10 Diaper Bag Essentials
Julie Miller
Don’t leave home without any of these diaper bag must-haves!
During your pre-baby days, you may have been able to breeze out of the door with a small handbag, your lipstick & phone. These days, you probably feel like it's impossible to go anywhere without bringing half the nursery along. Here are a few essential items you should have in your diaper bag. (Hopefully this list helps you to confidently leave home with less, rather than lugging an overfilled bag around that is four times the weight of your baby.) Better yet, make up an extra diaper bag and keep it in the car...just in case. You never know!
Diapers and Wipes
This is obvious but, believe it or not, it does happen that moms forget - face it, you're exhausted. It seems to happen when they are needed most – like on those quick, 5-minute trips to the store and baby decides it's an excellent time to have a blow-out. Seriously, remind me to tell you the Disneyland story - it *may* have involved us throwing away a lovely cloth diaper, because...ewwwww!! You can never have too many spare diapers & wipies.Extra Outfit for Baby
This is another thing that follows Murphy’s law: If you pack it, you will never need it, leave home without it and your little one is sure to make a big mess. Don’t risk it!Hand Sanitizer
Because the world can be dirty and gross and you want to keep your sweet little one clean and germ-free. Plus her little hands touch everything & then always end up in her mouth.Baby Socks
Socks have a sneaky way of disappearing. Especially if it's chilly out, her little tootsies will get chilly when her socks decide to wander off. They so tiny, an extra pair takes up almost no room at all in your diaper bag.Water and Snacks for You
Have something handy for you for when hunger and thirst strike you and you need an energy boost. If you are breastfeeding, you need to stay well-hydrated and have plenty of snacks between meals to keep your production up. Nuts make a great high-protein snack for when mama hunger strikes (or you forget to eat breakfast...).Nursing Cover
Speaking of breastfeeding, you absolutely shouldn't feel obligated to cover up in public, but sometimes a situation arises when it's nice to have a cute and stylish nursing cover handy to cover up with if you need to feed your darling while out-and-about, especially if it's chilly.Changing Mat
Changing tables in stores and restaurants often have a place to change baby but more often than not, those paper table liners are out of stock. Have your own to be certain you always have a sanitary place to lay baby for a change! They have so many stylish options now that fold up into a little pouch. How cute & convenient!Extra Pacifier
Like socks, these tend to go missing at the most inopportune times. Have an extra (one, two, three...), so you aren’t left having to make a run to the nearest Target for more.Diaper Cream
Diaper rash can be pretty nasty on some poor little sweeties. Have cream handy just in case a rash begins to rear its ugly head so you can nip it in the bud even when you're out and about.Baby Toy
Babies are definitely wiggly little creatures - especially during diaper changing. A good toy to keep in your bag is a teething toy to not only serve as a distraction but help soothe those sore gums when teeth are popping though!+ + + + +
