How to Stock a Diaper Bag

Your diaper bag is your survival kit and trusted right hand. Keep it well stocked, and you'll not only survive shopping trips, restaurants and other excursions (handling head-to-toe blowouts, sudden snack attacks, and boring car rides) in stride, but actually thrive with baby in tow. Include a few extras to handle additional surprises that come your way.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Choose the right bag. Microfiber backpacks and plastic-lined handbags can work, while maintaining your sense of style. Pick between handles or shoulder straps.

2. Pack diapering essentials. This means one diaper for every two hours that you're out, plus a few emergency extras. Keep a wad of wipes in a zipper-lock bag or small container, and take along a few plastic bags for dirty diapers and soiled clothes. Diaper cream is a must.

3. Prepare necessary feeding items. Stock bottles (one for each feeding time while away), additional liquids, small snacks, a bib, burp cloth and nursing pad. Cooler bags with ice packs may be a good idea for bottles. Also, bring one change of clothing per meal as a safeguard. Be sure to bring a bottle of water and snacks for you, as well.

4. Keep a few road-trip toys handy. Also, be sure to keep a diversion or silencer, like a pacifier, to maintain your (and everyone else's) sanity.

5. Store staples and health must-haves. This could be teething gel, sunscreen, children's Tylenol and diaper-rash ointment. Pack medicines for allergic reactions and sanitary wipes for public places.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep an extra package of diapers and wipes, and a fresh change of clothes (head to toe) in a zipper-lock plastic bag in your trunk for the inevitable blowout when your bag is empty and you're far from home.
• Replace whatever items you've used each time you return home so the bag is always ready to roll.
• Always carry your pediatrician's phone number and your health insurance card with you. Keep the baby's immunization record in a pocket as well.
• Wise parents keep a book or a magazine in the car for those times when your baby finally falls asleep and can't be moved.

on 11/22/2005 Packing an extra shirt for yourself may also be a good idea in case of accidental spills, leaks, and/or drooling.