Baby Diaper Bags: What You Should Pack

Having a baby immediately changes your life. Diaper bags are now an everyday necessity. Traveling or going shopping before the baby was born was never this complicated. All you had to worry about was you. But now life is different - you have a little one to worry about, and you have to be prepared for whatever the day may hold.

Your Baby Diaper Bag Is Your Lifeline
Your diaper bag is going to be the most important thing you take with you, next to the baby. It is literally going to be your lifeline. Everything you need for baby will be packed into that one bag. Because your diaper bag will be part of your daily life, one of the first things you want to consider is the bag itself.

Choosing a Diaper Bag
Your diaper bag should reflect your personality and be functional. There are options available for every taste and style. Cloth diaper bags are nice because they can be thrown into the washer. But they can also become faded and worn quicker than their sturdier counterparts. Plastic or imitation leather diaper bags are easy to wipe off and keep clean. They are lined on the inside with plastic as well, making leaking bottles or wet bibs easier to contain.

Your diaper bag can be frilly and feminine or sleek and stylish, but it must be serviceable. Make sure it has enough room for all your needs, with plenty of pockets and a wide shoulder strap that makes it easy to carry.

Diaper Bag Must Haves
There are many things that can be included in a diaper bag. Here is a list of some basics that you will want to make sure are in your diaper bag each time you leave home.

• Plenty of Formula. One thing you don't want to be caught without is plenty of food for the baby. If you are nursing, then this is one thing you can scratch off your packing list. But if your baby is bottle-fed, you will want to make sure you have plenty of formula. A can of formula and a gallon of water is something you may want to keep in the car at all times. This way you can carry just enough for immediate needs in your diaper bag.
• Diapers and Baby Wipes. Diapers are another thing you want to make sure you have in adequate supply. There is nothing worse than running out of diapers and ending up with a messy baby. Pack what you need and then add a few extras. Get into the habit of restocking your diaper bag with diapers every evening. Carry a slim refill pack of baby wipes. They are great for washing hands and faces as well as bottoms.
• Extra Clothes. Babies spit up and leak out the bottom end often, which means a change of clothes. Always carry an extra outfit with you for baby. Keeping an extra sleeper and onesie in the bag is a good idea as well. Carry several bibs with you. If you use these regularly, it can help keep your baby's clothes clean and dry.
• Personal Supplies. Diaper cream, baby powder, a baby thermometer, infant fever medication and gas drops are other things you should include in your diaper bag. A small first aid kit is a great item to add to your diaper bag as well.
• Toys. It helps to be prepared to keep little ones entertained. While you can't take the whole toy box, you can carry a few things, such as rattles, teethers or a small dolly in your diaper bag.
• Supplies for Mom. Anything can come up when going out with your baby. Diaper bags are the perfect place to keep extra nursing pads, feminine products and pain relievers. Keep everything in a small, zippered pouch inside the diaper bag marked "Mom" on the front.
• Extra Pacifiers. This is one thing you will not want to leave out if your baby takes one. Pacifiers are always getting lost and left behind. Carrying extras is a wise idea.
• A Camera. This one is right up there with the food and diapers. Carry a disposable or digital camera in your diaper bag at all times. You won't want to miss out on those picture-perfect moments.
• Miscellaneous Extras. Other items you might want to carry with you include a sippy cup if your baby is learning to drink from one, a changing pad, an extra receiving blanket and a burp cloth.