DIAPER BAG CHECKLIST

Diaper bag checklist
by Lisa Schulman

A day's supply of diapers

A travel-size case of wet wipes

Plastic bags for disposing of soiled diapers

A small water bottle

Paper towels in Ziploc-style bag

One cloth diaper

Diaper rash ointment

A tube of teething gel

Sunscreen

Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for babies (and for you)

Antihistamine for babies such as Benadryl (in case of a bee-sting reaction)

A few small toys and/or books
A Ziploc-style bag of non-messy snacks, such as Cheerios, and a juice box

A healthy snack for you

Ice packs to keep liquids, such as expressed breastmilk, cool

Baby formula, if needed

A bottle or a spill-proof cup, if needed

A spoon and fork, if needed

Extra change of clothing and a sweater or jacket

Lightweight receiving blanket, if needed

A baby hairbrush

A disposable camera -- for those special moments you don't want to forget

I will add a few:

hand sanitizer liquid
2 or 3 extra bibs (more if they're teething LOL)
pack of Kleenex
extra binky (if your baby uses one)
Changing pad (who wants to put their kid down on those Koala Baby changing tables without something underneath them - or on your Aunts white bedspread)


I agree with these:

A day's supply of diapers
A travel-size case of wet wipes
Plastic bags for disposing of soiled diapers (Absolutely a must!)
A small water bottle
Diaper rash ointment
A few small toys and/or books
A Ziploc-style bag of non-messy snacks, such as Cheerios, and a juice box (I prefer a little container so they dont get crushed)
Ice packs to keep liquids, such as expressed breastmilk, cool - (I carry a separate container if I need ice packs)
Baby formula, if needed (If you use pwder, get one of those dispensers with 3 compartments)
A bottle or a spill-proof cup, if needed
A spoon and fork, if needed
Extra change of clothing and a sweater or jacket (I dont always but I have extra stuff in the car)
Lightweight receiving blanket, if needed


Some of the other things I dont think you need to carry around all the time. JMO

The camera's a nice idea. You never know when there's a photo op.


I had a checklist on the shelf above Luke's changing area for the longest time - it really helped because sometimes I would forget what to pack. But over time I'm just use to doing it, depending on where we're going and for how long.

I'll add a few more things, too...learned through experience:

- Aquaphor (skin softener)
- Wet Ones (not diaper wipes, but the hand wipes for messes)
- X-Large Ziploc bags (to hold babies soiled or wet clothes until you can get home to wash them)
- *Changing Pad* - an absolute MUST....I sqeeve any foreign surface, so I always have something to put under Paul during changes!
- Disposable bibs (that way, you can just throw away the really big messes)
- Small wallet for Mommy (it's a PITA carrying a purse PLUS a diaper bag)

I have a son who is going to be 3. But I can remember within his diaper bag making a small ziplock bag for me also. I would carry Tums, Ibuprofen, Tampons, Lotion(with all the hand washing you do you'll need it)!!

For baby: A thermometer, ointment, band aides.

It's been a while but that is most of what I can remember. Now the stuff I have is more for a toddler.
Hope it helps!

This must be one big diaper bag

I have a big diaper bag and a smaller one. I usually carry the smaller one. I definitely don't carry all that stuff on every outing. Today I took Luke out to run errands for a few hours and we took a bottle with water, powdered formula to mix in, a binky, a pair of socks, a container with some animal crackers, a smaller bottle with 3/4 water, 1/4 apple juice, 2 diapers, wipes, changing pad and a few toys. If he's going to an all day BBQ, I take the bigger bag with alot more stuff - a few servings of formula, food, a change of clothes, swimmies, sunscreen, etc. Packing a diaper bag is an acquired skill IMO. I use to carry so many things I didnt need - or forget things - but now I can anticipate what he will need since we've had alot of practice.

I usually carry my own bag separately. I find that when I start to put my wallet, keys, cellphone etc into the diaper bag I get all discombobulated so it's just easier to carry my usual bag. It's small enough to not be cumbersome.

Liz, I definitely agree about it being an 'acquired skill' It's so funny to hear you say that you feel discombobulated when you don't carry your own bag - I tend to feel that way when I do!

I guess like many things that come with being a new Mom, you have to figure out what works best for you.