Cafes are calling

10 ways to make cafe outings fun for mum

Photo: own source

The simple moments in life are often the most enjoyable. Going to a cafe is one such enjoyable moment for me. The cafe atmosphere with a big pot of a fragrant black tea, or a freshly brewed coffee (this shouldn't be bitter by the way), or a tasty smoothie combination does good things to the mind.

A cafe outing is cosy and always a little bit special; it's the perfect moment to catch up with a friend, or unwind with reading material that you’ve been looking forward to, or even to get some work done. But you now have a baby, so what will happen to your coffee dates? Luckily nothing. 

If anything your baby adds variety to your cafe outings. You can easily take your baby and on-the-go toddlers to a cafe, and enjoy it yourself - the enjoyment is key here, it needs to stay fun.

Pick the right place. Think child-friendly cafes that are fun for mum, there are plenty of options.

Look out for:

1. cafes whose owners have children themselves
2. cafes with an outside area
3. park cafes
4. museum cafes - they often have a generous inside space
5. cafes that have games and books that you can borrow
6. a cafe with an informal atmosphere
7. a cafe you already know! The barista of your favourite spot would be delighted to see you and your baby
8. department-store cafes - sometimes less cosy but always child friendly and the drinks selection is usually pretty good
9. cat cafes - these are becoming a big thing in Europe where you can go and hang out with cats. Babies and little children are fascinated by them!
10. baby cafes - I've put this last on the list as this is an obvious one. Some are really nice with a beautiful interior for mums to enjoy the outing too

If you are unsure of where to go, explore new cafes during your me-time.

Rotate your hangouts and keep an eye out for new openings. I'm always amazed at how many cafes are opening in town (I guess this does go hand-in-hand with old favourites closing).

For some global inspiration, check out these links of must-try cafes around the world! There are lots of good tips for when you are on a family holiday as well.

• Loads of awesome cafes in Europe
• Independent cafes in the US
• Go-to cafes in New Zealand
• Informal cafes in Australia
• Some hidden cafes in India

Great, you've picked your spot and got there. You've ordered and you've gotten yourself and your baby cosy. 

As a bonus you've thought of some simple entertainment options. For little babies this is straightforward, because they are likely to be sleeping, so you can just take your time. Otherwise they are easily entertained by sitting on your lap and looking around, or you may just need to feed your baby. Take them for a look around the cafe or outside if they are fussy and not easily soothed.

If you have toddlers and older children you can entertain them with a special treat and simple activities. There are lots of card games designed specifically for young kids, even my two-year-old is happy to collect cards, or you can read a couple of short books. Plus reserve some small toys that you only use when you're out.

Enjoy your cafe moment. I often just go with my little family to spend a special moment together.

Try out new cafes the next few times. And for those spots that are just too small, or feel tricky with children, keep them for a coffee date at the weekend when you need a moment of me-time. 

I'd love to know what type of cafes you've taken your baby to.

Nappy change on-the-go

A quick change anywhere

Nappy change

You're out with your baby in the middle of town and you need to change your baby's nappy. Bad timing you may be thinking, and what's more, you'll be in a similar situation many more times to come. But actually, you don't need any official changing facilities. With just a small changing bag and your lap you can change your baby anywhere quickly. If you're in a cafe - either head to the toilet, put the seat down and change your baby on your lap, or pull some chairs together at the back of the cafe (depending on what the nappy situation is like).

...Before I go on, it's best if you see how this can work by watching my vlog.
Enjoy my video, and let me know about your changes out and about.

Bombay Baby

Baby's big travel adventure 

On to Elephanta Island... [own source]

When you have a baby then travelling may be quite daunting. But actually, going places with young children is very do-able and doesn't have to break the bank. 

I fly every few months with my family, usually within Europe. Then, in December 2018 we mixed things up a bit and went on our first long-haul journey as a family. Mumbai, India, was our destination where everyday life is pretty different to that of our own in the south of France. It was a great adventure; we went to an Indian wedding and we discovered lots of amazing places, but we took our time when we wanted to. Our baby girl enjoyed the senses explosion and our son loved the monkeys and the tuk-tuks. 

The food was a delicious highlight and the kids were eating the local food too (mostly the less spicy elements and no meat). We explored local restaurants and we relished the Pav Bhajis at the popular beach stalls. Drinks wise we stuck to bottled water, which the hotel supplied for free (and recycled the bottles). We also enjoyed the occasional fresh coconut from local vendors we'd pass.

Okay, let's go somewhere!

Destination

When you choose your destination think about: what you want to do (recharge/relax, city break, visit family/friends...), when you want to go, and your budget. There are plenty of exciting cost effective places, and check out some baby/toddler recommended holidays in Europe. 

Whatever destination tickles your fancy look into the weather for your dates. Off season will be cheaper but you don't want to be stuck in the Monsoon or hurricane season. When you've decided on a location check out the local news and political situation, it's useful to be aware of what's going on in a new place.

Plan ahead

• If your budget is tight then plan a trip before your baby turns two - under twos almost never pay for flights, just airport taxes
• Passports - all children need their own passport. Take time to sort them
• Visas - children also need their own visa. Some countries have e-visas which are quicker to get, but lots of information is needed
• Tropics/developing countries - ask your GP about any vaccines that you and your baby will need. They may also have some useful advice for your trip
• Think about places to stay:
• Hotels are advisable in a totally new culture
• Instant apartments are cost effective and offer flexibility, this option is perfect in a comparable culture
• Mobile homes give extra comforts for camping trips
• Plan your mode(s) of transport at your destination to get around easily and safely

Packing

Parents often pack for every eventuality and more. I would definitely recommend not to over pack. You'll be schlepping your luggage and trying to use stuff because you have it with you. There will likely be a washing service so you can reuse your things.

Airlines

Airlines have a lot of rules when it comes to carry-on/hold luggage. Each airline has its own policy, so check the requirements online. Airlines always have a good arrangement when it comes to baby food/drink and bulky baby equipment. 

On board

• Odd-sized luggage - two pieces are generally free, but check the airline’s website. A stroller and a travel cot are good options
• Milk/water bottles and baby food - you can bring these on board, just show the items (with your baby in sight 😉)
• Long-haul night's sleep - airlines often provide a cot bed, which can hold a 10kg baby
• Baby entertaining
• Have a range of snacky foods ready - under twos enjoy trying different foods
• Babies love to explore - walk the aisles, or let them explore around you. A bit of interaction won't annoy fellow passengers!
• Fussy baby - take an upset baby to the back of the plane where there is more space and air crew are always welcoming to a baby. Other parents often gather there too!

Woohoo you've landed and your trip was fine! Now, what did you decide about getting around?

Getting around

There are lots of ways to travel locally - bear in mind where you're going. 

• Car hire with child seats - one of our personal favourites = safe and lots of freedom
• A driver - advisable in a developing country where traffic is chaotic. This is was our choice in Mumbai - we enjoyed the passing sights at the same time
• Public transport - great in a well-connected hub, and your baby will be less restricted
• Taxi - for short distances when you have other transport at your destination. For practical reasons (not safety) licenced taxis/licenced private hire cars are exempt of child-seat laws, but check if they supply them. Otherwise you can hire a car seat or take your own (some strollers come with a maxi cosy attachment)

Exploring on foot

• Stroller - handy for longer city walks and on-the-go napping
• Sling or baby carrier - a sling is useful in lots of situations - at the beach, to access lakes, on rustic paths, hilly surroundings, when using the underground (lifts are often far out), for sightseeing and somewhere with stairs! Plus, babies are usually easily soothed in a carrier 
• Baby scooter (the one with a seat) - a great little city vehicle - small, light and very agile. After a baby's first birthday they will be big enough to go on such a scooter. It's a nice way for a baby to stay active, but they can't fall asleep on it!

Babies are adaptable!

Be prepared to be more flexible with your baby's routine on holiday. Nap-time may have to be shorter/at a different time, or they may have to nap on-the-go if you are out for most of the day. But kids are very adaptable, and when some quiet moments are mixed in with action your baby will be fine.

Let me know where you've travelled to and if you have any tips from your holiday, I would love to hear.

Shape it up

Shift the baby weight naturally & get back into your skinny jeans 

Photo by Meg Kannan

A lot is going on during the weeks and months after the birth of your baby (whether this is baby #1, #2, #3...). When you're at the stage where you want to lose some of your baby weight you've come to the right place. You'll find lots of tips on active parenting in this blog.

For the first 8-12 weeks or so after having given birth it's recommended to stick to low-impact exercise, your body needs to heal and organs need time to move back into place. The type of exercise that you can do also depends on how much you were doing when you were pregnant, and what kind of birth you had. To know more, ask about exercise at your postnatal check-up (around 6-8 weeks after birth).

You can stay active in lots of ways even when you are not thinking about exercise. Soon after my son was born I took him for daily walks in the pram - to the shops, to meet a friend for tea or just to get out for some air. It always feels good to set a goal for the outing even if you aren't specifically going anywhere. To be out is the perfect activity, it helps with your energy levels and it structures your day a bit, plus it helps to beat the blues. 

A few weeks after birth I discovered the sling, this opened up a new world. Once I got the hang of using it I could just pop my baby into the sling, and go out hassle and hands-free. At home the sling was always on hand too, my baby would be very cosy, and I could take care of the chores.

When my daughter was born I used the buggy board with our pram. A summer stroll would turn into a good workout pushing them both along. My daughter also went into the sling from early on. As an added bonus I could keep up with my son if he wanted to go out on his scooter. My daily activity would mount up just by being out with the kids.

Fast forward to around 9 months and you can take your baby on a bike with a good baby seat. To cycle with a baby is really practical, you can easily get to those places that are just a little too far to walk to, and it goes without saying that cycling is a great way to exercise. I now have an awesome cargo bike, so I can take both of my children on my bike with extra 'cargo' - whatever we need to take with us. 

Exercising can also come in the form of unwinding. After a long day with your baby you could do with some unwinding (in between feeds!). This is the perfect time for a bit of light yoga or other floor exercises. Get your partner to hold the fort with your baby so you can have some active me-time, add some mindfulness music and switch off for a moment. Try and pick roughly the same time each day so it will become part of your routine. You don't have to keep going for ages, even 10 minutes will be great.

There are lots of ways to get active. When the activities are part of your day-to-day they won't be much effort... now hoovering may not be so bad after all ;)

• Take your baby for a long walk in the pram or stroller. 1 hour = 140-200 calories burned depending on your weight 
• Turn a walk into more of a workout - push your stroller by alternating walking with short running bursts (roughly double walking to running)
• You can also go for proper runs with the stroller
• If you want to take up 'stroller exercise' as a regular thing then invest in a running compatible stroller
• Pop your baby in the sling/baby carrier for a good chunk of the day - baby carrying will double the calories burned compared to walking. You'll have your hands free, so you can be active inside and out
• Dust off your bike. Leave your car at home and cycle - into town, the next village, a friend's house, or a nearby playground... A 20-minute bike ride = 220 calories
• Take public transport more often. Toddlers especially love to use transport and chances are that there will be a considerable amount of walking in between
• An effective bonus exercise is cleaning. When you put your energy into hoovering or mopping it is like a workout at the gym. A 30-minute hoovering or mopping blast will burn almost 100 calories. There is lots of cleaning to do with little ones around, but at least you'll know that it'll be part of your shape-up plan! When your baby is in bed and you're still tidying/cleaning put a good podcast on to make it more fun
• Cooking (without eating throughout of course) is another bonus exercise. Stand up and cook for 45 minutes = 110 calories (around 150 for 1 hour)
• Unwind with a good dose of yoga to recharge your batteries - a 20-minute yoga workout will burn between 70-200 calories depending on the type of yoga you do. If you are keen on your yoga you can work out its intensity using a yoga calculator
• Don't forget your pelvic-floor exercises. They are easy to do and really important to get your pelvic strength back

I would love to hear if you have any other daily exercise tips. Now go and enjoy the time with your baby actively and get stuff done – the multitasking life of a mum!