When you're going on a longer trip with your little gold nugget, it's unavoidable that a diaper bag is a must. What and how much is packed in the bag varies greatly from family to family. But some things are necessary to keep the little one happy and content. We have made a checklist of 16 items that we believe your diaper bag should contain, so you and baby can manage a day on the go.
Checklist for the diaper bag:
For baby
- Changing pad / mat
- Cloth diapers
- Diapers
- Washcloths or wet wipes
- Zinc ointment
- Trash bags (for used diapers)
- Change of clothes
- Pacifiers
- Bib
- Toys
- Food and drink
For mom
- Nursing pads
- Extra shirt/top
- Deodorant
- Snacks
- Hand sanitizer
Changing pad / mat
You can never really know when the little one suddenly needs a diaper change. For example, you could be visiting a café where the only alternative changing space is a cold bathroom floor. Therefore, it is always a good idea to bring a changing pad or mat, which is nice and soft and comfortable for the little one to lie on.
Some diaper bags come with an accompanying changing mat.
Cloth diapers
If you want to avoid getting the changing pad or mat dirty during the diaper change, you can advantageously use a cloth diaper as a "cover". The cloth diaper is also particularly useful just as you take the diaper off your child. Some babies – especially when they are very small – tend to pee almost automatically when they get their diaper off. Especially baby boys can have a tendency to send a nice stream in the direction of your face
This can fortunately be avoided if you just lay the cloth diaper over it.
A cloth diaper is also always good to have on hand when you are breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or feeding with baby food or other food.
TIP: PACK CLOTH DIAPERS IN DIFFERENT COLORS SO YOU DON’T END UP USING THE SAME CLOTH DIAPER FOR ALL PURPOSES
Diapers
The number of diapers you should pack depends, of course, on the duration of the trip, but also on the individual child. Some babies need to be changed more often than others. It is not necessary to pack 10 diapers when you are going out for a stroll with the baby. But around 4-5 diapers should generally be enough for a long day out.
Washcloths or wet wipes
Wet wipes are a controversial topic, as some brands are not as problem-free to use as the manufacturers claim. Some wet wipes contain, for example, chamomile, preservatives, cleaning and moisturizing agents, which are not always good for your child.
Therefore, it is always recommended to use disposable wipes dampened with clean water, as it is the gentlest thing you can use on your child's skin.
If you know that you will occasionally use wet wipes, it would be a good idea to consider which product you buy. The Consumer Council TÆNK has tested a large number of wet wipes on the Danish market, which you can read more about right here.
Zinc Ointment for Red Bottom
Almost all babies get red bottoms at some point – and it's not particularly pleasant. Therefore, it would be a good idea to have zinc ointment in your bag that you can apply to the red areas. The zinc ointment has a healing effect on irritated skin and helps with discomfort. If you do not apply it to the red bottom, it can, in the worst case, develop into burning sores.
Trash Bags
As mentioned, you can never really know when and where you will change a diaper. Therefore, it is also not certain that there will always be a trash can nearby. In such a situation, you will be glad for a trash bag, which you can use for used diapers but also for dirty clothes, for example. So it's better to take a few too many than too few bags with you
Change of Clothes
The chance of the little one getting wet and dirty from spit-up – or worse – is relatively high. Therefore, remember to pack a bit of extra clothing in the form of a bodysuit, a romper, and socks. That should cover you well.
If the weather is a bit cool, it would also be a good idea to pack some outerwear and possibly slippers, so you can keep the little one warm.
TIP: CONSIDER PACKING A SMALL BOTTLE OF ALCOHOL GEL, SO YOU CAN QUICKLY CLEAN YOUR HANDS IF THERE IS NO RUNNING WATER NEARBY.
Pacifiers
Pacifiers can often end up on the ground or get lost, and it is not always easy to clean them properly. Therefore, always make sure to have a couple of extra pacifiers in your bag.
Many parents often choose the quick solution of putting the pacifier in their own mouth to remove the worst dirt. This habit has now been shown to do more harm than good. You can read more about this right here.
Toys
If the little one needs to be entertained during the trip, it is always good to have an age-appropriate toy. You can see Mammashop's large selection of toys here.
Food and Drink
If you are breastfeeding your child, you are lucky to always have food on you. But if you are not breastfeeding, it is always a good idea to have a bottle or some puree depending on the child's age. This way, you can avoid a hungry and possibly cranky baby
