I just started writing a post about going out and about with the kids for The Organised Housewife’s guide to helping mums thrive at home series. When I realised one very important tip, always ensure you have a well stocked nappy bag. So I thought I would put together a list of what to pack in a nappy bag, see more below.
It’s important to always leave the house with a well packed nappy bag. Nothing worse than getting out and about and realise you left the dummy or their favourite toy at home or you forgot to replenishing the nappy supply, this will make the trip a big struggle. Please share in the comments below, what essentials do you always make sure are packed in your nappy bag?
How to choose a Nappy Bag
A good quality nappy bag is a good investment and useful to carry all the kids nappies, food and other essentials. There are some beautiful bags available these days that look like designer handbags. I say investment as you could be using this nappy bag for the next 4-8 years depending on how many children you have. As we have so much to carry you need to ensure it is:
- big enough for all you need
- plenty of pockets to help it stay tidy
- an insulated bottle pocket, although you can buy insulated bags separately
- washable interior lining
- easy to clean exterior
- closes securely
- adjustable shoulder strap
- it’s easy to carry
These bags are more like contemporary fashion accessories especially considering the “bigger is better” trend for bags at the moment! These bags are available online here.
What to pack in a nappy bag
This is a list of items for bub, mum then also needs to add in her purse, phone, sunglasses, keys etc.
- nappies
- plastic nappy bags or wet/dry bag
- nappy rash cream
- baby wipes
- change mat
- hand sanitiser
- spare clothes/undies
- dummies and dummy holders
- snacks for child and mum
- toys
water bottle for child and mum- bottles
- sippy cup/drink bottle (for toddlers)
- formula dispenser
- breastfeeding cover
- bibs
- spoons
- bandaids
- tissues
- hat
- sunscreen
- toy
WET AND DRY BAGS – If you like to keep throwing away plastic nappy bags to a minimum these wet and dry bags will keep wet clothes and clean nappies nice and tidy, and prevent leaks and odours into your nappy bag. Available online here.
BREASTFEEDING COVERS – This nursing scarf gives you a stylish, convenient and comfortable way to breastfeed your baby when out and about. It can be worn as a scarf around your neck and when you’re ready to feed baby, adjust the fabric to cover all sides of you and your baby, a gorgeous breastfeeding cover all ready to use. A few designs to choose from here.
Restocking the nappy bag
Once I came home I placed the nappy bag in the middle of the floor, in site so I wouldn’t forget it. I would settle the kids, put away anything that I brought home with me, ie shopping. Then I would pick up the nappy bag and do the following:
- Throw out used nappies (if I wasn’t able to do it where I was when out)
- Put bottles in sink to get washed
- Stock up the nappies
- Stock up the nappy bags
- Replace the spare clothes if they were used
- Every now and then I’d wipe over the change mat
- Replace the dummies with clean ones (as they always threw them on the floor)
- Stock up on snacks
Then the nappy bag was all ready to go for our next trip, all I had to add into it was fresh bottles.
Tips on what other mums pack in their nappy bag.
Tips from mums from our facebook community on what to pack in your nappy bag:
- Hand sanitizer, nappies, wipes and bottle is all I ever pack. If I need something else I just grab while I’m out. I don’t use nappy bag just my usual handbag and I rarely need anything else. ~ Alyse
- Change of clothes, antibacterial gel, snacks, water, tissues, band aids, hat (if hot), jumper (if cold), baby wipes & bags and depending on their age usually more. ~ Lindy
- Whatever else will fit that I might need in case of a nuclear apocalypse lol …it’s so hard to go back to a normal handbag after the nappy bag stage!! ~ Helen
- Bubbles to keep kids amused, baby wash ~ Carmen
- Maybe an odd item, but I pack spoons for my twins’ nappy bag. Always easy to buy some food. ~ Anna
- A change of top for myself – especially when my milk first came in! Oh and it came in handy when Bub had a bit of a chuck…and plastic bags, for the icky top/soiled baby clothes. ~ Alex
- Dummy, Panodol (for bub and me), change of clothes, hand sanitizer, burp cloth, sunscreen, mosquito repellent ~ Zora
- I have everything. A pen, paper, a spoon, tissues, wipes, antibacterial wipes, hand sanitiser, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, nappy rash cream, camera, nappies, nappy bags, coins, safety pin, plastic bag, change of clothes, bibs, hats, jumper, wallet, changemat and more ~ Sirissa
- At the moment Teething Beads !!! ~ Danielle
- A pad to lay the baby on for changing. Plus all that other stuff. ~ Joanne
- Breath mints. It’s terrible I know, but I hate visiting someone and I’ve been crazy getting the kids ready and forget to brush my teeth. Or I have onion dip while out and about. Mints are just important ~ Cait
- Panadol ~ Josie
- Personally I found a nappy bag too cumbersome . So invested in a good quality oversize yummy mummy bag and chucked in what I needed each time I went out . A special bag clip to clip onto the trolley or pram was more useful so I could be hands free to wrangle the ” bolter” big brother ~ Sue
- I always have a scarf for myself to cover any food or baby spew! ~ Louise
- Change of clothes and full first aide kit ~ Rebecca
- Bicarbonate of soda in a small sealable salt shaker, for those times when bubby spews – it takes the smell away. ~ Lyn
- A snack for yourself. ~ Kathryn
- Back when I still packed, on top of the diapers and bottle, I carried a few tubes of pre-measured formula, wipes, extra clothes for the 3 of us, my wallet, hairbrush, bus pass, keys, and a soda for me. ~ Amy
Note: this post contains affiliate links, purchases made through these links provide a small amount of commission to me (at absolutely no extra cost to you).
What essentials do you always make sure is packed in your nappy bag?
This post is a part of The Organised Housewife’s guide to help mums thrive at home series.
You can view all other posts in the series here.
9 comments
Include a spare outfit in a ziplock bag for you! My daughter knocked coffee all over me while we were out. I was able to change into a maxi dress and new undies. My mum has a horror story about my sister and a white outfit and a poonami. So I took her advice
Fantastic idea, Jillian!
Years ago now as my eldest is almost 25 – I had a nappy bag which sort of folded out into a series of cubes. I know this sounds totally “over the top” – but I always used to pack it in EXACTLY the same way. Nappies in one section, food in another, clothes in another etc. I was working full-time and when I’d come home – I would undo the nappy bag and know INSTANTLY what needed topping up / replenishing. I would quickly do this and aside from adding bottles / food from the fridge in the morning – I was all good to go.
My day carer loved it as she too knew EXACTLY where everything was and nothing was EVER omitted. As I said – it sounds over the top – but the more you can do on auto-pilot the better !!
I love it Julia! You sounded so super organised!.:)
I think you have it pretty much covered Kat but my big tip for new Mums is to always have your bag packed and ready to go. It is hard enough to get out the door with kids without adding the need to pack the nappy bag!! Also, having a little toilet bag with a couple of nappies, wipes and a disposable change mat is useful if going out to dinner as you don’t need to lug the whole bag to the toilet (where there sometimes isn’t a lot of room) also handy when travelling on planes or even in the car.
Wonderful tips Belinda, thank you for sharing.:)
I have a small over the shoulder satchel that I use for my daily run about bag and keep a well stocked nappy bag in the boot at all times which definitely has a change of clothes for me; got caught out once never again. In my satchel I have three nappies, a small packet of wipes, a change of clothes for 2 year old in a ziplock bag, a bottle, two packets of travel formula, my phone which has my cards in it, and in another section I have two balloons, a packet of dome crayons, a couple of sheets of paper folded up, a small bottle of bubbles, a toddlers puzzle and a small book; for when I go out for a meal so she s entertained. And then a heap of snacks and a couple of hot choc drink packets for me.
Love the sound of your well stocked nappy bag.:)
My favourite nappy bag was actually a large ladies shoulder strap vinyl handbag. It hung on my shoulder or the pram well.
It was sort of roll/log shape in large size. It had a side pocket on one long side and zippered pockets that were tall enough for a large baby’s bottle on the two ends.
The side pocket and one end pocket were my handbag while the big cavity was for nappies clean and used in a water proof bag – I used cloth nappies. The nappy cream went with the water bottle in the end pocket while the change mat was folded, floor side in and went on top of the nappies as I always needed it first.
Anything else that I needed that didn’t fit in the end pocket went down the sides of the folded nappies. Didn’t need wipes for cleaning up during changes as the cloth nappy handled that.
I really missed that bag when it fell apart.
The baby I bought that bag for turned 40 recently. 🙂