Taking your newborn out for the first time can feel a little overwhelming.

You may be wondering what to pack, when to leave, whether bub will sleep and what happens if the whole routine goes out the window.

The good news is that one outing will not undo everything. Newborn sleep is naturally unpredictable, and leaving the house does not need to be perfect.

With a little preparation, some flexibility and a few familiar sleep cues, taking bub out can start to feel much more manageable.

Life with a newborn is an adventure.

Before bub, you could pick up your handbag and head straight out the door. Now there is a nappy bag to pack, a change of clothes, baby wipes, feeding supplies and a toy or two.

Then there is the pram, plus navigating steps, doorways, cafés, buses and shopping centres.

Of course, your baby also has their own plans for eating and sleeping. Strict schedule? Babies tend to have other ideas.

The best thing you can do is give yourself plenty of extra time. Let the people you are meeting know that you may be late and try not to put too much pressure on yourself.

Some outings will go smoothly. Others may involve a last-minute feed, an outfit change or turning around earlier than planned.

That is completely normal.

While flexibility is important, you will also start getting to know bub’s cues.

You may notice when a scrunched-up face means hunger, a sudden cry means a wet nappy or those little yawns mean nap time is getting close.

Strict schedules can be difficult with a newborn, but a loose routine can still help. You might notice that bub is usually more settled after a feed or tends to get tired around a similar time each day.

With this in mind, you can start planning shorter outings around feeds and naps.

It will not work perfectly every time, because babies are unpredictable, but it may make things a little easier.

A portable sound machine can help keep bub’s usual sleep sounds familiar during pram walks, café visits, family outings and travel.

Timing can make a difference, but we all know babies can be unpredictable.

When bub is awake, a pram toy, cuddles or simply looking around may keep them entertained. When it is time to sleep, a familiar sound may help the new environment feel a little less distracting.

That is exactly what we had in mind when creating the Nodiee Sleep Assist On-The-Go.

It is compact, portable and easy to bring along in your pram or nappy bag. Whether you are taking your newborn on holiday or just heading to the local café, bub’s familiar sleep sounds can come too.

White noise may also help soften sudden background sounds, such as conversations, traffic or noisy shopping centres.

Keep the sound machine away from bub’s ears and outside their sleep space. Start at a low volume and use only enough sound to soften the surrounding noise.

When it comes to nappies and clothes, pack a little extra just to be safe.

You can also keep the pram stocked with essentials such as nappies, wipes and a spare outfit. The Sleep Assist On-The-Go can be tucked into a pram pocket or clipped onto your bag, so it is nearby whenever you need it.

Then you only need to top everything up before heading out.

Babies sleep when they’re well fed, dry, warm and comfortable, so sleep aids are a must when taking a newborn out. Be sure to travel with a swaddle, a light blanket, a dummy… or anything else to keep your baby safe, sound and content.

As a new parent, you know that sleep is a godsend - for both of you! Our Sleep Assist On-The-Go is ideally sized to keep in the pram and our Sleep Assist Smart PRO is perfect for the bedroom - and designed for adults too (just saying!).