house to give yourself maximal time!

Timing is everything

A happy, less stressed mom is a better mom, so remember that it’s ok to compromise on your schedule a few times per week (or at more regular intervals if that’s what you need) to get some ‘me time’ in. Plus, fresh air and exercise are pretty important, so it’s a benefit to everyone. Here are the times I use to make this happen:

  1. Breakfast time. Everyone is up and ready to start the day, but not necessarily ready to go full bore into activity mode. I can make some toast and blueberries, or my favorite toaster waffles, I have a really easy on-the-go breakfast that everyone can enjoy on our morning tour of the neighborhood. Side note: if you’re doing toaster pancakes or waffles, skip the syrup for your sanity.

  2. Morning snack time. You have to sit down to eat, so why not make that happen in the stroller? There are so many snack ideas that are easily transportable that this is an excellent opportunity for a 30-60 minute run or walk. Some of our go-tos are dry cereals, Lara Bars, string cheese, and applesauce pouches!

  3. After nap. The afternoon nap can throw little ones, and some of them take a while to warm back up to their normal spunky selves. This is also a good time to try to head out for some stroller time. Plus, you guessed it, it aligns with afternoon snack time.

  4. When I don’t go: when someone just seems off or needs to burn some energy, I know it’s futile to try to lock ‘em in the stroller. So we do other things that everyone can enjoy! At our house dinner is a sit-down together affair, and afterward is basically get ready for bed time so evening is also a general no-go for us.

Encourage ride activities

Kids love going anywhere if it’s an adventure (my kids also love errands, but I think it’s because they still think those are adventures). Your stroller ride can be an adventure to the park, a run that ends at the coffee shop for cocoa, or a tour of something special nearby (a special view where they can search for geological features, a really bumpy path, etc.). Or it can include some ‘I Spy’ on the way-which will further challenge your oxygen capacity if you’re running and make it learning time for littles. If your kids think stroller rides are fun, they will be happy to go with you. One of my kids’ favorites right now is me telling them I will go cheetah speed, and they think it’s super fun to race around (I won’t tell you my pace but it’s a lot slower than a cheetah). We also pack special toys to use at our destinations. If we are ending at a park, we will pack trucks and cars. If we head toward a water body or playground with wood chips we pack shovels and pails. It’s amazing what you can fit in the bottom of a stroller! Below is a photo of the stroller loaded with their bikes. We frequently walk to different parks where the kids can bike off their own energy.

 
 

You can barely see it, but in the photo of my stroller above, I tied a crib toy to the stroller so that when my daughter was younger she could have something soft to entertain herself with without the worry of her throwing it out without me noticing. She is still occasionally entertained with staring at herself so I haven’t removed it yet. I also have a giant carabiner attached to the handlebar to hold helmets if we end up venturing to a bike ride destination.

 
 

Bring tools for success

There are a few things I always keep in the stroller so that I am prepared for any roadside emergency:

  • Wipes. My kids spill food sometimes, or they just frequently get dirty…because they’re kids. So I keep a pack in the bottom at all times. I use these refillable packs so that I don’t have to take a giant pack along.

  • Diapers. There is usually one in the stroller just in case!

  • Larabars. I always have a snack hidden in a pouch in case someone didn’t eat enough breakfast or we end up being out and about longer than planned. There is nothing worse than a hungry toddler. These are sweet enough that my picky eaters will go for them, but they’re packed with protein and fiber so there’s not a crash later.

And then we have the bare necessities:

  • A comfortable stroller. I love our Double Bob, but there are other strollers on the market that are also great. If your kids are comfortable and not jostled too much whenever they go for a ride, they won’t mind it so much!

  • The proper stroller accessories. A tray across the front to hold the water bottles and snacks or toys is essential (and wipes work for cleaning here)! And the console for caregiver drinks and accessories is also important (side note: I also have this same one for our bike trailer because it’s so much cheaper than anything Thule sells)! I zip the snacks into the middle pocket of the Bob’s console so that kids only see them when I get them out, otherwise they’d want them on sight and I’d be out of backup plans! The console is also a great place to hold your phone if you want to listen to music, or I have done a few walking meetings as well. It’s easy to reach in and mute/unmute without jostling the phone if you’re able to be away from your desk for parts of your work day.

  • A blanket (we are based in the Pacific Northwest after all, just the heaviness of the blanket changes with the seasons). The blanket can also be used as a sun shade if needed. And hats. In summer we have some awesome sun hats that are cute (this one is amazing and adjusts easily so it will last for more than one season!), and in winter we stick with the full on fleece-lined beanies!

These are some of the tips and tricks I use to keep my kids in the stroller so that I can get out of the house without stress. What works for you? Leave a comment below so we can share ideas!