As a first-time mom, I didn’t have any clue what I should pack in my diaper bag. It was a daunting task because I somehow needed to know every little thing I needed the whole time I was out of the house. I realized what was needed pretty quickly through trial and error. I did all the dirty work for you to find the perfect list of all the items you need to pack in your diaper bag.
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The diaper bag I have is this one. I love it so much because it is a backpack so it is easy to carry while also carrying a baby. It also holds everything I will need. My only complaint with it is sometimes it is hard to zip up one-handed. It has insulated pockets that fit bottles. It also has a secret pocket where I can put my wallet in.
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Table of Contents
What to Pack in Your Diaper Bag
Diapers
A good rule of thumb is to pack in your diaper bag one diaper for every hour you’ll be out. You never know when you’ll be changing a dirty diaper and you don’t want to be left without one.
Wipes
ALWAYS pack in your diaper bag at least a half-full package of wipes in your bag. You won’t only use it for wiping bums. You’ll use it to clean off hands and face and to wipe off tables at restaurants or clean toys that were dropped.
Diaper Cream
Use the sample or trial size of diaper cream to always keep in your bag. That way it doesn’t take up a lot of space when you pack your diaper bag. I like to use Aquafor when Cora’s bum is a little irritated to protect her skin. I use Destin when her bum needs something extra to help it heal.
Boogie Wipes
Boogie wipes have been a new find to pack in your diaper bag. They are life-saving when your baby’s nose is stuffed or runny. The solution wipes the boogies away without irritating their skin. Even the boogies that are dried and stuck inside of their nose. The pack doesn’t take up much room and I store it in the same pocket as my wipes inside my bag.
Extra change of clothes for baby
Never leave the house without an extra onesie or outfit to pack in your diaper bag. I have made this mistake one too many times and I have ruined some clothes because of it. Once an outfit is ruined I use a tide to-go pen to get out any stains and then put it inside of a grocery sack. Once I get home I throw the dirty outfit in the wash immediately so I don’t ruin the clothes.
Thermos
Before I leave the house I always make sure I fill up my thermos with hot water so I have warm water when I need to make Cora a bottle. For a few months, I had a thermos that had just a lid that I popped to open it up but it always leaked. I recently got a thermos like this that has two lids to keep it from leaking when you pack in your diaper bag. I have noticed that the water also stays warmer longer with this one as well. Even if you aren’t feeding your baby formula, you can use the hot water to heat up pumped breastmilk on the go.
Formula dispenser
This product is my absolute favorite thing I have ever bought to pack in your diaper bag. For a while I brought the whole formula can with me and that really weighed down my bag and took up precious space. This made it so easy and my bag a lot lighter. I was able to portion out the number of scoops I needed and make a bottle on the go so easily. Once Cora is done with the formula I can use this to portion out snacks.
Toys
Never leave the house without a few toys in your bag for your baby to play with. It keeps them occupied while at the store or in the car. Always pack in your diaper bag a few toys to keep your baby occupied. That way Cora doesn’t get bored with those toys and it’s something that she can look forward to playing with.
Extra Binkie
Always pack in your diaper bag an extra binky in the pocket for easy accessibility. That way when Cora throws her binky in the car and I can quickly and easily grab one out of my bag to give to her. The ones that my daughter liked the best were the Philips Avent Soothers.
Blanket
The best kind of blanket to have is one that is lightweight but also warm. You will use it to keep your baby warm in the cold or to lay down on a diaper changer. You want a blanket that is easy to roll up and won’t take up a lot of space in your bag. The one I use is one that my grandma made me when Cora was born. I also use one that my husband’s aunt made us.
Burp rags
You’ll need to pack in your diaper bag multiple burp rags. You never know when there will be a massive spit-up mess to clean up. The best kind is the ones made out of a fabric that is absorbent.
Bottle
You’ll only need to pack in your diaper bag one bottle (if you are using bottles). You can just rinse it out in a bathroom if you need to use it more than once while you are out. Something you want to keep in mind is to make sure the bottles you use fit in the bottle compartments in your diaper bag. I use Dr. Brown and Philips Avent bottles. The only Dr. Brown bottles that fit in my diaper bag were only the 4 oz ones. Once Cora started eating more than 4 oz I switched to the Philips Avent bottles because they fit in my bag better.
Hand Sanitizer
You always need to pack in your diaper bag have some on hand. I just keep a small, travel-sized bottle in my bag.
Portable white noise
If you haven’t discovered the magic of white noise getting and keeping your baby asleep, you are missing out. Cora sleeps with a white noise every single nap and at night. I think the white noise is the number one thing that helped my daughter sleep through the night at 6 months. White noise also helps calm your baby down when they are crying because they are overstimulated. If I am out shopping and she’s in her stroller I turn on the white noise to help her settle down or sleep. I use this one.
Personal toiletries
Pack in your diaper bag things not just for your baby, but to carry the things you will need. I have a designated pocket in my bag that is just for my things. I keep tampons, chapstick, and hair ties in it.
Over time you’ll find things that you need to keep in your bag.
Each baby is different and they need different things. Once Cora gets older I will need to take away and add things. I have started to include more snacks for her because she has started to wean herself off the bottle.