5 Items You Didn’t Know You Needed in Your Diaper Bag

Packing a diaper bag is a learned skill and one that comes with trial-and-error and only after you get to the pediatrician’s office without a change of clothes for your baby who just peed through the outfit in which he arrived. 

If you’re traveling far or plan on being out and about for a while, here are the items you may have forgotten to toss into your diaper bag...

1. Paper Towels

Wet wipes are a precious travel commodity, so I hate to dip into them to clean anything but Lee with them. Moreover, they’re not always the ideal material for cleaning vomit off of a car seat or sopping up the spilled milk. Therefore, I keep a roll of dry paper towels handy.

2. Resealable Plastic Bags

Stow a few resealable plastic bags (gallon-sized or up) in your diaper bag so you always have a place to safely store dirty diapers or soiled clothing until you reach a garbage can. Opt for resealable plastic bags over disposable plastic grocery store bags to ensure that no odors or liquids (or semi-solids) seep out of the baggie.

3. Change of Clothes for Yourself

Packing a spare outfit for your little one is a given, but bring along a change of clothes for yourself (including bra and underwear), too. Lee has gotten sick all over me on car rides, soaking my jeans and through to my underwear which is possibly one of the most unpleasant feelings ever. If space doesn’t allow for an extra shirt and jeans for you, try to pack or stow your personal luggage within reach.

4. Silicone Bib

Before (the very motion sick prone) Lee was old enough to take Dramamine, our sister-in-law had this genius life-hack: Have Lee wear his silicone bib to catch any vomit. This brilliant idea saved us from pulling out and hosing down Lee’s car seat at the end of every drive. 

Lee now wears his bib in the car and, when he gets sick, he naturally throws up into the deep pocket of his bib. I then easily remove it, roll it into itself, and then tuck it away in a resealable plastic bag. This way Lee and his car seat stay mostly dry and comfortable.

5. Earplugs.

Okay, so I will admit that this is a little hacky, but... If you’re flying, consider packing inexpensive earplugs to pass along to nearby passengers. When you’re stressed out and anxious that your baby will disturb other flyers, having these earplugs handy may be the goofy gesture you need to diffuse tension and remind those around you that you’re trying your best and babies cry. It’s what they do.

For more tried-and-true life hacks to make driving or flying with a baby smoother, check out our blog post Essential Tips for Traveling with a Baby.