What to Pack in Your Diaper Bag

Have you seen the Capital One credit card commercial with the slogan “what’s in your wallet?”  Well that commercial has got me thinking, “what’s in your diaper bag?”  I posted a couple weeks back about what to pack in your hospital bag and today I’m going to delve into what are the necessities for a diaper bag.  For a lot of moms, myself included, the diaper bag is like the “holy grail” holding everything from food, toys, clothes and medicine.  On most weekends it not only carries everything for Ke’alohi, it carries everything for me and sometimes Lucas.  It’s crazy to think that all of that fits in that one bag!

• Diaper Bag:  Well this is an obvious one, but what isn’t obvious is that not all diaper bags are created equal.  Some bags are short and wide, some are tall and thin, some have two shoulder straps and some have one strap.  You have to figure out what type of bag is best for you and for me it took three bags to figure out what was best for us.
• Changing Pad: Most diaper bags come with them and they are a must for when you are out in public and need to change your little one in a bathroom.
• Diapers & Wipes:  Another no-brainer and must-have for every mom.  We usually have about 5-7 diapers with us just in case are are out longer than we think we might be.
• Toys:  As your child gets older, toys become more and more important.  In the beginning, we only had one, sometimes two things to keep Ke’alohi’s attention.  Now we make sure to have anywhere from 2-4 toys with us, some silent ones and some noisy ones because she loves those the best.
• Aden & Anais Blanket & Burpy Bib:  I LOVE Aden & Anais products because they are simply the bests.  We have used their swaddle blankets and burpy bibs since the day she was born.  The best thing about them are that they get softer the more they are used and washed.
• iPhone & Camera:  This is for Mommy.  I always try to have my camera around so that we don’t miss any moments or picture opportunities with Ke’alohi.  The iPhone is two-fold because I need it for myself, but it is also Ke’alohi’s favorite thing to play with.
• Bottle, Formula Dispenser & Water:  I like to have one or two bottles with us when we are out, along with our formula dispenser that can give us another three bottles.  We also like to use our reusable water bottle and refill it with Brita water whenever we are at home.
• Clothes:  With babies, you have to expect the unexpected and Ke’alohi is full of unexpected moments, especially when it comes to diaper changes.  Our daughter loves to pee and poop out of her diapers so have an extra set (or 2) of clothes are great to have.
• Plum Organics Pouche & Boon Spoon:  Now that Ke’alohi is eating solid food, we have come to love these organic food pouches.  They have some great options for parents on the go to feed their children healthy fruits, veggies and now meat!  To add to the awesomeness of the Plum Organics pouches, the company Boon, has made a spoon that attaches directly to the pouch so you can squeeze out food and feed your child.  NO DIRTY DISHES!
• Zoli On-The-Go & Sippy Cup:  Another company that we love is Zoli and they have made two of our favorite products.  Zoli On-the-Go is a great option for separating and transporting puffs, cheerios and snacks.  We love to load it up and throw it in our diaper bag for Ke’alohi.
• Boogie Wipes: I’m not going to lie, when I received these as a gift, I thought they were rediculous and not necessary.  Boy I was wrong because they are great!  Whenever Ke’alohi has a runny nose or after a messy meal, we use these to clean her up.  We keep one package in our home, one in our car and one in our diaper bag.
• Advil & Baby Tylenol:  The baby Tylenol is for your little one and the Advil is for you.  You never know when your baby is going to get sick or have a fever so I always like to have it just in case.  The Advil is for those times when a headache or migraine creep up on you at the worst possible moment and you need relief now.
• Hairbrush, Themometer, Q-Tips & Nail Clippers:  These are probably not “must have” items but I like to have them whenever I need them.  With all the hair that Ke’alohi has and how fast her nails grow, a hairbrush and nail clippers are essential for us.
• Buggyguard:  Have you ever took your stroller out somewhere but have to leave it outside or not near you and you want to protect it?  This is the perfect solution because it can attach to your stroller and any bar so  that no one can take your stroller while you are away from it.
• Pacifier:  When Ke’alohi was a newborn, she would occasionally take a pacifier but not consistantly.  We always kept an extra one in our diaper bag just in case she needed to be soothed.  Don’t forget a pacifier clip too because those “suckers” are always falling out of their mouths!
• Boudreaux’s Butt Paste: You never know when your little one is going to come down with a diaper rash and they are not fun for your baby or yourself.  I always keep a tube of diaper rash cream in our home and diaper bag for those not so nice times for your little one’s tush.
• Baby Mums Rice Crackers: Now that Ke’alohi is getting teeth, these things are a life saver.  These crackers are awesome because they help relieve the pain of teething, they are easy for baby to hold themselves and they don’t decinergrate like some other teething crackers and cookies.
• Hand Santizer:  My favorite hand sanitizer is from Bath and Body Works because you can either throw the little bottle in your bag or attach it to your bag with this little case that they sell in their stores.  It is great to have after diaper changes, meals and for any other dirty occasions, and there will be many.