Wee Baby Stuff

 

Normally shopping for a new bag fills me with warm and happy feelings. Diaper Bags? Not. So. Much.

There are just so many really ugly options out there, bulky, cavernous, poorly designed, plastic feeling, cartoon charactery sacks of bad. I even saw one that had labels on its pockets to tell you where to put stuff. Who needs a condescending bag?

Even the bags that I didn't mind just seemed completely HUGE. I could pack for a week in the average diaper bag, (No really, packing light is my superhero skill).

I worked it out by figuring out what I really needed to cart around and buying a bag that I loved.

Here's a break down of what's essential for us (your pookie may be different):

• The Bag, this one is by Roots and it measures roughly 11" x 12", it has an adjustable strap so I can wear it a couple of different ways or toss it over the handle of the stroller. I wanted it even before I got pregnant.

• The Diaper Kit, In the spirit of full disclosure I should probably say that while this kit fits easily in the bag it mostly rides in the bottom of the stroller, which means I never forget to pack it.

Included are:

1.  A few diapers, a good rule is to pack as many as you think you need then add one extra.
   
2. A travel pack of wipes, though a Ziploc bag works just as well and takes up even less space.
   
3. Some botty cream, we wait until the 'main' tube is almost empty then transfer it to the diaper bag kit, takes up less space.
4. A mat. This is a ludicrously cheap one that we picked up in Europe, it's pretty disposable and it takes up barely any space. You could also use a hand towel or a bit of chopped up yoga mat. Worried about the lack of padding? Don't be, by the time your baby is a week old you will have the whole changing routine down to mere seconds. Honest.
5. A little bag to keep it all together.

 

• Food. This is even simpler if you are exclusively breastfeeding. If you're not then you'll need to A'ly stop beating yourself up about it and B'ly carry food around. We use the Playtex drop-in system. It's BPA free and it works great for us. We're religious about recycling, which has helped me get over the sweaty guilt feelings about the disposable nature of the drop ins. The cooler pouch came from the dollar store.

  

 

• Sophie the Giraffe,  Sophie's actually so special she gets her own post.

 

• Wallet and umbrella, because this is also my handbag and I was raised in England. The googly eyes? Possibly not essential but you never know when you'll need to do something like this.

Depending on the day I may also have my book of firsts and my favorite pen, a bunch of makeup, my I-poodle, a paperback, a small pack of kleenex, a spare dribble bandana, a dog leash and a phone.

 

• Diaper_Bag
• Stuff