IN THIS ARTICLE
When you envision your first outing with your baby, you might have a slight panic attack — how in the world will I stuff the nursery into a diaper bag? At least, that was my first concern.
From newborns to toddlers to preschoolers and on, it seems that we will always need to take the whole house with us on any excursion. Whatever happened to those days of just grabbing our wallet and cell phone to go to the store? Those glorious days are now reserved for only when our partners stay home with the little one. Buh bye.
Yes, with a baby you will need to bring several items, but it will not be the entire house or even the nursery. What to pack in your diaper bag are the essentials and nothing more — well, except for maybe a tumbler of coffee. Coffee is an essential after all.
What to pack in a diaper bag: Newborn essentials
With a newborn in your arms, you do not want your diaper bag to be more complicated (or heavier) than it has to be. Keep only the essential items in mind when packing for your baby.
Diapers, baby wipes, and diaper cream
Pack the big three — diapers, wipes, and rash cream — in an easily accessible area of your diaper bag. Most likely, your bag will come with a changing pad, so be sure to keep all four items together.
Change of clothes, burb cloths, and bibs
Spit-ups, blowouts, and anything in-between will happen, so it is a must to bring one or two outfit changes and a few extra cloths. Roll them up like pinwheels or fold them into thirds to save space.
Pacifiers
If you have introduced a pacifier, then bring two in case one gets lost in transit.
Nursing gear: Cover-ups, breast pads, and nipple cream
For nursing mamas, pack your cover-ups for keeping your baby focused on feeding, breast pads to avoid noticeable leakage, and nipple cream to reduce soreness.
Bottle-feeding gear: Baby bottles and a bottle warmer
Pack baby bottles that are filled with pre-measured formula powder and keep bottled water close by for mixing. If your baby prefers warmed milk, then use a compact bottle warmer for quick heating.
Diaper bag checklist: What to bring for any scenario
Traveling? Yes, traveling can happen with a baby. “Typically, air travel is appropriate for most healthy, full-term infants,“ shared Dr. Jay L. Hoecker with the Mayo Clinic. As you become more comfortable in motherhood, begin venturing out with your baby by either taking a short trip to your family’s house or a family vacation.
No matter what you decide, here is a checklist to ensure that you will always have what you need for any type of excursion.
The essentials for every trip:
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Diaper cream
- Changing pad
- Burp cloths
- Bibs
- Pacifiers
- Outfit changes
- Nursing or bottle-feeding gear
Additional items for special outings:
- Stimulating toys are necessary distractions for long car or plane rides.
- A warm jacket and a baby blanket are key when indoor and outdoor temperatures can fluctuate during travel.
- Plastic bags and disposable changing pads help keep diaper trash out of your bag during a plane ride.
- Emergency information cards, on which you keep a list of emergency contacts, are a practical addition for when you travel to different cities or countries.
Best diaper bags
When choosing a diaper bag, go for the one that fits your needs and traveling style. Mom Jessica B. knew that she wanted a backpack for ease of access. “I needed a sturdy diaper bag," she previously told Mom.com, "one that was a backpack. I knew I wanted to babywear, so having a backpack was ideal!"
Your diaper bag should not seem like a complicated maze of pockets, nor should it be a vast ocean of loose items. Choose the right one for you.
Hap Tim Multi-Function Large Baby Diaper Bag
This bag is not only cute to look at, but it breathes functionality with smartly placed pockets that hold all of your baby gear.
Caraa Medium Baby Bag
From waterproof material to insulated pockets, the designers made all of the right choices for this trendy but practical bag.
Skip Hop Weekender Diaper Bag
If you know that you will travel a lot with your baby, then this roomy diaper bag will be the perfect fit as it sits atop your rolling luggage.
Baby Diaper Bag Backpack with Changing Station
Make that day trip occur with more ease while you easily change your baby in this traveling changing station.
*Disclaimer: The advice on Mom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
