Diaper Bag Essentials

For parents of new born babies, a diaper bag is one of the most if not the most valuable accessory. Its numerous compartments are able to hold the solutions to almost every kind of baby emergency, including hunger, soiled clothes and the occasional diaper leak. But there’s a catch – its usefulness is in direct proportion to how meticulously it is packed in the first place. Use JumpStart’s diaper bag essentials list to help you make sure you are prepared for any kind of emergency before you step out the door.

Diaper Bag Essentials Checklist:

• Diapers: Yes, this one if pretty obvious, but do you know how many to take? The golden rule for calculating how many diapers newborns might need is one for every hour you’re out and two more just in case. As kids grow older, you will get better at predicting how many you need. All the same, taking two extra is a good practice for as long as you continue to carry a diaper bag.
• Changing pad: You never know when your baby will need a diaper change, or where you will be when that happens. Carry around a comfortable changing pad so that you can always be sure of your baby’s comfort and state of the changing station when you’re changing diapers.
• Wet wipes: Wet wipes are a godsend to mothers of toddlers. Apart from their obvious use during diaper changes, they also come in handy to clean sticky fingers, messy faces and even to quickly disinfect dirty surfaces.
• Diaper rash cream: A diaper rash can appear at any time, so it’s always best to be prepared with a good diaper rash cream to soothe your baby’s skin when their diaper is causing discomfort.
• Hand sanitizer: Both mother and baby are bound to need a good hand wash several times during a trip, and if there’s no water around, this is perfect for disinfecting hands.
• Tissues: A small pack of tissues can go a long way when you don’t quite need a wet wipe, but you do need a good quick wipe.

• Feeding equipment: If you’re breastfeeding, remember to carry a bottle of water for yourself. Or. if your baby is on the formula, you’ll need to always be sure that you have some formula, water and a bottle packed away for feedings.
• Drinks and snacks for older children: If you have an older child, he or she will probably benefit from having a quick snack packed away or a refreshing drink like water or juice. When hunger strikes and kids become a little more irritable, you will be glad that you had something ready.
• Change of clothing for baby and mum: Many parents remember to carry extra clothes for the baby, but are often left in a very uncomfortable situation when the baby soils their parent’s clothes! Packing an extra shirt for mom and dad is always a great idea. After all, with kids, you never know what could happen.
• Plastic bag: Soiled clothes tend to leave an unpleasant smell in the diaper bag. Take a plastic or ziplock bag to seal them in before you stuff them into the diaper bag with all of your other essentials.
• Pacifier/toy: If your baby uses a pacifier, make sure you take it along with you. If not, then pack whatever comfort item you normally use to pacify your child. A few compact toys for an older child will also come in handy during long stretches with nothing to do.
• Blanket: A blanket will keep your child warm when it’s chilly, and can also be used to shade your child from the sun when it’s hot outside.
• Emergency information: Make sure you have the phone numbers of your family’s doctor with you before you leave the house. It can also be helpful when using a sitter to also include, in the bag, a card with contact information for the child’s parents, a close relative and the doctor.

Tired of carrying a bulky diaper bag around? Find out whether your baby is finally ready for toilet training!