Best Tips on What to Pack in a Diaper Bag
As a mother, you can leave the house without many things, a diaper bag is not one of them. A diaper bag is one of the most essential things a mother needs when heading out the door with her baby, but what good is a diaper bag if you don’t have the important things in it?
If you are surrounded by a community of mothers, you probably have a good idea of what should go in your child’s diaper bag, but are you leaving out any important items?
*This post contains affiliate links, at no additional cost to you I am compensated if you purchase after clicking on the links.
When out with your baby, not only is it necessary to change their diapers every so often, but you just never know when you’re going to have an emergency like a blowout that will require a complete change of clothes. That’s why it’s important to always be prepared to deal with any kind of emergency your child may have in that area.
But wait, before you stress about what essential items to include in your diaper bag, what kind of diaper bag do you have? Does it serve the needs of your baby? I have had multiple diaper bags, before finally finding the perfect one that really served my needs as a mom of three.
Check your diaper bag list with mine to make sure you have all the essential items packed and all ready to go.
What to pack in diaper bag for newborn
- Diapers: I usually pack 5-7 diapers for my infant, as newborns go through a lot of diapers. But pack as many diapers as you think you’ll need for an outing, the rule of thumb is to change your baby’s diaper every 2 hours.
- Wipes: One pack of non-scented, fragrance-free wipes
- A portable changing pad
- Diaper cream
- Poop bags
- Hand sanitizer: In case you’re not able to wash your hands, hand sanitizer can be used. You don’t want to contaminate your baby’s food with dirty hands. You can also use hand sanitizer after you’re done changing your infant’s diaper if you are in a location where you can’t wash your hands.
- Bibs: 2-3 for feedings
- Feeding essentials: If you breastfeed, you won’t need much. As a breastfeeding mom who doesn’t do much pumping, when going out I don’t need much. But as a pumping mom, you’ll need your pumping supplies if you plan to pump while you’re out. Portable or manual breast pump, collection bottles or breastmilk storage bags, and cooler for transporting the breast milk. If you are using powdered formula to feed your baby, have your pre-made formula ready, or add water to the bottles and add powder formula to a multi-compartment dispenser for mixing later when your baby is ready to eat. If your baby is old enough, you’ll also need to bring baby food, a bowl, and a spoon.
- Medium-sized ziplock bags: You’ll need a couple of medium-sized ziplock bags to put your supplies after you’re done pumping and for the dirty bowl and spoon after your baby has eaten their baby food.
- Nursing pads: In addition to the pair you have on, pack a couple more in case you need it.
- Change of clothes for baby: Pack 1-2 sets of change of clothes for your baby in case you need to do a complete outfit change.
- Disinfectant wipes: Use disinfectant wipes to wipe down surfaces your baby will be using.
- Pacifier: If you use a pacifier for your baby, use this pacifier bag to keep it clean and off the floor
- Sun hat: Use a sun hat to keep your newborn out of direct sunlight.
- Winter hat and mittens: If it’s that time of year, keep a winter hat and mittens in your diaper bag to help keep your baby warm in the cold weather.
- Burp cloth: You’ll need this for your baby’s spit-up.
- Washcloths: To wipe up any spills.
- Sunscreen: Newborns and babies cannot use sunscreen because of their sensitive skin. But if your baby is 6 months or older sunscreen can be used to protect their skin from unavoidable sunlight.
- Comfy baby blanket: A blanket will always come in handy. You can use it to keep your baby warm in cold places or as shade over your baby’s stroller to protect your baby against too much sunlight. If I am using a public restroom to change my bay, I also use a blanket on top of the changing pad as an additional cushion.
- Teether: Is your little one teething? Pack 2-3 tethers in a ziplock bag to help soothe your baby’s itchy gum
- Toys (rattles): When my baby gets bored, she gets fussy. Bring 2-3 toys that will keep your baby occupied while on your outing. Toys like rattles are always a hit. Use this toy safety strap to keep your baby’s toy from falling on the dirty floor.
- Nursing cover: I feel more comfortable nursing in public when I have a nursing cover to protect my and my baby’s privacy.
- Nasal pump: If my baby is sick, I will be sure to carry this with me in case their nose becomes stuffy, which can make them irritable.
- A light sweater or jacket: It’s always good to have extra layers to keep your baby warm, always, especially if you live in New England. This is something that I always do. Pack a light sweater for when the weather drops in the summer and Spring. And a jacket for the Fall and winter.
- Extra clothes for mom: Don’t forget about yourself. Have up to 2 extra shirts packed for yourself, at some point you might need both in back-to-back action from baby-like spit-up or breast milk leaks.
- Mom’s Essentials: Forget about your purse, and if your diaper bag is cute enough, it’s easier to forget about your purse. Put your phone, wallet, sunglasses, keys, and lipstick in your baby’s diaper bag, you don’t need to carry around extra baggage.
- A small waterproof bag: This will be good for soiled and wet clothing.
What to pack in a diaper bag for a toddler
If you have a toddler, you will need these additional items:
Snacks: I never leave my house without snacks. It’s no fun for anyone when toddlers are hungry and crying. For my toddlers, I pack healthy bars and fishies. I also always have my little people’s water bottles with me. Never forget to pack snacks for yourself either because mama can’t think clearly when she’s hungry.
A small first-aid kid: All moms know that bandages and kisses make everything better. Pack bandages as reinforcements in case your toddler get a scrap or barely a scrap and needs a bandaid.
Useful Tips for packing a diaper bag
- Restock your diaper bag as soon as possible: It is a good idea to restock your baby’s diaper bag as soon as you get home. As moms, we wear a lot of hats, which makes it easy to forget to do this at a later time if you don’t get it done as soon as you get home.
- Keep additional diapering essentials in your car: Keep a diaper caddy in your car filled with everything you have in your diaper bag. If you forget to restock your diaper bag or used up all the supplies in your diaper bag, you can relax knowing that you have a backup in your car ready for immediate use. Sometimes I pack up to ten diapers for my baby because you never know when you might get stuck somewhere. As moms, we always have to be ready for the unexpected.
- Always keep extra clothes, a sweater, a jacket, and a comfy blanket in your car.
- Always have 1-2 packs of baby wipes and a roll of napkin in your car.
- Update your diaper bag and everything in your car as the season changes.
What To Pack In A Diaper Bag: 5 Useful Tips For New Moms
