Venturing out into the world with a newborn can be scary. What will you need? What will you do if something happens and you aren’t prepared? How many diapers does this kid need anyhow? And where will I change her?
Be brave! There’s no need to bring the entire nursery on the road with you. With a little forethought and some preparation, you can easily fit everything you need into your diaper bag. Then you can leave your house again.
Start with diapers and wipes. For infants, you need one diaper every one to two hours that you are away from home. Figure out how many that is, then bring a couple extra just in case. It’s always better to have MORE diapers than not enough, especially if you are somewhere that you can’t buy backups. As for wipes, get a wipes case and fill it. If you run out of wipes, it’s not as disastrous, since you can easily substitute warm water and paper towels if needed.
You’ll need a few other medicinal what-ifs in that diaper bag for a young baby. Always carry a small tube of diaper rash cream with you. There’s nothing worse than a screaming baby with a sore bottom, so you’ll be thankful when the occasion arises to use it. Same goes for painkillers (like Tylenol) and teething gel, when your baby gets a bit older. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong when you are away from home, so plan accordingly. Order these supplies in advance from Drugstore.com.
Toys and books are also helpful. Pack one or two favorites to occupy your baby on a long car ride or somewhere that’s boring…like a waiting room or in line at the post office. It doesn’t have to be anything huge, just something that your child finds interesting for more than 10 seconds. BabyAge.com is a great place to find these accessories.
Food is also important. If you’re breastfeeding, make sure to bring anything you’ll need—a cover-all, nursing pads, a pillow. If you’re bottle-feeding, bring a bottle and formula (remember to keep it chilled if you will be out for a long time). Burp cloths are important no matter how you’re feeding your baby, so have a couple extra on hand. Try Target.com for great deals on these products.
For many, many reasons, it’s important to make sure you have at least one change of clothes in your diaper bag. Babies have food and diaper “incidents” often and you don’t want to be stranded with a baby wearing soiled clothes. Keep a spare onesie and pants in your bag at all times! I’ve already learned how necessary they can be and my daughter’s only three months old.
If there’s any room left at all, bring some things for yourself. I keep hand sanitizer, Extra Strength Tylenol, a granola bar and a bottle of water in my diaper bag for myself. It’s good to have clean hands, an ache-free head, a full belly and good hydration when you’re a mom on the go. Try to squeeze these items into your bag as well. One day, you’ll be glad you have them!
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