What’s in My (Diaper) Bag

top | pants | sandals | bag | earrings | cuff 1 | cuff 2 | cuff 3 | baby top | baby jeans | baby shoes

I love the section of US Weekly where celebs dish about what’s in their bags…I’m doing the same today, minus the celeb part…and it’s a diaper bag…so maybe not quite as fun, but informative nonetheless! I feel like I googled “what goes into a diaper bag” when I was pregnant and attempted to put one together. But until I had my baby, I didn’t really understand what I would need when I left the house. For every mom, and every baby, it’s different…but this is what works for us! As Wyatt has gotten older, the list has changed a tiny bit, but what’s below has pretty much been consistent for the last 11 months. Also note that for quick trips, I sometimes pare this list down and just throw a few crucial items in a bag (ie. wipes, diapers, a toy and some FOOD.)

The Actual Bag

Sometimes I use a tote like this one, when I want it to coordinate with a lighter outfit, but if my bag is just in my stroller, I use this black one (available in other colors) that has all of the bells and whistles!  Having lots of pockets helps me keep all of my junk organized…I’ve heard good things about this insert that you can put into any bag or tote. It comes in a few sizes and you can move it from bag to bag, making all of your bags into diaper bags…every girl’s dream, ha! Another diaper bag that a few of my mom friends have and love is this one- I love that it can be worn on your shoulder or as a backpack! Linked below are some other great diaper bags.

Changing Items

I keep all of these items together in one pocket (the outside one on my bag- but anywhere together works! Some friends have a changing station like this that has space for all of the items in one!

Changing Mat: My diaper bag comes with a changing mat that’s great and you can throw it in the wash, but a few months ago I became obsessed with Gathre Mats (I’ll probably have a whole blog post on them at some point, that’s how much I love them) and Gathre makes a changing mat thats bonded leather, so it looks nice, folds small, and wipes easily- perfect!

Diapers: I usually keep 4-5 diapers in my bag. I haven’t had any issues with any particular types of diaps, and I don’t have loyalty to any one brand- sometimes I go for Honest Company (I’m a sucker for the cute prints) and other times, Pampers.

Wipes: My favorite is to stock up on these travel packs of wipes so I can throw one a pack in any bag, and because they don’t take up that much space- they’re only 10 wipes each!

Diaper Cream: Wyatt has never really had bad diaper rash, but back when he was a newborn we used this kind preemptively at night and we used to have a travel size of it in our diaper bag incase we saw any redness. Other mom friends swear by this kind for rashes (also in travel size).

Disposable Bags: Bags for dirty diapers when you’re no where near a trash can. Enough said.

Clothes

Extra Set: I always have an extra set of clothes, usually these PJs in a zipblock. When Wyatt was younger these were definitely important for blowouts, and sometimes now we’ll still use an extra set if he makes a mess eating or playing and we’re out. If I know we will need regular clothes and not PJs for a spare, I’ll pack those instead.

Hat: In the winter I keep a spare winter hat for Wyatt and in the summer I usually have a baseball hat to protect his bald little head!

Food Items

This changed as Wyatt started to eat solids and snacks.

Bottle: We love this bottle, Wyatt took to it the first time so we stuck with it! And it looks nice too! I always have an empty one in my diaper bag for feedings of formula or pumped breast milk on the go.

Formula: I used to bring pumped breast milk out with us when I knew we’d be out of the house for a long time, but now I bring these awesome formula packets (more on why I started supplementing with formula here). You just put water in the bottle and pour in a pre-measured packet, shake it up, and it’s meal time anytime!

Water bottle: I always have a mini water bottle of water to mix with the formula- keeping this water separate from the water bottle that I have for myself in my stroller helps me make sure I always have the water for feeding Wyatt.

Wyatt’s Water bottle: We LOVE this water bottle for Wyatt. It has a weighted straw so no matter what angle he holds it at, the straw will always go to the water. I also love it because it has a flip top lid so I don’t have to worry about it getting lost!

Snacks: Now that Wyatt is eating and loves solid food I always have snacks on hand. We started out with these at around 6 months because Wyatt could hold onto them on his own and basically gnaw them into a gross mess…but it would make him happy and they’re made of fruit and veggies combos…that must be a somewhat healthy snack right?! Now I make sure I have a container of Cheerios– we like this one and this one because Wyatt can reach his hand in but won’t spill the whole thing (although sometimes he swings it around and the Cheerios fly everywhere, but I have to pick my battles.) I also always have a squeezie if we need it in a pinch (like on a car ride when we’re stuck in traffic for an hour longer than we should be.)

Bag: I keep all of these “food” items in a bag inside my diaper bag so I can keep it organized. I use one of these inside my diaper bag for food items.

Dining Out Items

Disposable Placemats: These are awesome to put down in restaurants to 1. avoid whatever nastiness in on the table and 2. for easy cleanup when your babe inevitably adds 10x to the existing nastiness. They stick on all four sides and come up clean! I have yet to find a cute print or a solid color one (why does all baby stuff have to look ridic?) but search around on Amazon- there are some not-so-bad ones. I usually have 4 in my bag.

Entertainment

I always have a few toys in my diaper bag here are a few lightweight ones we alternate between: Links, Skwish, Winkel, Beads, Sophie, Take Along Tunes (this is our emergency toy that we only bust out when Wyatt is really losing it in the car or on the go- he looooves the lights and music), rattle, car.

Items for Soothing or Sleep

Pacifiers: Somehow pacis go mysteriously missing when we need them most and are miles from home so I make sure I always have at least 2-3 in my bag, and in an accessible place that Tim and I keep consistent. We use this kind, and when Wyatt was younger we used these. I also keep a paci clip in my bag so if we’re in a situation where Wyatt can throw his paci overboard (like facing out in the stroller) I can clip it to him.

Miscellaneous

Some other items I have in my bag are: baby sunscreen, hand sanitizer, nursing pads (I hardly use these anymore, but when Wyatt was nursing all the time, they were helpful to have in my bag!)

Things for The Mama

Water bottle, wallet,  sunglasses, mini brush, chapstick, portable phone charger (I have nomophobia…I get anxiety if my battery is below 70 percent), gum, keys.