The top day trips parents are keen to take their babies and young children out on this summer include a visit to the seaside, a park, or a play area, a study has found.
Three in ten parents, who have children aged six months to five years old, say they are excited to take their youngster out on their first day trip.
However, the poll of 1,000 mums and dads found that one in five (21%) admit they don't always feel equipped or prepared for all that a day out entails.
A whopping 93% admit that, when they have ventured out on an excursion, they have ended up returning home earlier than expected.
And eight in ten parents say they have planned a day trip, but then never even made it past their home's threshold – with almost a quarter of those (23%) left feeling like a “failure” as a result.
Some of the top hurdles when it comes to making it out the house with little ones include nap times, tantrums, and having to feed their baby while out and about.
And 88% admitted they feared forgetting something important when their child was six to 12 months old – such as toys, nappies, snacks, milk, and a change of clothes.
However, with four in ten keen to enjoy a picnic out with their tot this summer, this handy new tool helps parents find the best picnic spots locally to them, offering a range of baby-friendly amenities, such as parking, toilets, and children’s play areas.
The bespoke Picnic Locator was created by Aptamil Follow On Milk Ready To Drink, which also commissioned the research, to mark National Picnic Week.
It comes as seven in ten of the parents polled say they have struggled to find areas that have all the baby-friendly amenities they may need when going for a picnic.
Campaign partner and parenting coach, Heidi Skudder, said: “Everyone loves a good picnic in the British summertime, but getting out and about can be overwhelming for parents, particularly when they already have so much to consider.
“Not only do we need to find somewhere that has appropriate amenities with a small person in tow, but on top of that we need to work out how to even leave the house!
“As a mummy of three myself, I can totally relate to some of the difficulties outlined in the research.”
The research, via OnePoll, also revealed that it takes parents with young babies as long as half an hour just to step out of the front door.
And a third (34%) of those who turn back at the front door feel frustrated or stressed when they can’t get out for a day trip with their little one.
Of those who have made it out, but ended up cutting a day trip short, 35% were simply physically and mentally drained, and 34% had problems with their child’s crying – while another one in four forgot a vital component of their day out.
Half of the parents polled also said they find feeding their 6-to-12-month-old stressful or messy, with one in five admitting they find feeding outside inconvenient.
Gurinder Bal, speaking on behalf of Aptamil Follow On Milk Ready to Drink, said: “If you have big plans for a day out that unravel, rest assured that you are not alone.
“We know that most parents want to enjoy time outdoors with their babies, which is exactly why we’ve created the Picnic Locator as part of our summer adventures hub.
“We want to make summer adventures easier, accessible, and not a cause for despair.
“Our free hub includes tips and tricks for parents to make their summer adventures a success. No matter how big or small your plans may be, our hub will help you to make the most of precious outdoor time with your baby.”
