Diaper Bag Essentials

Diaper bags are a necessity for motherhood, but that does not mean you have to settle for anything less than a fashionable bag. There are so many stylish diaper bags out there that you will have a hard time settling on just one.Many of the designer diaper bags look no different than that great purse you carry around now. I was not keen on getting a beautiful trendy diaper bag. I have even carried baby food and diapers in my chic red leather handbag. Its our comfort and convenience,not the number of embellished stones or a overpriced expensive designer tag that matters.

Moreover, I guess the stuff inside the bag calls for more importance.

When purchasing a diaper bag, keep in mind that we have a baby sitting on one of our hip bones and we have only one hand free.  I suggest backpack diaper bags.. keeps your both hands free.

While purchasing a diaper bag

•  Check if there are Easy-to-access pockets, plenty of them for various items like diapers,food, bottle, change mats. It helps us organize stuff and easier access to things.

•  Comfortable handles or straps for carrying or wearing. Try it on with an imaginary baby on the other hand.

•  Ability to fit over the stroller or pram. This will take the weight off you and makes it easy to access.

•  Waterproof material. We can't imagine the aftereffects of wet and damp baby stuff during a rainy season.

•  Color selection, you know how pink color is glued to girls. Make a wise decision (gender-neutral pattern). You wouldn't want your five year old daughter to point fingers at you later for choosing the wrong color.

There are so many other features like thermally lined pockets to keep food and drink warm or cool, extra large pockets to carry daddy's organizer..etc. Its upto you to choose the most comfortable bag.

Now about stocking up the diaper bag. A well stocked diaper bag can make or break our outing.You may want to have two diaper bags: one for long outings, and a smaller one for shorter trips.For short trips, a smaller bag will be fine but for longer trips, including long car travel, visiting friends,a weekend trip, a larger bag is a must.

Diaper bag essentials

Short trip:

Just remember that you're not packing for a trip, just a time out of the house. Don't overdo or cram things in the diaper bag. Be it my regular red hand bag, gym bag, diaper bag or clutch, the most important and never to be forgotten items of mine are

- Cell phone

- Purse with credit cards and some cash

- lip gloss

- Hair comb

Always be safe, money can't buy everything but while traveling with a baby, you might need some.. we never know. And you never know when you will be clicked by a papparazzi which can turn out to be the magazine cover. Sigh! You have no time to dress up in front of a mirror  so for a minimal beautiful look add in the gloss and comb.

You won't carry two bags , so fit in these 3 in the diaper bag!

Utmost trouble you are gonna face for 2-3 hours is

* Baby crying for food, so pack food, bib, water/milk
* Spill over the food or throw up - pack an extra pair of clothes
* Baby poops - Change mats, diapers, wipes, towel
* Too sunny/windy - a sun hat or muffler depending on the weather.

So, Here is what i carry during my short trip:

•  3-4 diapers

•  Foldable changing pad or changing Paper spread

•  Antibacterial Gel.

•  Baby wipes/soft tissues

•  Food stock. If you are not breastfeeding, food and drinks should   always be packed.

  (I always carry ready made snacks like gold fish and cheese  biscuits.   Give my boy one of those and I am good to go till he licks his fingers to the end. I have some listed in the 'readymade snack' section. I also suggest 'Candilicious' collection which i get from TJMax, (fruity flavored fruit shaped lil candies with only 3g sugar). Savitha has recommended M&M chocolate box).

•  Food for mommy (Snacks for me of course! A hungry mommy is  a  crabby mommy!

•  Water/Milk/Juice

•  Bottle of water.When you are breast feeding you get SUPER thirsty

•  Change of clothes for baby depending on weather.

•  Hats/caps

•  A Towel/blanket if you want to breastfeed or cover up baby from sun/wind

•  Bib

•  First Aid Kit- I don't really see my baby falling down and scraping his knee, but you never know when he might scratch his face or something else like that might happen.
     - Band aid
     - Alochol prep pad
    -  Moisturizer or cream

•  Pacifier

•  Empty zip lock covers to keep the dirty stuff

(Trust me once i forgot the cover and had to burry the dirty diaper in one of my jackets in the car till I saw a trash can. It sucks!)

•  A toy or favorite book to keep them busy.

Long trip:

•  Camera and Video Cam first (check batteries and don't forget the charger).

   That is the easiest one to forget. I can't risk not taking those funny/first moments wherever it happens.

•  Medicine - Like baby tylenol(Don't forget the filler), Nasal Spray, allergy medications if any , Oragel (if he is teething), any pain relief medicine

•  Diapers

•  Foldable changing pad or changing Paper spread

•  Diaper rash cream

•  Baby moisturizer or cream

•  Baby wipes/Soft tissue

•  If your baby uses pacifiers...have them in little sandwich bags - this helps if one drops on the ground, as you'll always have extra.

•  Food, Spoon, fork for baby

•  Snacks for mommy

•  Water/Milk

•  Sippy cups/bottles

•  Change of clothes for baby

•  Hats/caps/socks/jackets according to weather

•  Change of clothes for Mommy ( You never know when he is gonna throw up on you)

•  Good sized blanket if you want to breastfeed or cover up baby from sun/wind

•  Bibs

•  Empty covers to keep the dirty stuff

•  Favorite toy/book

•  Pacifiers

•  Alcohol prep pads

•  First Aid Kit- I don't really see our babies falling down and scraping his knee, but you never know when he might scratch his face or something else like that might happen.

      - Band aid

      - Alcohol prep pads

     -  Diaper rash cream

• A toy or two and a favorite hard cover book.

• A towel

Happy baby after 2 hours @Walmart!(Omy at 8th month). I did have a stocked up short trip diaper bag that day. )