Hi, I'm Alexis Rubin with Functional Home, and today we're going to talk about how to organize a diaper bag. First thing's first, you need a bag. If you have something on hand at home, like a work bag, this could work great. Also some dad prefer not to use something that looks like a purse of a tote, an inexpensive backpack will also do the job. Some hospitals will even send you home with a bag, that's free, that could work as well. Whatever bag you choose, make sure that it has a nice deep center compartment and lots of pockets on the inside and on the outside for storage. So let's pack this bag. You want to put the things that you're going to get to the least often at the bottom of the bag. So hopefully that's a spare blanket, spare clothes in case the baby has an accident. You always want to have those on hand but hopefully you won't need to get to them very often so they go at the bottom. Next, the center compartment is used for what a diaper bag is used for, diapers, have plenty of diapers on hand. You'll also want a diaper pad and diaper wipes in a small separate container so they don't dry out and you don't have to lug a big package of wipes. Also, diaper ointment would go on the inside in one of the pouches on the side there so that you always know where it is. One of the most frugal and necessary items to have in your bag are plastic bags, inexpensive, obviously free plastic bags from the grocery store are a great way to hang on to dirty diapers if you don't have somewhere to dispose of them immediately, pack these on the inside, again like things with like things in your diaper bag so anything having to do with diapers goes on the inside on one of those inside pouches. Ziploc plastic baggies are great too in case you do need to hang on to wet or dirty clothes, pack those along with the grocery bags on the inside pouch. All the other necessities can go in the outside along the outside pouches. Of course you're going to want probably a bottle or snacks, formula, that sort of thing, pack those in places where they're easy to get to, formula can be stored in separate smaller Tupperware containers so that you can easily pull it out and restock it when you get home. Don't forget your spoon and your bib, you're going to want those things too if you're talking about toddler snacks, things like that. You are never going to want to leave the house without some toys and maybe pacifiers if your baby uses them, have these on hand as well. Pack them in one of the larger outside pouches again, so they're easily accessible and you can grab them on the go. Last but not least, you're going to want sunscreen in your bag. You never know when you're going to end up at a park or a play date and you'll need sunscreen on hand. Last tip, make sure that you restock and repack your bag at the end of the day when you get home. It will be fresh in your mind what you need and then you won't have to worry about it as you're running out the door the next morning. For more organizing tips, go to Functionalhome.com. I'm Alexis Rubin. Thanks for watching.
home section
