What to Keep in Your Diaper Bag

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It’s been years since we last talked about what to carry in your diaper bag, so we asked Ann to discuss what she keeps in her diaper bag.

Readers with small kids — what do you keep in your diaper bag? How have you streamlined your diaper bag over the years?

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What I Keep In My Diaper Bag

After my second, my diaper bag shrunk from be-prepared size to I-can-just-buy-it-if-I-forgot-it size. I’ve been using this compact diaper clutch from Skip Hop (here’s my full review) — it’s small enough to fit in a tote or backpack with room to spare, but holds everything you need for a day out.

Here are a few of the things that the made the cut :

Five to six diapers

I’m not particular about the brand and just buy the cheapest. We’ve been mostly using Target’s Up & Up Diapers.

A travel-sized pack of wipes

The package is an old sample we got from the hospital. I prefer a hard wipe case, but reusing an old package saves room. I just stuff a couple of wipes in. Again, we use Up & Up — their Fragrance-Free Baby Wipes.

Diaper cream

We used Aquaphor for both kids, and I keep a small tube with me.

{related: why you shouldn’t buy a fancy diaper bag when you find out you’re pregnant}

Bags for dirty diapers

You can use old produce bags, but I like Munchkin Arm & Hammer Bags for when you’re somewhere without a trash can. They’re also great for dirty clothes that may, um, smell due to a diaper issue.

A spare set of clothes

Needed for when the diaper doesn’t completely do its job (speaking from recent experience, this always happens at the most convenient time and place like the Pennsylvania Turnpike). These may not fit in this bag when he gets bigger, but a tightly rolled 18 month onesie and pants still work (plus a spare bib). Right now, my son sports a lot of Carter’s — they always have great deals. I can often find clothes for $5 or less.

{related: best diaper bags for working moms}

Hand sanitizer wipes

My Babyganics Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer Wipes purchased in the Before Times — in the After Times, I probably would have bought something with more aggressive germ-annihilating ingredients. However, they still do a good job cleaning sticky fingers and faces. I’ve used them in a pinch to wipe down errant toys.

Small bottle of hand sanitizer

For obvious reasons! I just use the freebies that get passed out everywhere. Depending on where we’re going, I also squeeze into the bag a snack (like an applesauce pouch) and a small toy or book.

Travel placemat

I used to carry a food-catching baby placemat like this one when we ate out at restaurants or friends’ houses — babies and toddlers are messy diners. Right now, we don’t eat out much so it’s on a break.

Psst: if you’re still looking for a “be prepared at all times” kind of bag, these are some of our latest favorite diaper bags….

Readers with small kiddos, what do you keep in your diaper bags?

Stock photo via Deposit Photos / belchonock.