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Diaper Bag Essentials for Infants
It is easy to spot a mom of a newborn or infant – they have another larger back either over their shoulder or on their back in addition to their purse. It’s the diaper bag that carries all the essentials that we need for our babies.
As a first time mom you may wonder – is a diaper bag necessary? Can’t I just throw things in my purse?
While this may be possible once your child is a toddler, when an infant is 0-6 months old, there is so much stuff that you need! And it’s so easy to forget them! You will likely find that some “extras” make their way into your purse, but your diaper bag is your go to spot for all the essentials.
So what are the essentials? These are the things that you need to make sure are in your diaper bag every time you leave home, and some others that will make life so much easier if you have them!
The Essentials
Diapers: This one likely seems obvious but I will tell you one thing that happened to me. I would look and say yup I’ve got diapers. But were they the right size?
As your baby grows, they will size up in diapers. If you have always kept a stock in your diaper bag like I did, they may be too small. Always make sure to double check before you leave the house.
Another thing is to consider where you are going – will you be bringing your baby swimming? If so, you will need swim diapers.
Is your infant sleeping through the night? You may be using a different diaper for nighttime so that they are not waking up wet. If you are going somewhere either overnight or will be there late, make sure to bring a couple overnight diapers.
Wipes: This is another item that seems like you would not forget, but make sure to check how many you have in a pack.
Depending on how long you will be out, it may seem like enough, but you never know when that blow out will occur that will make you use more than you thought.
Plus, wipes can be used for everything! Wiping up face and hands, wiping down a surface, literally anything. Keep an extra pack in your diaper bag for emergencies!
Portable Changing Pad: This is essential because it enables you to change your baby anywhere! It also provides a clean surface when you are using a changing table in a public bathroom.
They make great ones now that are small and fold up flat so you can easily stash it in one of the pockets of your diaper bag.
Diaper Cream: A diaper rash can pop up at anytime, especially if a baby has a lot of wet diapers or it’s hot out and a diaper is rubbing against them.
Diaper cream is essential to keep a diaper rash in check and give your infant some relief if they are a little irritated.
Extra Clothes: This essential is two fold – you will likely always need an extra outfit or two for your baby, but it never hurts to throw an extra shirt in the diaper bag for you!
You never know when a baby will spit up and it could be at anytime. Especially if your little one is prone to spitting up like my son was – I was literally carrying extra shirts everywhere!
Food: If you are breastfeeding, than this is less of an essential because as long as you are with the baby, there is nothing extra to remember.
But if you are formula feeding your newborn, remember to bring extra formula and bottles. You never know when they will be hungry. As a first time mom, I went to a doctors appointment and forgot a bottle – I listened to crying for over an hour! Needless to say I never made that mistake again!
Extra Pacifier: If your newborn is using a pacifier, be sure to pack an extra. It is so easy for them to lose it out of their mouth. You never want to find yourself looking for it while your little one is fussing!
Thermometer and Tylenol: These two go hand in hand. You never know if your baby may spike a fever. It could be from anything from teething to the start of a cold. It’s important to keep an eye on it in case it gets worse.
If your baby is old enough, you can give Tylenol to provide some relief.
Burp Cloths: A burp cloth, or usually 2 to 3, are essential for when your newborn has eaten and needs to be burped. It helps to protect your clothes or to help clean up any dribble or spit up.
If you keep all these essentials in your diaper bag, you will feel much more prepared for any outing that you go on. They have helped me in the past and when I have forgotten them, sometimes I have panicked and I usually didn’t forget them again!
Check out these other baby related posts you may enjoy!
7 Natural Remedies to Soothe Teething Pain
4 Tips & Activities to Help with Tummy Time
Diaper Bag Essentials for Newborns
