What's in My Diaper Bag ... Just the Essentials!

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It's been quite some time since I shared what we pack in the diaper bag, and boy has in changed since my "mom of one" days! When Owen was a baby I packed so much every time we went out. I wanted to be prepared in case of any kind of emergency, big or small, but over the years I have learned to tone it down a bit, and save my sanity, not to mention my back! Diaper bags can get really heavy!

Now that I'm packing for two kiddos I still like to be prepared for whatever challenges and needs might come our way, but I have learned to only pack the necessities.

The trick to having everything you need, but not having to carry it all is to keep a stash of diapers (I prefer Huggies Diapers), Huggies Natural Care Wipes and changes of clothes for the kids in the trunk of your car. I figure that if one of them really needed a change of clothes, which doesn't happen very often, we can always head back to the car to get them. This saves me a lot of space and weight in the bag, but still gives me piece of mind.

Now, let's get to the part where I tell you exactly what I keep inside my bag...

T O Y S - I keep one toy for each boy in the diaper bag at all times. If I don't clean the bag out often I'll end up with 2-3 for each of them by the end of the week, so I try to clear it out each afternoon to keep it light. Luke is teething, and everything is going in his mouth these days, so his toy is usually a teether. Owen usually brings something with him in his hands, but I like to have a mini figure or car in the bag for him in case we have to do some waiting somewhere.

W A T E R S - My boys are big water drinkers. If either of them is a little cranky a little water usually does the trick, and I know it does for me too, so I always have mine as well.

F I R S T  A I D  K I T - I bought this little kid's first aid kit when Owen was two and I have continued to restock it with fun bandages, antibiotic ointment and the such over the years. I can't tell you how many times I have be so thankful to have this on had.

C H A N G I N G  S T A T I O N - This is an absolute necessity in my book! I love that I have all the things I need to change Luke, like Huggies Diapers, Huggies Natural Care wipes, antibacterial hand wipes, antibacterial hand spray, diaper cream, organized in one nice neat little package.

S N A C K S - Next to the diapers, this might be the next most essential thing on the list! I pack fresh food for them if we're doing more than a quick drop off or trip to the store, but I try to keep a couple easy options that don't spoil in the bag so I don't have to repack it every morning. Both boys like apple sauce pouches, and Owen would live on kid's energy bars if he could, so I always pack those. I also keep a treat or two (honey sticks and lollipops, currently) in there too in case I need to bribe O or buy some time with him.

E N T E R T A I N M E N T - You never know when or where you'll get stuck waiting for a bit, and with kids in tow even 5 minutes is a loooong time. Bubbles are an easy way for me to keep both my almost 5 year-old and almost 1 year-old entertained, as is the sidewalk chalk. They also make me kind of like the "fun mom" at the park!

M Y  S T U F F - And of course I need to fit all of my things in the bag too. I always have my keys, wallet, phone, compact, lipstick, sunglasses, a notepad and pen. I used to keep my planner with me, but it became too heavy. Now I use the notepad for jotting down lists, ideas and to do's on the go.

I picked up diapers and wipes on a recent trip to Babies "R" Us. Every once in a while I'll shop at the baby section in our Toys "R" Us, but nothing compares to the actual Babies "R" Us store! They have everything you need to prepare for a new baby, and the selections are endless. I found myself longing for the baby days again as I strolled the aisles with Luke. It seems like there is always some cool new gear to use that I haven't seen before!

And then it got me thinking about when I was a new mom shopping and preparing for my first little baby. I took all the baby classes and did so much research about what to buy, and what brands were the best. The best class I took was one Keith and I took together about baby care. They went over the basics like bathing, diapering, soothing, etc. It may sound like obvious stuff now, but at the time it was a great piece of mind.

Babies "R" Us is currently offering Baby's Basics Classes, so if you're a soon-to-be parent you should check them out! These classes are hosted by a local community medical partner and cover how to care for a baby during the first 6 months of infancy –from bathing to diaper changing and beyond!

You can find a class near you HERE!  bathing to diaper changing and beyond!

If you'd like to see more creative and fun baby related ideas check out the Huggies #BacktoBabyBasics social hub!

So that pretty much sums it up! I try not to carry too much, but still be prepared for any of my little guys' needs -- it's a delicate balance! What do you pack in your diaper bag? Share in the comments below!