What can make outings with little ones that often include blow-outs to their armpits, scratched timing/schedule, a hungry toddler who asks for a snack for the umpteenth time or a scrambling parent trying to calm the children while away from home?
A diaper bag that is fully, strategically packed and covers all your needs and bases while on an outing.
When Embers was a week old, we were out at a church Christmas function where we were frantically running to the grocery store to look for gas drops to help our fussy infant who was trying to get used to life outside the womb.
I was so emotional and stressed out not having what we needed and not knowing what the heck I was doing as a new, first time parent. Thankfully, since that time, we have kept things like that on hand.
Below is what we have learned since then.
It has taken me 4 diaper bags to find one that I love that works for me and my family.
I started with a classic over- the- shoulder bag that was hard to keep on my shoulder scrambling with littles, then on to a fashionable women’s backpack found at a department store with no pockets or compartments that my husband disliked. He would frequently voice his opinion on the pointlessness and frustration involving this piece of fabric with shoulder straps attached, which at times I had to agree.
Third was a two strap bag or tote which had ample space and pockets, but was hard to hold onto while carrying a baby and holding a toddler’s hand. The girly design on the bag didn’t match my husbands eyes so he preferred not to carry the thing around.
Our last and final attempt being the diaper bag we use now that we absolutely love is a backpack style from Hello Bello. The best part of it all is that our most favorite and user friendly diaper bag was FREE when we ordered a diaper bundle from the company! (More to come in a future post on baby products we swear by and love including Hello Bello diapers)
It is the perfect fit for our family. It is a modern, simple style that fits both my husbands and I’s taste.
The outward appearance and carrying style only matters so much and to so many parents but what can make or break those outings to the doctor, grocery store, friends house etc is what is inside.
By no means am I claiming to be an expert or perfect parent- because, is there such a thing? I am merely trying to be transparent about things that have helped me and my hubby in the trenches of parenthood.
1.Bon Appetite
A few years ago we went to the Oregon coast as a family and went to this amazingly huge bookstore in Portland and found these mermaid snack containers for my daughter. (When we wanted more we also found them on Amazon because we couldn’t get back to the bookstore easily).
These have been awesome in preventing spilled bags, crushed snacks and it is something my kiddos can hold onto when they ask for the 5th snack in thirty minutes.
I usually put things like Gerber baby cheetos, Gerber baby snack puffs, dried fruit or freeze dried fruit or veggies in them. 2-3 containers stack easily vertically in the main compartment of our diaper bag.
They are super easy to clean and can be filled with any snack and adapted as kiddos grow.
The pouches with fruit/veggies or applesauce are a great on the go snack to pack. You can get reusable pouches on Amazon and fill them with your own applesauce.
2.What goes in must come out
Now on to the messy business of bodily fluids that seem to be in excess yet you don’t know where they keep coming from when their bodies are soo tiny!
I usually keep 8 diapers and 2 pull ups in the bag at all times so I never run out. The diaper bag I use has a wipe pocket on the outside of the bag so you can open a flap and have an instant and fast wipe for messes.
I can think of times when my daughter Emberly has peed her pants( currently potty training) and I had no clean underwear or pants in the diaper bag, and she ends up riding along in just a pull up. Or when my son Grant (who is just over a year) has pooped all the way up to his ears and I have no extra onesies or pants in the diaper bag and he gets to ride home in just a diaper.
It’s hard to handle all those messes out and about not having the space or usual supplies you would have at home.
I keep a garment bag that folds up where dirtied clothes can be set until we get home, Tide to go wipes and a Dreft laundry pen for small stains, of course wipes (these are nice to have as I use them for everything even detailing parts of the inside of my car) an extra onesie for Grant that he is bound to have out grown by the time I retrieve it again( they grow so fast) and an extra pair of pants and underwear for my daughter.
When eating out (which has been a different scene since COVID) it’s nice to have a disposable bib and the plastic disposable place mats for kids to help with messes.
3.Medication and teething helps
Something I do each time I take my littles to the doctor on a day they are getting vaccinations is give them Tylenol or Motrin at the doctors office before leaving.
This way the kids can feel some relief from the symptoms vaccines may cause such as fever, chills or discomfort.
I keep a small bottle of Tylenol and Motrin as well as a syringe for each in the back pocket away from little hands.
Remember: babies can’t have Motrin until at least 6 months of age.
My kiddos have both struggled with gas and upset tummies as a lot of babies do, and so I keep a small bottle of Simethicone OTC (gas drops) and a syringe in the diaper bag. That way if they are fussy away from home we have it on hand.
Especially during respiratory season or allergy season, it is nice to have a bulb syringe and a small bottle of saline to use when kiddos are stuffed up with sticky buggers.
Teething spells can happen anytime day or night and it’s nice to have supplies on hand when needed.
We keep Nuby teething tablets that have chamomile in them to help with calming, orajel teething gel and a few teething toys.
A tube of diaper rash cream like Desitin can help act as a barrier if you notice baby beginning to get chaffed or for longer car rides and a tube of an ointment-based relief such as Aquaphor or all natural ZarBee’s for scrapes, flare ups of eczema or dry skin.
4.Miscellaneous
Living in New Mexico it’s hard to tell what the weather will end up being when out in town or at the park.
For my littlest one Grant or any infant it’s a good idea to keep a cap in your diaper bag as well as a small receiving blanket in case it becomes chilly on your outing. That way, you will never be without a blanket.
I also keep a nursing cover rolled up, a changing pad and extra pacifiers in a zipped pocket if baby gets fussy.
In the very front pocket I keep things like lip gloss, lotion, nursing pads and baby nail clippers.
Sometimes you notice things like your littles finger nails being way too long and having those on hand while out of town or away from home is helpful.
We keep a few small toys like teething keys and a small plush toy as well as a few books that are not much bigger than the palm of your hand. Some that are plastic and squishy that my baby can chew on and some that have a puppet animal that my toddler loves.
Books have been invaluable for us to have in the diaper bag when out at dinner and needing to entertain kids or in the doctors office waiting for the doctor to come in. I’m not one who likes to always hand my kiddos my phone to play on or watch a show when bored so small compact books are a great option.
One way that helps me ensure my diaper bag is always stocked is that as soon as we get home from an outing or trip or shortly thereafter I restock the diaper bag with snacks and diapers and clean out and refill as needed.
This way when you’re rushing out the door to a doctor’s appointment or heading to a play date and you’re late (because baby pooped right before leaving or your toddler is having a melt down) there is no question whether or not you’ll have what you need.
We keep ours close to the front door and it is easy to grab as we are walking out!
Like anything, I don’t claim to be perfect in anything- especially parenting- but I have had success after 3 years of being a parent and 2 kids later finding things that are useful and helpful to tote around in a diaper bag. Remember there is a way of finding a diaper bag that can be organized and have everything, but is still light enough to carry around.
I would love to hear what you carry around in your diaper bag and how you keep it organized!
Leave your thoughts in the comments!
Disclaimer: Use all general, medical, life and parenting advice contained herein at your own risk.