Essentials for the diaper bag

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When you leave your home with your baby, you will most likely feel like you are moving out because you are carrying so many things. Honestly, I’m feeling nostalgic thinking about it. That era when the bottom of your purse is covered with star-shaped puffs. For the new parents here, I decided to make a list of the diaper bag essentials.

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Choosing a diaper bag

When my kids were babies, I was OBSESSED with the Jujube diaper bags, but they were way out of my budget. However, no matter how cute these may be, you don’t need to pay $200 for a diaper bag. I got mine at Toys’R’Us for $30 (btw, they are still in business in Canada, wink wink!).

Here’s what you should look for in a good diaper bag:

• Solidity of straps
• Multiple pockets inside, including for the baby bottles, and the changing pad
• Size (trust me, you don’t want a small bag)

I shopped around for fun and found a few good diaper bags for you, under $50:

• Blue and White Chevron Deluxe Duffle Diaper Bag
• Original Diaper Bag Backpack
• Miger Diaper Bag – Unicorn baby (honestly, they had me at Unicorn)
• Allcamp Diaper Bag
• Lekebaby Diaper Bag – Arrow Print

Now, let’s get to the essentials for the diaper bags:

• Baby bottles and formula
• Bibs
• Diapers and wipes
• Diaper rash cream
• Changing pad
• Extra clothes
• Extra blankets
• Snacks
• Rattles and toys

Baby bottles and formula

If you are not breastfeeding your baby, you will need extra bottles with extra formula, in case your baby is hungry.

To carry the baby formula, I used a stackable formula dispenser, and I loved it. Just make sure to sanitize the containers before putting the formula in them if your baby is less than 3 months old!

Side note: there is a lot of shaming on mothers that do not breastfeed. I won’t allow it. I couldn’t breastfeed, even though I tried and tried. The most important point is that you are ensuring that your baby is well fed. It doesn’t matter how you do it. Stop the shaming!

Bibs

No kidding, I use to bring ALL of the bibs I owned with me when I left home with my baby. They use to throw up a lot, and you don’t want them to be stuck with the same bib the whole time.

Side note: Make sure to get bibs that you can remove without putting it over their heads. I have some horror stories. Get bibs like these.

For my son, I discovered drool bibs. Not only they are adorable and give them a cowboy look, but I felt like they would absorb more liquid than the regular bibs. I wish I had known this existed when my daughter was teething!

When your baby is big enough to sit in a high chair, these long-sleeve bibs are a lifesaver. You don’t want to get that spaghetti sauce all over their adorable outfit!

Diapers and wipes

This is obvious. Whether you use disposable diapers or cloth diapers, you need to bring more than enough diapers, in case of an emergency.

As for wipes, make sure to have an extra pack. You never know when you will run out of them.

Diaper rash cream

Your baby’s skin is so sensitive. Make sure to prevent rashes on their bum by using the right diaper rash cream. Choosing one depends on your baby. I didn’t use the same creams on my daughter vs my son. I could use pretty much any cream on her, but my son had reactions to certain brands.

Also, try to buy natural products. Someone gave me the Densitin diaper rash cream during my baby shower, and it is probably the most awful cream I tried. The smell is so bad that even 5 years later, I can still remember it. It smelled a lot like chemical products, so I threw it away.

I tried different diaper rash creams made in Quebec (link in French only), my home province, and I liked their simplicity. Most of them were odorless, and my son didn’t have reactions to them.

Changing pad

You will always need to change your baby when you go somewhere. It’s inevitable. The last thing that you want is to change them on an unclean changing table. At least, by having a changing pad, you know you will lay them on a clean surface. Make sure to wash it when you get home.

Side note: A lot of diaper bags come with a changing pad, so that’s an extra characteristic to look for when shopping for a diaper bag!

Extra clothes

We have all been in situations where the baby threw up their milk all over their onesie, or had a poop explosion that went up their back. Make sure to put extra clothes, and bring a bag for dirty clothes.

Extra blankets

It’s always useful to have a couple extra blankets in your bag. Your kid could drop it in a puddle, throw up on it… You get the point. Plus, baby blankets don’t take that much space in your bag.

Snacks

If your baby is eating solid foods, you will always need snacks in your diaper bag. My go-to snack was the star-shaped puffs by Gerber. They are easy to carry, and they will keep your baby busy if you are having a hot coffee with a friend.

Rice rusks were also a must here. My kids were big fans of them. I think they stopped eating them when my son was 3 years old.

You can also bring applesauce. *Eco-friendly tip: instead of buying applesauce pouches that will end up in landfills, switch to reusable pouches, like the Squooshi pouches. I’ve been using them for over a year, they are cute and easy to use. Plus, if you have the talent of making your own applesauce (unfortunately, I was not blessed with this skill), you can fill the pouches with it! Savings!

Would you like to have more eco-friendly options for kids? Read this article about eco-friendly lunch supplies!

Rattles and toys

Your baby needs some entertainment, even when you go out shopping or visiting people. Always make sure to have 2-3 toys (or 45, just to be sure) in your bag to ensure your baby is busy.

Make sure to bring toys that will help them develop their dexterity and fine motor skills. It’s such an important aspect of their development, so you want to get started with this sooner than later.

Here’s a list of my favorite toys for dexterity:

• Discovery cube
• Grab and spin rattle
• Atom rattle
• Sensory buckle pillow
• Twist, rattle, and shake musical bee (my kids LOVED that one)
• Busy board or sensory board (this one is for toddlers)

Is your baby teething? Make sure to bring teethers as well, for their well-being (honestly, and yours!). For instance, I had this teething toy, and this pacifier-like teether. I would put them in the freezer to help soothe my baby’s gums, and I would exchange them when they weren’t cold anymore.

Recently, I also learned that you can get teething mittens. I mean, your baby will always have their hands in their mouth, so might as well give them something to chew on that will soothe them!

Other useful items

My kids are now 6 and 5 years old. The diaper bag era feels like it was a million years ago, so I asked my sweet friend Carole-Ann to tell me what she would add to this list. I absolutely agree with all of these!

• Purell (especially important with the pandemic)
• Shampoo and soap, travel size
• Baby lotion, travel size
• Band-Aids
• Ointments
• Nail clipper (for these razor-sharp baby nails)
• Tweezers (in case of a splinter)
• Plastic bowl and spoon

How to properly pack your diaper bag

I found a cool video on YouTube by Taylor Raine about hacks to pack your diaper bag. I used to just stuff it up and struggle to close it but you could try these tips to make the most of the bag space!

What are your diaper bag essentials? Did I forget anything? Let me know below!