My Diaper Bag Essentials

Today I want to share with you my Essentials for The Bag. I affectionately call my diaper bag The Bag, as it holds everything we need to survive while on the go. Going out with a toddler is an adventure and it's important to be prepared for anything.

I feel a little bit like Mary Poppins with my diaper bag sometimes. It's my bottomless carpet bag. I can fit so much in this bag. My diaper bag of choice is the Petunia Pickle Bottom Amsterdam Boxy Backpack. It can be worn as backpack, shoulder bag, or cross body. All of the straps are removable and the length can be adjusted to fit over the handles of any of our strollers (I have another diaper bag that doesn't fit over the stroller, which is a big hassle). It has a water-resistant, easy to clean, wipe able interior and exterior, two easy to access side pockets and a built-in changing station. I cannot tell you enough about how much I adore this bag.

When we first had Owen I over packed my diaper bag with way too much stuff. You can blame that on being a new mom who is worried about all the possibilities of what could go wrong. In addition to what I carry now I also always had at least two burp cloths, two pacifiers, a nursing cover, an extra blanket, and two extra outfits--SO much stuff.

Owen is much easier to take out of the house now, as he is much lower maintenance than he was as a newborn, and I've discovered I don't need nearly as much stuff as I once thought I did.


The built-in diaper changing station on this bag is what really drew me to it in the first place. I love how easy it is to use and that the changing pad is cushioned and detachable for easy washing.  The pockets make grabbing wipes, diaper, etc. really easy.


Our little guy is prone to diaper rash, so I always have Desitin with me. I also like to keep Munchkin Arm & Hammer Bags with me to dispose of dirty diapers if we're not in a place with a trash can near by (or at someone's home). These bags are also a great help when Owen needs to change out of soiled clothes. This way I can keep the dirty clothes separate from the rest of our things. The hand sanitizer is self explanatory, right?

Owen is pretty light skinned, so I always have a hat for him to wear in case we're out in the sun (sunscreen, not pictured). We also always have a few toys in the bag, and many more in the backseat for him to play with. Owen loves to play with my keys (which I give him when we're in a pinch), so we love the B. Fun Keys as a distraction.

While toys are fun and all, the real ESSENTIALS in my bag are the food and drink. When it comes to distractions nothing keeps Owen happier than food and drinks!

one: I used to keep formula packets in The Bag, but now that Owen is drinking cow's milk it's a little harder to be on the go with a bottle ready when he needs to eat. I was so happy to find these little Enfagrow Ready to Drink Cartons. I only rely on them when I can't bring or buy milk.

two: Santa brought Owen a Nuk Active Cup for Christmas, which we always bring along filled with water. Owen knows how important it is to stay hydrated!

three: Disney Disposable Placemats are great when we're eating out at a restaurant.

four: I give these to O all the time, and the Plum Kids Fruit & Veggie Smoothies are his fave. He drinks it right out of the pouch. I always keep one or two in The Bag.

five: Last, but not least, is the Innobaby Packin' Smart Storage System. This little thing is great! My friend Rosanna introduced me to it before I was even pregnant with Owen. I keep it filled with Cheerios, Goldfish Crackers and Sweet Potato Puffs. The compartments come apart, so I can hand just one to O at a time, while keeping the others safely inside the bag. They even have a removable funnel lid for each section for easy use, and so baby can't dump the contents out all over.

It all fits so nicely into The Bag...I also keep my wallet, a change of clothes for Owen, my Erin Condren Life Planner, gum, a small cosmetic bag, my keys and iPhone in there too. 

You can see What's in My Purse, too if you'd like! 

**I'd love to hear from you about what you keep in your diaper bag. If anyone is interested I'd love for a few people to do a guest post about their Diaper Bag Essentials! Email me at colleenpsullivan@gmail.com if you're interested. **