My sister got married this weekend, and at the ceremony, which was outside at the beach, there were three babies. Each set of parents toted a diaper bag, ranging in size from small to gargantuan. Undoubtedly, the contents inside were likely very similar. While at the ceremony, I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if one of them forgot their diaper bags.
If you’re heading out with your baby, you can’t leave the house empty handed! I, like most parents, have tried to do so on more than one occasion. Inevitably, disaster (big or small) occurs each time. The worst time was when my son was just under a year old. My husband and I loaded him into the car on our way to look at a new apartment. All was well as we checked out the place. Then we put him in the stroller and took a walk around the property. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the eggs (yes, eggs) he’d eaten that morning came flying out of his mouth – everywhere. And I mean, everywhere. We hadn’t brought anything with us, so my husband ended up having to take off his shirt and put it on our baby because it was cold outside. Perhaps that’s okay for a tank-top-wearing muscle man, but my husband, albeit handsome, is modest and was slightly more than a little embarrassed. The moral of this story? If you’re going out, be prepared.
Here are some definite things you’ll need to have handy:
*A change of clothes – You never, I repeat never know when you’re going to need them. It’s definitely better to be safe rather than sorry later.
*Nail Clippers – Always a good idea. Babies nails can be soft or brittle and they break and tear easily.
*Bottles and formula if you are bottle-feeding, a blanket if you’re breast-feeding and need to feed in public.
*More diapers and wipes than you think you’ll need because accidents happen.
*Baby food if your baby is just starting to eat solids. And spoons, don’t forget the spoons!
*A bib – You’ll have a lot of outfits if you have this handy.
*Snacks if your baby is eating solids – these can save your day if your baby has a meltdown before you’re ready to head back home. Cheerios, small crackers, and string cheese all pack well.
*A sippie cup – if your baby is more than a year old and off of formula or breast milk, you’ll want to bring along something for your baby to drink, like water or juice.
*Medicine – I always keep Tylenol and a cold medicine handy, just in case.
*An extra pacifier – If your baby uses a pacifier, you’ll want to pack an extra. My daughter is notorious for throwing hers when I’m not looking and the crying that results is avoidable if I’ve thought ahead.
*Toys – Nothing big, just a few little books or small toys to keep your baby entertained if you’re going to be gone for any length of time.
This is just a partial list. You may need some or all of these items and may well add many more items of your own. Hopefully this will get you started and help you to avoid possible disasters in the future. After all, outings should be fun for parents and babies!