Diaper Bag Essentials For Newborn And Toddler
If you’re a minimalist mom looking for the diaper bag essentials for newborn and toddler, you’re at the right place!
When my toddler was a newborn I used to over pack our diaper bag with things we never even used. The baby bag would be so heavy and it would be so hard to find the things we actually needed.
I realized over time that there’s some baby stuff you don’t need to take everywhere you go. It really helps to grab the essentials and just go.
I know how easy it is to over pack and I also know how stressful it is to forget some of the things you actually need.
That’s why I created this list for you and a diaper bag checklist that you can download for free.
This is the list I wish I had when I first had my baby.
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DIAPER BAG CHECKLIST FOR NEWBORN AND TODDLER
You can down load the printable version of the Diaper Bag Checklist pdf here.
DIAPER BAG ESSENTIALS FOR NEWBORN AND TODDLER
Before we get started, you should know that even though this list contains only the essentials. It is a long list. And yes, you will need every single one of the items on the list.
I never knew how many things a mom have to pack in a diaper bag until I became a mom myself.
I mean now I get it, why moms take so long to leave the house. Besides getting the baby ready and getting herself ready, she also has to pack as if her baby is going on vacation.
That’s why you should only pack the essentials, this list is long enough already.
It’s super important that you have a diaper bag that is not big and spacious but also affordable.
Here are my favorite diaper bags from Amazon.
Anyways, lets get to it! Here are the most important things to pack in your diaper bag, the stuff you’ll actually need.
Related : Most Important Baby Care Tips For First Time Moms
Related : Newborn Health Tips For All New Moms
1. Diapers
Newborns needs about 8-12 diapers a day. Toddlers needs about 8 diapers a day. I highly suggest that you pack extra diapers wherever you go. If you don’t want to have so many diapers in your diaper bag then you can just leave some in your car. I used to pack a diaper for every 2-3 hours that we would be out for, and we always ended up needing more. Now we pack an extra 2 or 3 just in case.
Our toddler is now potty trained thanks to this potty training schedule that we implemented into our daily routine. But when he was still using diapers we would purchase Pure Pampers from Amazon because they never leaked.
2. Wipes
It’s so important to carry wipes everywhere you go. You don’t want to have to use a sock while you’re out because you have nothing else to wipe your baby’s butt with. It has happened to me, no joke. If you have a new pack and it’s taking up too much space in your diaper bag, just take some out and put them in a zip lock. Make sure you take enough though, because just like diapers, you always want to have extra.
I love to use these water wipes from Amazon because they’re 99.9% water and a drop of grapefruit seed extract. They’re fragrance free, alcohol free and have no chemicals that will harm your baby. These are better than all the other wipes out there because they don’t contain any chemicals or fragrances so, you can also use them on your baby’s face other parts of the body without irritating their delicate skin.
3. Bibs
I’ve left my house so many times without bibs and I always regret it, especially when my son has worn really nice outfits. I can’t tell you how many shirts and pants I’ve thrown away because they had huge stains that wouldn’t go away. I love these form Amazon, they have a few other colors and they’re so cute.
4. Extra Clothes
You always want to have extra clothes. When my was born, I would change him around 4 times a day if not more. And it wasn’t because I wanted to, I actually had to because he would throw up very often. So always carry a few extra outfits. I love these onesies, they are so easy pack in the diaper bag and they are soft, good material.
5. Blanket
Blankets can be used to change your baby’s diaper in a car, plane or someone else’s house. You never want to just lay your baby down in dirty places right? Blankets can help protect your baby from germs. Just make sure to not cover your baby with it after or you’ll be transferring the germs anyways. Another reason why you want to keep a blanket in your diaper bag is, in case your baby gets cold or even if it’s too hot and want to give him or her some shade.
These blankets are perfect for swaddling. But more importantly, they are the perfect blankets for your diaper bag. They’re long but very thin which means they won’t take up much space.
6. Changing Pads
Public restrooms are disgusting. I used to carry multiple blankets around, one to keep baby warm and another one to change diapers in public restrooms. Sometimes I would forget blankets and I’d have to use tons of tissue. Then I came across these disposable changing pad lines and they made mom life easier. I no longer have to place our nice baby blankets in public, dirty places.
These are the perfect disposable changing pads because they’re soft and super absorbent. I prefer these over non disposable changing pads because I don’t have to wash them.
7. Bottles
Babies are very picky when it comes to bottles. We tried many different brands when transitioning our baby to bottles and we struggled, until we started using Avent. You should always keep 2 bottles in your diaper bag, one for water and one for milk. I love these glass bottles from Amazon because a lot of plastic baby bottles are made with chemicals that harden the plastic and I just like to avoid anything that could potentially be harmful to my baby.
My baby really liked these bottles and I think it’s because it has a wide silicone nipple that is soft compared to the other brands that we tried that had harder and more narrow nipples. This bottle is even designed to reduce colic and discomfort.
8. Travel Bottle Warmer
If you’re exclusively breastfeeding, you probably won’t need this unless you bottle feed when you’re out and about. This travel baby bottle warmer is so convenient all you do is charge it and just take it on the go! I love that it tells you the temperature of the milk when it’s heating it up.
9. Breastfeeding Cover
Before I knew that breastfeeding covers existed, I used to use blankets. And it was a struggle to do so many different things at once. I would struggle to pull my breast out, hold my baby and hold the blanket so it wouldn’t fall down my shoulder. There were a few times that it did fall down my shoulder but luckily nobody was looking. My mom actually gifted me this cover and it was a game changer.
I really like that the material is so thin that it doesn’t overheat you or the baby.
10. Thermometor
I always keep a thermometer tucked away in my diaper bag because I randomly check my baby’s temperature to make sure he’s doing okay. Babies can’t speak and tell us that they’re not feeling good so it’s important to just check on them often. Especially when they’re being fussy and you’ve already fed them and changed their diaper. It can be an indication that they’re not feeling well.
11. Teething Toys
Teething toys are used to help babies deal with pain when their teeth start to sprout. I used to put them in the freezer and then give them to my baby and he would love it. They can also be used as a toy to keep babies entertained when you’re busy. These teething toys contain no toxins that can harm your baby, which is why we chose them. They’re very soft, biting on these helps baby’s teeth sprout easier and faster.
They are so easy to wash and disinfect, you can even put them in the dish washer.
12. Bulb Syringe
Baby’s nostrils are so small it’s hard to get their mucus out with napkins or anything else. That’s why you need this bulb syringe in your diaper bag at all times. You’ll want to have it with you always but specially if your baby is sick. It’s so important to have their nose clear so they can breathe easily.
This bulb syringe is clear, which I love because I can see if I really got the snot out.
13. Pacifier
My son never liked pacifiers, but when we bought some before he was born we did tons of research and Avent was the best option. This is the hospital pacifier brand distributed across the world, doctors use them to soothe newborns. If your baby actually likes pacifiers, you should always have one in your diaper bag. They will come in handy when you’re out and about and need to calm your baby.
These pacifiers are BPA free and latex free.
14. Diaper Rash Ointment
Babies get rashes very often and they’re very painful and uncomfortable. Diaper rash ointments help heal the area gently and also helps prevent rashes. If you’re stepping out the house with your baby you should apply some before leaving the house in case you’re not able to change their diaper on time. Always keep it in your diaper bag. It would suck to need it and not have it on you, your baby will be very fussy and in pain.
15. Trash Bags
Never ever forget to put a trash bag for dirty diapers in your diaper bag. I’ve made the mistake and forgot to take a dirty diaper out of the car for a night and the car was smelling so bad. I was out with my partner and we didn’t want to liter, there were no trashcans around so we put the diaper in the back seat so we can throw it away when we got home. And we forgot all about it.
16. Burp Cloths
There’s been so many times that I forgot to put burp cloths in my diaper bag and I always regretted it so bad. I’ll be burping my baby thinking, “he won’t throw up this time” and then he just throws up all over me. I never carry extra clothes for myself so it’s very upsetting. You can’t clean up baby throw up easily, you have to wet your clothes and rub the throw up off. Sometimes it just ends up looking worse. So, just put a burp cloth in your diaper bag, trust me.
These burp cloths are long enough to throw over your shoulder and protect your clothes. And they’re 100% cotton and very absorbent.
17. Hand Sanitizer
You must have a sanitizer in your diaper bag 24/7. Your hands should always be clean because you’re often touching your baby’s hands and face. Babies play with their hands and they put them in their mouth. So you don’t want to spread any germs especially right now with a virus going around. I like to not only keep one in my diaper bag but also in my car and even around the house.
These sanitizing bottles are small and they’ll fit anywhere in your diaper bag.
This is great. Thanks for the share. Although I don’t have small babies anymore, it is a nice list to get ready for friends.
You’re welcome ! And yes I’ve been sending it to all my new mom friends to help them out a little. I still use this list for myself too because I always forget something and it’s so frustrating having to go to the store to buy diapers, or clothes or whatever.