Planning Your Diaper Bag: Essential Products & Gear For Baby Bags
Planning The Diaper Bag
Planning the Diaper Bag Can't Be Easy, Can It?
By Jennifer Sprague
Diaper Bag, Do you think you can ONLY cloth diaper at home? Well,
think again . . . it is just as easy to carry cloth diapers in your
diaper bag as it is to carry disposables; maybe easier! You will
not need a life-size duffle bag to manage it either.
Before anyone begins to think about "how they could possibly
cloth diaper away from home" lets first deside what is a must
in any diaper bag, no matter what kind of diapers you choose. So
go grab your bag - what's in there? Do you really NEED everything
in there? I doubt it. So lets make a list, what are the things you
NEED??
When Packing your diaper bag you need:
* Diapers
* Diaper covers (if you're not using AIO's, AI2's, Pockets or disposables)
* Wipes (with a wipe mix in a squirt bottle if your wipes are not
prewetted)
* Changing Pad
* Burp Rags
* Pins or a Snappi (if you're using prefolds)
* A wetbag (or somewhere to store the dirty cloth diapers)
We as parents have a horrible tendency to throw everything into
our diaper bags because as mothers, we all suffer from the worrisome
"what if's" (i.e., what if your baby gets a fever, what
if your baby poops more than 8 times in one hour, etc.) But can't
we all honestly admit that we need a lot less than we think. With
decreasing our diaper bag's contents we can not only cut down on
the size of diaper bag we might need, but also the weight on our
shoulders.
Accessories Needed
Along with the list above , it is true that we all will often "accessorize"
with a few additional items like:
* a change of clothes for baby (6 months or younger usually)
* possibly a drool bib or a regular size bib (for a toddler)
* a cup or a bottle (for toddlers or babies not breastfeeding)
* Ointment or powder (if your dealing with a rash, or a kid who
loves powder)
* If you're like me and refuse to carry 2 bags, you will need a
few "mommy" items as well - like your wallet, pen, lip
balm, and keys.
OK so, are you ready to dump your current bag and take a look at
what's really IN there? If your like me, your diaper bag needs a
GOOD cleaning at least once every week. I am always finding those
ear rings I lost, the nursing necklase I swore I took off in the
bathroom, bubble gum or candy put in there by my older (very well
meaning) daughter and trash, there's always trash! Now, why its
all cleaned out, why not give it a good wipe down or a throw in
the wash machine?!
So next step is beginning again...are you ready?!
First step is - DIAPERS (that's what a diaper bags all about right?!)
So lets ask ourselves these 3 important questions:
* How many diapers/covers do we REALLY need? See what word is most
prominate in this question? Yep you guessed it, its that word REALLY.
When you first begin with cloth, you might think you really DO need,
TONS of cloth diapers (or any diaper for that matter). Which frankly,
you just don´t. When you have a good quality cloth diaper
you really CAN get away with 3-4 cloth diapers and 1 cover per 4-6
hour trip. One single trip to the grocery store does not warrant
3 cloth diapers!
Bottom line . . . what is the worst that can happen? You have to
come home earlier? That isn´t always a bad thing for mommas
like me that feel an urgency to FINISH the "To Do" list
all in one outing in spite of screaming children, runny noses, headaches
and red lights that take FOREVER to change while your 2 year old
grunts at every little thing. Give everyone a break..
* What KIND of cloth diapers do I need/want? Well, obviously you'll
use the KIND of diapers that are in your diaper "stash",
but many of us have several different kinds our "stash´s",
so this can actually be the question to answer. Where are you going?
Where will you be changing your little one? On your lap? On a diaper
changing table? At your friend´s home? On the floorboard in
the back of the mini-van? See what I´m saying? The WHERE makes
a difference. Be easy on yourself - this isn´t your organized,
home based changing system - it could very well be the lap you've
created while perching on a toilet in a very nasty public restroom
(in which case the floorboard of a car is actually much better -
if not in motion and parked securely in a parking lot). Bottom line...Depending
on where your going to be, AIO´s for a wiggling toddler, might
be a good choice. A prefold already folded, or a pocket diaper already
stuffed, can be your best friend in these situations!
* Who will I see there? Okay, this is for those like me, that are
interested in scoring converts and just talking about cloth. We
all have our favorites, our cutest, our easiest, etc. . . if you
know you are going to be around a momma that is considering cloth
diapering or MIGHT consider it, don´t take your rattiest,
most worn dipes - or at least, not in the top of the bag. I totally
do this, I always save my "cuttest" diapers for those
trips to the doctor or the mall, and always make sure to change
in a populated area!
Next step: - wipes and waterproof bags:
There are basically two styles of baby wipes from which to choose.
You can go with your commercial (throw-away) baby wipes or your
can choose to use cloth baby wipes that can fold into the same plastic
container (or put in a waterproof wipe bag). The way I look at it
is if I am washing cloth diapers away, why not use a cloth wipe?
Why do I feel this way? Well, outside of the environmental issue,
commercial wipes are not recycled they are basically wet paper.
As much as they try to "texture" them to help grab at
those sticky poopies; they are basically still wet paper. Whereas
cloth wipes have true texture - my favorite are soft baby flannel
on one side and baby terry on the other. The terry grabs up anything
within its loops and the flannel side does the best clean up job.
Not to mention your cutting out a whole step, no need to find a
trash can to place your wipes in BEFORE you put the rest of the
diaper in your waterproof bag. Cloth wipes are just as easy to use
and are literally the ´work-horses´ at cleaning a babe's
bum.
As you see, I did mention that you should place you
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