Diaper Bag Must-Haves

My first baby, Sophia, has been to five states naked before. We took her to visit some family in Washington DC, and on the way home, being the rookie mama I was, she had a major blow out in the airport and guess who didn't have a properly packed diaper bag? Yep! This gal! Three kids and many years later I've got packing a diaper bag down to an absolute science. So today I'm going to share with you my top 10 things you absolutely must have in your diaper bag, plus 4 things that I think are totally pointless.

1. Diapers. Obviously. My favorite diapers are the SAMS Club brand. I used to be all like "Ohhh, I want the best for my baby so I'm going to buy these cute Honest Brand Diapers and be the best organic mom ever!" But let me tell you, SAMS Club diapers are softer than any other diaper I've tried, and they're seriously half the price.

2. Wipes. Again; Obviously. And you don't need to get technical on these things either. The cheapest wipes will do the job just fine.

3. Snacks! These are very important people! Do NOT leave your home without snacks! Snacks provide quality entertainment for your children while you are out. Snacks = Quiet time for you. The longer the snack takes to eat, the better. I like Cheerios, Puffs, or any other finger food your baby might like.

4. Snacks for YOU. Let's face it. Moms never have time to eat. And if you're a nursing mom like me, chances are you're going to find yourself famished pretty frequently. I like to keep Atkins Protein Bars on hand. They're low carb, low sugar, and very filling.

5. Toys. I'm not saying you need to pack your child puzzles or blocks or something ridiculous, but small, hand-held trinkety toys are a major must have. If it makes noise and lights up that's a huge bonus.

6. Teether. Babies pretty much teeth their whole first year, so having teethers on hand is a huge must-have. You don't have to get all fancy with your teethers either. Some of my babies favorite teething items are things we already have in our house. Fine tooth combs. Small spatulas. An empty bottle. Just make sure there aren't any small choking pieces of course, but you'd be surprised how many regular household items make good teethers. My daughter loves chewing on a toothbrush. We did however break down and spend atrocious amounts of money on teethers online when our daughter first started teething because like most parents we panicked and thought purchasing things were going to save us. Out of all the teethers we tried, this one was the best.

7. Sunscreen. You're a mom now. You will naturally feel a strong urge to never let an ounce of sunlight touch your child's skin. Trust me.

8. Hat. Note #7.

9. Extra outfit. Or Two. Seriously. You're going to be shocked at how many outfit changes your child is going to go through in a day.

10. A light blanket. Not only will you want a blanket for your baby in case she falls asleep while you are out, but you're going to want to be able to use it as a nursing cover. I bought some nursing covers and found you don't really need all that fancy stuff. A plain old blanket does the trick just fine.

An now for the things that you don't need/aren't practical.

1. Changing pad. I've never ever used a changing pad. Usually I just plop down some paper towels that are typically stocked in public changing tables.

2. Nail clippers. Has anyone ever had success actually clipping baby fingernails? My baby is so wiggly and her nails are so tiny that trying to squeeze something sharp and little that close to her skin seems so dangerous! I've found that a nail file works much easier.

3. Infant shoes. Okay, baby shoes are the cutest, I know. But babies don't need shoes until they are actually walking. It's actually not recommended for babies to wear shoes until they are walking because it hinders their feet from being able to be flexible, and it could cause their developing feet to conform to the shape of a shoe rather than being able to develop naturally.

4. Thermometer. Yes I think you need a thermometer for your house first aid kit, but you don't need an extra one for your diaper bag. Now that you're a mom, you're going to find that you're able to take a temperature with your natural senses. I always just use my lips to be able to feel if a child's head is hot or not. Being a mom = New Spidey-scenses.

There you have it! Bonus points if you can find a cute diaper bag. If you're anything like me, a bag is a part of your outfit. I found my cute diaper bag at TJ Maxx for $20, but you can also find it here.