Leaving the house after you have a baby will never be the same. Gone are the days where you just needed to pack for you and your partner. Thinking of everything you might need just for a quick trip into the office can seem overwhelming. A good nappy bag is life when you’re a mama and Elisha Fiorentino, founder of Social Mama, can certainly testify that she would be lost without her grey ARCH pregnancy bag.
The key to a stress free life is to a) have two nappy bags, one that’s ready to go at a moment’s notice or b) get into a good nappy bag routine or restocking and repacking it as soon as you get home. That way you’re not caught short if you have to leave the house in a hurry.
What do you need to pack in your nappy bag
Depending on the age of your child or children is going to determine what you need to pack. This guide is designed for nappy bags to cater to newborns to six months old. So Social Mama has prepared a nappy bag checklist to make sure nothing gets left behind.
Social Mama surveyed a group of new mums and based on that we’ve compiled a list of what to include in your nappy bag based on their recommendations:
I’ve been doing my research asking Gold Coast mums what they consider to be their must-haves for mum and bubs, so this is what I’ve started collecting.
Must-haves for baby:
- Nappies
How many nappies you will need will vary. Some mums can go through as many as 10-12 nappies a day, but for the purpose of a nappy bag, a good average is one nappy for every hour you’re out and a few extras just in case.
- Wipes
This makes it easy to clean up messes and not worry about washcloths - Changing pad
When you’re out and about there’s not always going to be some clean surface to lay bubs down. Elisha loves the arch bag’s changing pad. It matches the bag! - Biodegradable bags
You need somewhere to put for dirty nappies, clothes and anything else that will pong to high heavens if it’s not wrapped before you can get home to wash them. - Bottles
If you’re breastfeeding, having a bottle isn’t really necessary with food on tap (so to speak). - Blankets
You can use it to cover your baby or as a changing pad. Or in a dire emergency if you run out of nappies! - A change of clothes
Like a good scout, be prepared for all occasions. You never know when spit-up, drools or explosive toileting may occur - A dummy
- Sunscreen
- A hat
- Emergency information
- Nappy rash cream
Must-have for mums
- Tissues
These are always handy for numerous things, snotty noses, spit up etc. - Nursing cover
These are great for breastfeeding in public. Rather than just slinging a towel or blanket over your shoulder which can slip down, nursing covers have a neck strap. - Breast pads
To protect your clothing from unexpected leakage - Wrap for carrying baby
- The essentials you can’t leave the house with: keys, phone, sunglasses, snacks, bottle of water.
- Hand sanitiser For cleaning your hands after nappy changes when there’s nowhere to wash them or you’ve touched other surfaces.
- New shirt in case of spit-up or a spill.