Diaper Bag Essentials

Finding the perfect diaper bag can be tricky. Knowing what to put in the diaper bag is even trickier, especially for a new mom. When I started my search I knew that I wanted a bag that looked a little more modern woman and less traditional mom. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I bought, and returned a few before finding the perfect bag.

The truth is I didn’t actually find it. My mom did. And when I say that, I mean my mom bought herself a really cute Ralph Lauren canvas tote bag and I fell in love with it! Being the wonderful lady she is, my mom gave me the bag and bought herself a new one. Now we’re bag buddies!

Unfortunately, the bag is sold out at Macy’s. You can buy a similar one from Lord n Taylor here.

Once you’ve found your perfect bag, it’s time to figure out what your Diaper Bag Essentials are. If this is your first baby then you probably have a lot of questions. You’re probably wondering what you absolutely need, how many diapers baby needs, and how is all going to fit. Below, I’ve compiled a list of items I found to be most essential to me.

Infant Diaper Bag Items

-Wet bag- for soiled diapers and wipes. Black and white Skip*Hop

-Rolled blanket

-Changing mat- Gray and white tribal print Eddie Bauer travel

-Rolled spare outfit (in case of a blow-out)

-Rolled burp cloth and bib

-Medicine Bag- Zippered bag with anti-bacterial, Band-Aids and various medications (Tylenol, Motrin, and Children’s Benadryl), a thermometer, and tip covers.

–Travel sound machine

–Boba Wrap

–Boogie Wipes– baby nose, hand, & face wipes

–Bottle(s)

-Snacks

–Pacifier pouch (Born Free- it snaps to the inside or outside of bag).

-Zip lock bag of chew toys (teething toys)

–Sophie teething giraffe

-My wallet

-Gray and white chevron print Skip*Hop wet/dry bag

My gray Skip*Hop wet/dry bag is a sort of carry all bag for small random diapering items. In the large zip compartment I store extra cloth diapers.  About 4 pocket diapers fit comfortably.
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Wet Bag Diapering Items:

-Diapers

–Wipe spray -Made from Lusa Organics Wipe Juice

-Damp cloth wipes in a zip lock bag

-Travel tissues

-Extra Snappi

-Travel first aid kit

-Travel Wet Ones pack

–Magic Stick– 100% cloth diaper safe diaper rash balm

* If you’re using disposable diapers, rather than cloth, the same rule of the thumb applies when it comes to how many clean diapers you should have in your bag. Generally, 1 for every hour you plan to be gone will be fine. I follow this and add 2 more, just in case!

Of course, these items will vary as baby grows and depending on the outing. Now that my son is 18 months old, I tend to carry more toys, cars, and books in my diaper bag (anything to keep him occupied). As he’s gotten older, I have found it less necessary to carry certain items he needed as an infant. No more small blanket, Boba, burp cloth, or pacifier pouch.

Additional Toddler Diaper Bag Items:

–Skip*Hop Cooler with sippy cups & snacks

-Toys, board books, cars

Now that J is older; I’m constantly chasing him around. I find it’s much easier to use my backpack diaper bag, especially if I’m going somewhere for an extended period. This backpack diaper bag is made by Oh Joy! You can buy it online from Target. It’s a steal at just $40.

When I received it, the matching changing pad that I found in the back zippered compartment pleasantly surprised me. I was mostly surprised because I didn’t read the entire description before purchasing it (something my husband always nags me about).

This bag looks smaller but everything in my above list still fits.

This backpack bag also has the stroller straps that my other one does not have and unlike my Ralph Lauren bag, this one has 2 bottle pockets on the outside, which do come in quite handy. It is a bit more of a traditional diaper bag but still very feminine looking with its coral accents. It’s extremely functional for a day at a theme park and even mall trips.

No matter which diaper bag you have, the essential items are all the same. If this is your first baby, you’ll probably carry a lot more unnecessary items at first. Once you get into a routine and adjust you’ll discover what items are essential to you and your baby.

What’s your favorite diaper bag? What diaper bag essentials can’t you leave the house without? Tell me in the comments below.

 

For more baby related posts- check out my Baby Boy Nursery Style- J’s Eclectic Nursery, Nursery Closet Organization, Nursery Dresser Organization, Diaper Changing Table Essentials, and Pumping Essentials.

You might also like Getting Your Baby or Toddler Through Cold & Flu Season, 5 Tricks to Navigating Those Dreaded Teething Years, DIY WubbaNub Nipple Replacement, and DIY Valentines Day Footprint Cards.

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