As I mentioned in my last post, 9 Tips for Traveling with Your Toddler, I mentioned how I love to pack light and what I packed extra for vacation. Since baby number 2 is close to making her debut, I have been thinking about and packing what will be in my diaper bag for baby and toddler! What you put in your diaper bag is really your take on motherhood. Some of us like to be prepared for WWIII at all times while some are more minimalists. When it comes to carrying a bag around by myself with two little ones (or even one), I am usually more on the latter end. Because I will have a newborn and an almost two-year-old soon, I have realized that if I don’t purposely pack light, my diaper bag could easily weigh TOO MUCH. So, this is what’s in my diaper bag for baby and toddler. Like I said, maybe you’ll add to it or maybe you are even more minimalist than I am-whatever the case may be, I hope this is helpful for any mom trying to possibly slim down and still have everything you need.
The most important part of what to pack in your diaper bag is actually, what diaper bag you have. With my first baby, I had this big cute bag (or so I thought) but what ended up happening is I would be walking into a store in the freezing cold with a car seat and huge diaper bag strung over my shoulder. As I would walk the diaper bag would slip off my shoulder and be dragging on the ground caught on my elbow. It quickly became too much to carry, too heavy and just plain frustrating. Now that number 2 is almost here, I invested in the KiddyCare Diaper Bag Backpack and it has already saved me!! I throw it on my back, its supported well, waterproof and super lightweight. In fact- I’m pretty sure it weighs less with everything packed than my first did with nothing in it! And, bye-bye to it sliding off my shoulder while carrying a heavy car seat!
Now, what goes in my new Cadillac of diaper bags you ask?
I have about 5 diapers for each of my kiddos that conveniently go in the diaper pouches. Newborn on one side, size 4 on the other.
PIC OF DIAPERS IN BAG
Obviously. Ok, so, my diaper bag also has this cool back zipper so I don’t have to dig through the whole backpack just to grab stuff for a quick diaper change. It’s amazing, especially when your baby is crying and you are changing on a diaper station in a public place. This is where I put my pack of wipes.
PIC OF WIPES
I don’t go anywhere without a diaper mat, cus there ain’t no way I’m laying my kiddo straight on a public diaper changing station *ew.* Mine is super lightweight and can fold up really small.
PICTURE OF MAT
This is what I personally use that has worked the best for the diaper rashes around our home. I have a huge tub at home because buying it in bulk is cheaper but then I get a smaller tube for the diaper bag that goes in a convenient zipper right next to all my other diaper changing needs.
PICTURE OF BOTTLE IN ZIPPER
Extra Outfits
Since toddlers are messy and babies have a hard time keeping everything in their diaper at times…I always pack two outfits for each baby in the diaper bag. I always choose outfits that can roll up easily (I roll them) and I put the two newborn outfits in one pouch and then two toddler outfits in the other!
PICTURE OF OUTFITS
This comes with me everywhere I go. I LOVE these. I had one with Eli (our first) and I got this super cute one for our baby girl. Since these also double as a car seat cover I actually don’t always have it in the diaper bag since most of the time I just keep it with the car seat when we are traveling so I can throw it over whenever we are outside.
PIC OF NURSING COVER
This is what I put in my bag for my baby. These seem to be shaped the most like mom and I love the little animals on the ends. Not only are the ADORABLE but they help to hold the paci in their mouth when they want to suck but don’t have the coordination to keep it in their mouth- it’s great for drive-time. We aren’t pacifier die-hards over here…but, we do use them for the few days I work outside the home each month and helps the day go a little smoother for grandma! 😉
PIC OF PACI
For every drooly, little leak or baby spit up, these are my favorite.
If you are breastfeeding like I have and plan to with future babies, it’s always a good idea to have an extra pair of breast pads. It seems like whenever I didn’t have an extra pad was when I overproduced and leaked through. You do NOT want to start stuffing toilet paper or kleenex in your bra. These are small, light and fit nicely in a zip pocket to keep them clean and hidden.
PIC OF BREAST PADS IN BAG
Pretty self-explanatory. Someone may get a runny nose, sneeze attack, or need to spit out some gum while you’re on your outing.
PICTURE OF KLEENEX
Another small, good to have item. I keep a small travel bottle in the diaper bag to keep hands clean after diapers or before eating and it goes right next to the Kleenex!
PIC OF SANITIZER
I need chapstick all year round. My go-to chapstick is Burt’s Bees Lip Balm. There are lots of “flavors” (can chapstick be flavored??) but my favorite is mango! It feels the best on my lips and smells so good.
PIC OF CHAPSTICK
Usually, I grab a new toy for each day before we leave the house. Eli loves to read books so I usually just grab one of his books for him to “read” to himself while we drive. One of his favorite books is Harry the Dirty Dog.
PIC OF BOOK
Keys and Wallet
Lastly, I always throw my keys and wallet in my diaper bag so I don’t have two babies AND two bags. The less the better.
PIC OF KEYS AND WALLET
This is my take on diaper bag necessities. What do you do that works for you??
Haley Jo xo
Hi! My name is Haley and I live in good ol’ Nebraska with my husband, Jordan, and our little Eli. Let’s Mama is my way of sharing my thoughts on life, pregnancy, motherhood, fitness, fashion and everything in between. Thanks for stopping by! 
