Infant Diaper Bag Supplies
Page Updated on
November 24, 2007
You don't have to carry around everything all the time.
This is just a list of things I kept in my car since we often traveled on long day trips, attended events that lasted for hours, or drove to places a couple of hours away from civilization. It was also very handy to have in the car during events like getting stuck in traffic for hours or having the car break down. And during long airline flights, it was absolutely essential.
For small trips, like going to the grocery store down the street for an hour, just bring the essentials: a bottle, pacifier, burp cloth, blanket, a couple of diapers, some wipes, etc., and throw it all in a big purse or small backpack. The more experience you have, the more you'll figure out what sort of things you must have and what you don't actually need.
The Bag
For the big prepared-for-anything bag, you'll need a sturdy bag that has lots of pockets and is comfortable to carry. I recommend using a hiking backpack. They have room for everything that baby needs plus everything that you need and are incredibly comfortable. Plus, since it's a backpack, it lets you keep your hands free to take care of baby and won't strain your back like shoulder bags do if worn properly. They are also rugged, so they can last a long time and can be used for other purposes, such as hiking or school books, when you no longer need to carry around a diaper bag.
The Supplies
Optional items are marked with an asterisk (*).
Healthcare / Grooming Items
- Doctor's phone number
- Medical insurance info.
- Acetaminophen (Infant Tylenol) (for unexpected fevers away from home)
- Teething gel (Baby Orajel®) (if baby is teething)
- Antihistamine (Children's Benadryl®) (for unexpected allergic reactions)
- Anti-gas drops (Mylicon®) (for unexpected gas pains)
- Anti-itch lotion/cream * (handy for diaper rash and eczema)
- Special medications
- Adhesive bandages
- Antiseptic wipes *
- Sunscreen
- Tissues *
- Suction bulb * (especially if your baby has the sniffles)
- Lip balm * (mostly for us parents)
- Nail clippers * (I always seem to notice that my kids needed their nails clipped while we were out)
- Sanitizing lotion/gel (to clean hands, especially after diaper changes)
- Brush/comb * (if your baby hair and needs to be presentable)
Diapering Items
- Disposable diapers
- Cloth diapers with covers * (not recommended for travel)
- Diaper pins * (only if required for cloth diapers, but I highly recommend using cloth diapers that don't require pins)
- Diaper wipes
- Large plastic resealable bags (to hold dirty diapers and clothes)
- Changing cushion/pad * (handy for those laying-on-a-hard-tile-floor moments)
- Diaper rash ointment
Feeding Items
- Spit-up towels (REQUIRED, flat cloth diapers work best)
- Extra breast pads * (if breastfeeding)
- Bottles with nipples / cup (especially if bottle feeding but also handy for giving drinks to older babies)
- Bottled water
- Beverages (for parents and baby)
- Snacks (for parents and baby)
- Formula * (necessary if baby is formula fed but a small amount can even be used as backup in case of an emergency for breastfed babies)
- Baby food (if baby is eating solid food) *
- Bib (if baby is eating solid food)
- Food dish (handy for smooshing up a banana when you're away from a restaurant or dining room and are not using jar babyfood) *
- Eating utensils (if baby is eating solid food) *
Entertainment Items
- Book *
- Toy
- Teething toy * (necessary if baby is teething)
Comfort Items
- 2 Light blankets (1001 uses)
- 1 change of clothes (for those unexpected diaper blowouts)
- Jacket * (necessary in cool weather)
- Sun Hat (to keep sun off baby's head if it's sunny)
- Knit Hat * (to keep baby's head warm in the winter)
- 1 pair of extra socks (especially in winter because they often fall off)
- Pacifiers (2) * (necessary if baby uses a pacifier)
Misc.
- Disposable camera or re-useable camera with extra film or digital camera with memory cards or blank media * (for catching those "I wish I had a camera" moments)
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