Diaper Bag Necessities

There is so much a new baby needs.  And you can never know quite what your baby will need when you are out in about.  Are diaper bags necessary? And how do you know what to pack in them so you aren’t packing the whole house to go out for just a few hours?  What you keep in your diaper bag can depend on a few things. How old is your baby is, how long you will be out and about, and where you are going.

 

Changing

There are some main essentials to keep in your diaper bag always.  The main thing you will need to pack for is changing diapers. Pack enough diapers for about one or two diapers an hour you will be out.  Next make sure you have enough wipes. Either keep a refillable wipe container in your diaper bag so you can restock each time you go out so you won’t run out while you are on the go or you can just put in a new packet if you don’t think the one you had will last you the whole day.  You will also want to take a portable changing pad. These are great and usually don’t take up too much space and you will know your baby won’t be touching bathroom changing tables with their skin. Pack disposable plastic bags to tie up dirty diapers in. It isn’t always a necessary but if your baby suffers from it you can pack diaper rash cream in your diaper bag as well.  It’s also a good idea to keep some hand sanitizer in your bag for yourself.  

Feeding

The next thing you will need is for feeding your baby.  Pack enough bottles for feedings in the time you will be out.  If you are formula feeding pre portion out your water in your bottles before hand if you don’t think you will have access to distilled water.  You can also use a formula dispenser to pre portion out the formula for feedings as well. If you are breastfeeding you then will want to make sure you pack enough milk you have pumped or pack a feeding cover and nursing pads.  Pack a couple of burp clothes, you never know when a spit up may occur. Depending on the age of your child you may need to pack a sippy cup and some snacks.  

Other Essentials

Here are some other essentials you may want to pack for your baby.  A good thing to pack is an extra set of clothes. You never know what may happen when out and about from spit up to diaper blowouts.  So having one or more extra clothes in your bag can be very handy. Other things you may want to pack are a pacifier and a blanket to help soothe your baby.  Depending on the weather you will want to pack a sun hat to keep the sun off your baby’s head, and sunscreen for babies over the age of six months. Try and stay out of the sun as much as possible, and make sure you don’t let your baby get overheated. If it is cold outside, make sure you have enough layers for your baby that they won’t get cold.  

Extras

Not everything is an essential.  There are some things that you may want to pack just in case depending on how prepared you want to be.  You can keep a nasal aspirator in your bag, and boogie wipes in case you baby has a stuffy nose. Or you can wait and pack these things in your diaper bag only when your baby has a stuffy nose.  Other extras could be a first aid kit with bandaids and nail clippers. If you are afraid your baby may get sick you can always pack tylenol for them and a medicine syringe.  

Mom’s Needs

The diaper bag doesn’t have to be just for baby.  We cannot forget Mom and all the things she may need.  Instead of having to pack a whole extra bag for yourself so you won’t look like a sherpa hauling everything around you can toss some things into the diaper bag.  Good things to keep in the diaper bag are wallet, keys, and sunglasses. Mom may want to pack an extra shirt for herself in case of spit ups. Extra hair ties are also a good thing to slip in the diaper bag so you can pull your hair up out of the way if you need to.  Make sure if you will be out for a long time pack snacks and water for yourself.  

Find Your Style

Finding the right diaper bag can be tricky.  You may not need one of the high end bags that are out there it doesn’t matter on the cost.  And you could just use a messenger bag or backpack depending on your needs. Just make sure it has a lot of extra pockets and easy compartments on the outside so you can get to things easier.  Organize your bag in a way where it makes sense and you know where everything is so you aren’t having to search when you are looking for something. A nice touch is insulated compartments to keep bottles temperature regulated.  

Over time you will figure out what you baby needs and how much you need to pack when you go on a trip.  Make sure you keep your diaper bag well stocked of the necessities so you aren’t running out of essential things.  Organization can be key for packing a diaper bag that won’t tip you over when you pick it up.