Mom On The Move: Simplifying and Learning One Kid at a Time!

by Amanda DeGrace

I have a confession. I like purses, bags and all things pretty. Well… and functional. Diaper bags are one thing we are not short on in our household, but over the past three years I think I have gotten it down to a pretty short list of our faves and can pack a diaper bag quickly with a babe attached to the breast and a toddler driving cars around and through my legs. Some of our diaper bags have gone to live with other mamas as they weren’t getting love anymore at our house, but we have kept our trusty Petunia Pickle Bottom, Baby Mel, a MEC backpack and my favourite Lululemon bag.

I remember when I was pregnant with my first I packed up the diaper bag with everything I thought I would need before my son was even born. I was excited to use all the new products and gadgets we had purchased. My diaper bag was stuffed full to the brim and sometimes there was not even room for my wallet. I was the mom who brought a hundred diapers, unlimited wipes, hand sanitizer, Tylenol, bandaids, three extra changes of clothes, a million toys and the kitchen sink for a two-hour playgroup. I felt prepared and confident, so I continued with this routine.

Then I had my second baby. People say things change when you have a second baby and I didn’t understand until I had my sweet daughter. I needed things to be streamlined, easy to prepare and to be hands-free at all times to now chase after a 20-month-old while holding a squishy newborn. The diaper bag quickly changed to a place where only the essentials were placed. I wanted to be able to grab everything I needed in a few minutes and be out the door. Over the past 18 months these essentials have stayed the same. Packing my diaper bag is now about ease and I am able to do it quickly so I can do what is really important- playing and snuggling with my children who are growing too quickly.

Here are the staples that we grab each time we leave the house, whether it is for two hours or a full day:

1. Wipes.

I always, always, ALWAYS, fill the travel container back up before packing it. I should really buy stock in these things. Not only do I use them for diaper changes but also for my potty training toddler, to wipe hands and faces after sticky ice cream goodness, to clean the dust and coffee stains out of my car and to get all the sand out of little toes before getting back into my new van.

 2. Change of clothes.

Accidents happen, spills happen, pee and poop happen and you never know when it will all occur. I just pray that they don’t all happen at once! I used to bring multiple clothing changes, but I have learned that if my kids dirty their extra set of clothes that there is no shame in letting them parade around in just a diaper, whether it is under a snow suit or in the sun and sand.

3. Diapers.

Thankfully we are out of the newborn, poop every two minutes and possibly have a “full on blow out and up the back” stage. With just one toddler in diapers now I am usually safe to bring two diapers for a small outing and 4-5 for a full day. Huggies Snug and Dry diapers are what you can find most in our bag these days. We also cloth diaper and I have toyed with other disposable brands. Other disposable brands always bring us huge leaks (more clothing changes needed!) or diaper rash issues.

 4. Water Bottles.

The kids are always thirsty and wanting to drink from mine so I pack each of theirs and know that they always have a drink at hand.  Bonus that mine no longer has my lovely children’s goldfish cracker backwash.

So what do you carry in your diaper bag? Do you empty it after each outing or just keep adding to it as needed? Do you bring along just the essentials or like to bring a few extras “just in case” too?

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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Huggies® via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Huggies®.

Amanda DeGrace is a mom of two, avid yogi, entrepreneur, lover of life and always on the go! Amanda founded her company DeGrace Energetics almost 15 years ago and Little Lotus Yoga in 2004. Follow Amanda on Twitter and Facebook.