Learning how to navigate life as a new mom can be overwhelming and tricky, especially when it comes to outings with your little one in tow. Packing the diaper bag with essential items will make even short trips much more enjoyable. More: The Ultimate Guide to Packing a Diaper Bag After you’ve found a diaper bag you love, start stocking it with the essentials for easy access on your outings. Keeping a well-stocked diaper bag means you won’t have to start from scratch before every outing, but don’t forget to change out extra outfits and diapers when you size up. Here are our top suggestions for what to include in your diaper bag beyond the essentials. Editor’s Tip: For a more comprehensive printable list, check out >a href="/printables/parenting-tools-printables/diaper-bag-essentials-printable-list">Diaper Bag Essentials Printable List.
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What to Consider When Packing a Diaper Bag
Breaking down your diaper bag into categories can help when determining what you need to pack. The main categories we recommend are diapering needs, extra clothes, food and drinks, toiletries, and additional useful items.
Diapering
Diapering needs include your basics such as diapers, baby wipes, and diaper cream. You will also want to have disposable diaper bags or a wet bag in case you do not have somewhere to properly dispose of dirty diapers or you are cloth diapering. In addition, we recommend a changing pad or blanket that you can lay down on a surface to change your baby’s diaper.
Clothes
Even if it’s just a quick outing you never know when you will need an extra change of clothes, blowouts wait for no one! From diaper explosions to spilled drinks, having an outfit change handy will come in handy. We recommend a full outfit change, including socks. While you’re at it, pack an extra shirt for yourself! Additional diaper bag necessities that fall under the clothing category would be a light blanket, a burp cloth, and at least one bib.
Food and Drinks
Depending on the age of your baby, food and drinks can vary. Bring bottles, sippy cups, formula, or breastmilk if you are bottle feeding, baby food, and utensils, a container of puffs, teething wafers, or a favorite snack. For babies old enough to eat a snack should always be included in a diaper bag. A little snack can save the day! Don’t forget to include a water bottle and a small snack for yourself.
Toiletries
This might seem like a silly category for a diaper bag, but we consider toiletries to be little bits and bobs such as hand sanitizer, first aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray, tissues, lip balm, and nursing pads. These items may change depending on your destination, but shopping in the travel size section of the pharmacy can provide you everything you need without taking up valuable space in the diaper bag.
Additional Useful Items
Some additional useful items to keep in the diaper bag include a teething toy, phone charger, a hat for the baby, one or two small toys, and a pacifier.
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Being a parent isn’t always easy, but being prepared for even the smallest outings will surely help!
