Diaper Bag Essentials 101
Of all the things standing between you and getting out the door with your little ones, your diaper bag might be the most unnecessary of obstacles.
If you’ve managed to get their diaper changed, shoes on, and stroller or baby carrier all strapped up, the last thing you should be worrying about is your bag.
As a new parent staring into the empty abyss of your diaper bag, you might have asked friends for advice about what diaper bag essentials they pack. Or maybe you even Googled it (and you ended up here!)
Like many parts of parenting, knowing what to bring when you leave the house is largely a product of experience. The more times you go out with your little one, the easier it becomes to know what you need...and don’t.
Let us make it a little easier for you.
Below, we’ve broken down by age exactly what you need for those few hours out of the house.
What diaper bag essentials do you need for your little one?
Here’s how to show that diaper bag who’s boss with our Kibou diaper bag packing lists.
Diaper Bag Packing List for Infants to 6 Months
- 2 Diapers
- Baby wipes
- Changing pad
- Diaper cream
- Pacifier
- Baby hat
- Spare onesie
- Pocket/bag for soiled onesie
- Burp cloth
- Bottle/formula
- Snack for momma
- Keys
- Cell phone
- Credit card and cash
- Hand sanitizer
Diaper Bag Packing List for 6-12 Months
- 1-2 Diapers
- Baby wipes
- Changing pad
- Diaper cream
- Pacifier or teether
- Baby hat
- Spare onesie
- Pocket/bag for soiled onesie
- Small toy or lovey
- Pouch or snack for babe
- Keys
- Cell phone
- Credit card and cash
- Hand sanitizer
Diaper Bag Packing List for 12 Months to 3 Years
- Diaper
- Wipes
- Teether
- Toy or lovey
- Water bottle
- Snack
- First aid kit or bandaids
- Epipen or emergency medicine
- Spare pair of pants/undies (if potty training)
- Keys
- Cell phone
- Credit card and cash
- Hand sanitizer
Diaper Bag Packing List for Kids 3-5 Years
- Toy or book
- Wipes
- Water bottle
- Snack
- First aid kit or bandaids
- Epipen or emergency medicine
- Keys
- Cell phone
- Credit card and cash
- Hand sanitizer
Small Diaper Bag Benefits
We’ve all seen those massive diaper bags that look like weekender bags chock full of everything you could need in the event that something near-apocalyptic prevented you from returning home for several days.
As a new parent, packing everything but the kitchen sink can be tempting. Maybe it feels like an insurance policy against forgetting something important. Rather than taking the time to figure out what you actually need, it can feel easier to include everything you’ve ever used with your little one, just in case.
Reasons why NOT to stuff your diaper bag full:
- A stuffed bag makes it impossible to find the one thing you’re actually looking for when you need it.
- More stuff = more weight, and you have to carry (or push) it all.
- Who are we kidding? Once it’s packed, you’re never making the time to unpack it. And once it’s stuffed, it’s impossible to remember what’s in there, so--if you’re like us--you just pile more essentials on top...until one rainy day when you can no longer zip the bag shut, you empty it out to find three sets of keys and every pacifier you’ve ever been looking for jammed into one crumb-filled corner.
So what’s the solution?
Know what the essentials are, and only bring those.
When you’re only going out for a few hours, bring only what you actually need. A minimized diaper bag makes it easy to find what you need and ensures you have everything.
How is that possible? Because it’s all right there in front of you. You can see everything in a small, organized bag and quickly note what’s missing. No more diaper bag black hole.
There’s no need to put your bag down or be far from what you need. You can keep everything you and your little one need by your side.
The best part? You’re free to focus on your little one instead of being distracted or weighed down by your stuff. Carrying only what you need leaves your arms free to hold all you ever wanted.
What if you’re going out for the whole day?
For those longer trips out, you likely need to bring along more.
This could include extra snacks, a complete change of clothes (or two), an extra water bottle, more diapers, more baby formula, perhaps even a towel, or other activity-based items.
If your day-long adventures require more, you’ll need a big diaper bag or backpack to keep everything organized.
Diaper Bag Hack for Keeping Things Light
Even if your day out requires a bigger bag, you can still take that hike or run around the playground without being weighed down. How can you still have easy access to your diaper bag essentials and have all that you need for these big days out?
First, pack all the core items you’ll need into a minimalist bag. Then, pack your bigger bag with all the daylong items you need. Once that bag is packed, throw your smaller bag in on the top. When you get where you’re going, leave the big bag behind, grab your smaller bag, and go.
Pro tip #1: A small bag intentionally designed for organization and access to the items you need when you’re out with your little ones makes life even more enjoyable.
Pro tip #2: Wearing a fanny pack or cross-body bag means your bag doesn’t get in your way, slip off your shoulders, or keep you from having 2 free hands for all you need them for.
You want to be able to have a grab-and-go bag to run around with your little ones without the weight of a bag on your shoulders. But you also want to keep your valuables and all those essentials for your little one nearby.
What are the most important diaper bag items to have on hand?
- Baby wipes: for everything from dirt-covered hands or snotty noses to bird poop on the one free swing at the playground.
- Hand sanitizer: Always great when there’s no soap and water in sight.
- First aid supplies: bandaids are always needed if your kids are anything like ours.
- Your phone for photos and phone calls.
- Cash and cards so you don’t have to worry about where they are.
Whether you’re going for a walk around your neighborhood or a day full of fun, a small, compact diaper bag takes the head (and back) ache out of being prepared. Carry precisely what you need and leave the bulk behind.
Purchase your Kibou fanny pack diaper bag today.
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