Whether you’re a new mom or returning for another round, you quickly become dependent on greatness that is – the diaper bag.  Functional yet fashionable, your diaper bag keeps you mobile while providing a bit of style that used to be served by your many purses.  But all too many moms come to fear and even resent their greatest accessory, becoming more frustrated and frazzled with each outing.  Mostly, this is due to uncertainty about what should or should not be in the bag or where it might be if it is in there.

And so we attempt to remedy some of that confusion with a few helpful tips on how to pack the perfect diaper bag.

The Essentials

First, let’s cover the essentials.  These are items that should be in your diaper bag no matter what stage your child is in (ok, if your kid is 14, you can go ahead and stop carrying the diaper bag and dust off your purses again).  

1.  Extra Clothes:  If your kid is 4 months or 4 years, you will likely need an extra change of clothes on one of your trips out sooner or later.  You may look in the diaper bag and think, “Oh, I can just leave the extra clothes out this time.”  But of course, that will inevitably be the day he spits up all over himself in the middle of your other child’s ballet recital.  Don’t leave out the clothes.

2.  Mom Pouch:  This is a little zippered bag in which you put all of your stuff, which would otherwise be lost in the chaos.  It keeps your things together, dry, and accessible.  You will soon know it by feeling, and when you are struggling to find your keys while you are hanging onto a fussy baby, it will be your best friend.

3.  Diaper Bag Toy:  What?  You didn’t see that in Babies R Us?  Well, this is simply a toy that interests your child which ALWAYS stays in the diaper bag.  That way it is fresh and new when you are out and about.  Something to calm your child who is bored with all of their other toys at home.  Trust me – it has returned my sanity on many an occasion.

Potty Stage

Now comes the part where we have to pick and choose.  

If your child is potty trained, you might consider carrying a pull up or maybe a pair of plastic pants just in case they have an accident.  This is not in lieu of the extra clothes I mentioned earlier.  Just an added precaution.

If your child is still in diapers, make sure you have more diapers than you think you will need and enough wipes to stop up a toilet (don’t actually do it, just have that many).  You might also want to have a foldable changing pad.  If they are messy and you have to change them in the back seat, even the most skilled diaper ninja could have trouble. 

Feeding Habits

If your baby is on the bottle (not that kind), have a bottle for every two to three hours you expect to be out, and then one more because who estimates time correctly.  Pre-fill the bottles with water and measure out your formula in advance.  That way, you only have to mix and you’re ready to go.

If you are breast feeding, make sure you have breast pads and some kind of cover-up in case you have to feed your child in an open area.

If your kid has progressed to solid foods, congratulations you’re work as a mom is done.  Kidding, just try to have a sippy cup (preferably aluminum) in case you’re child gets thirsty in the car.

And always have a snack of some sort.  You only have to sit through a church service with a toddler and no snack to know what I mean.  Bring.The.Snack!

Extras

Some extras you might include are:

Gas Drops:  Some mother’s swear by this

Sunscreen:  If the weather is nice and you’ll be outside

Hat:  If the weather is either too hot or too cold for your child’s bare noggin.

Packing

Finally, we come to actually packing the bag.  The basic rule is to put the stuff you use least in pockets or on the very bottom.  Put the items used most at the very top or easily accessible.  And keep everything you hold dear in the mom pouch.  Don’t forget the mom pouch!