Our Top Diaper Bag Essentials
The following post contains affiliate links. I also received a Baby K’Tan diaper bag in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.
It’s been a few years since we’ve needed to be concerned with what we had in our diaper bags (we have two bags – one for my husband’s car, one for my car. And at one point we had a third that went to daycare.) We were overloaded, but wanted to feel totally prepared. And let’s face it. Not everything that fits into a diaper bag actually NEEDS to be in there. Turns out, we didn’t need the kitchen sink, as well as many other items. There were several things that we definitely couldn’t leave home without.
1. Diapers. The biggest essential. We do use cloth diapers. It wasn’t that difficult with the gDiapers, so I just made sure we had some already loaded with the inserts, and all was good. We also used Huggies diapers – especially early on in our son’s life, and when we traveled.
2. Wipes. I still have travel-size packs of baby wipes in my house. They’re great for small messes (and for ink when I’m scrapbooking.) š
3. Pacifier. Our boy did take a pacifier for a couple of weeks…until he wouldn’t. Then it became a chew toy for him.
4. Small toys. If your baby prefers an actual toy over a pacifier to chew on, make sure you have one. Teething rings, Sophie the giraffe (oh, Sophie was so important!!)
5. An extra outfit. Our son also had a lot of reflux. While it wasn’t harmful, he could soak a bib in no time (thus soaking his outfit.)
6. A blanket. We have so many receiving blankets, and they have definitely gotten maximum use – even four and a half years after receiving them. Blankets can keep the baby warm, but also cover them if you have them in a seat in a shopping cart, or if you need to cover a changing table or some place to lay the baby down. (We won’t even get into the time my husband changed our son on the floor of a bathroom in a fast food restaurant that didn’t have a changing table. I was mortified, and it was disgusting. I don’t recommend this…ever. Use the blanket on the back seat of your car.)
7. A wet bag! Many people think a wet bag is just for cloth diapering. Not true. We used a wet bag any time our son soaked an outfit (see number 5) or for diapers. When he was a little bigger and we found ourselves at splash pads and pools, a wet bag was most needed so we didn’t soak the car seat.
8. A decent bag! I made one of our diaper bags. It’s oversized and fabulous. It doesn’t zip or really close, and if a bag goes with my husband, it needs to zip – things fall out if it can’t zip. We registered for one during our last pregnancy and while it looked “manly”, it also came apart at the seams in a few short weeks…yes, WEEKS. We eventually tossed it and just hoped for the best (that the husband would have enough stuff in his car, or that we would always, always travel together.)
For our next baby (coming in two-ish months!) we will have everything she needs, including a decent diaper bag. I received a SmartGear diaper bag from Baby K’tan recently and I’m so excited to use it. I went for a design (because plain colors are too plain for me) and I love it. Since it’s black and white, I think my husband can get away with carrying it, plus it claims to be durable. And germ resistant.
The Baby K’tan Smart Gear is not only germ resistant, but it comes with a built in wet bag! Now I don’t have to worry about forgetting mine at home! It has 12 pockets, three of which are antibacterial pockets. One of the side pockets fits my iPhone 6, with the OtterBox case. Just in case you’re wondering. Best part of all? This bag is machine washable. (See more styles – and additional Baby K’tan products – on their website!)
What baby item would you not leave home without?
**Links in this post are affiliate links. I also received a bag from Baby K’Tan in exchange for my opinion. No other compensation was exchanged and if you do make a purchase using one of my links, I will receive a small compensation – thus keeping my site alive.
Great list. The only thing I would add is $20 in cash. There were a few times I found that I needed cash and didn’t have any on me, so I started keeping some in my diaper bag.
Very helpful list! Thanks for sharing. I wouldn’t leave home without water for my children and myself and also a few snacks. This way I wouldn’t have to eat or drink something unhealthy.
No kids but friends had kids and I was with them a lot! Diapers were the one thing we always had plenty of–besides what was in the diaper bag I usually had a box in MY trunk!! Bottles filled with whatever the child likes or is supposed to drink was another essential and of course a teething ring and change of clothing!
Your diaper bags design is so pretty! I love bags that don’t scream “diaper bag”! Haha – the Sophia the giraffe teether has been such a hit for my nieces too, it’s adorable!
I love your diaper bag, so pretty! I remember those days like it was yesterday. Kids grow too fast!
What a great list of essentials! I don’t have kids, but I’d add hand sanitizer… because it’s my jam š I love your new bag– it looks perfect!
Oh yes. How did I leave hand sanitizer off my list?? I keep a couple of bottles of it in my purse. š
Sophie is one of my favorite baby toys ever. Everyone definitely needs it in their baby supplies.
Great list of essentials! My daughter is 4 and I still bring baby wipes wherever we go! They are a must for all parents
Ah I remember the days we carried everything under the sun in the diaper bag. Good list