Baby Bag Essentials – 15 things you NEED in your baby bag

what do you actually need in your baby bag anyone anyone

taking your brand new baby out especially in the early days can be quite the effort You may find that you are bringing half of your nursery with you in fear that bubs may need something that you happened to leave behind while you are out

however as long as you have the essentials to keep your baby fed clean entertained and asleep if tired then you will be good to go With this easy guide you will be able to get out of the house and on the road in only a few short minutes Print it out stick it on your fridge and have a quick glance at it every time you leave the house

ditch the stress and enjoy more time out with your new bundle of joy

1 At least four spare nappies

okay including spare nappies in your baby bag is pretty self explanatory the whole point of a baby bag really is so that you can change nappies whenever you need to but it would be naughty if i didnt include it here And why four nappies well a spare nappy a spare nappy for that nappy another nappy for explosive diarrhea and one in case you forget to re pack the nappy bag for next time

more reading where to buy cheap nappies online in australia

2 A shit ton of baby wipes

ahhh baby wipes so handy i still use them today and my boys are just about in high school perfect for wiping little mouths cleaning vomit from your top cleaning the top of the television and everything in between buy them in bulk because you are going to need them Always keep a whole packet in your baby bag for every occasion Ps shit ton is an actual form of measurement

3 A spare change of clothing for baby and you

be prepared for an expected poo explosion a major up chuck or just food smeared all themselves babies are messy a complete spare outfit is a must for the nappy bag perhaps also include a warmer jumper or coat for bubs in case the weather turns cold Plus babies vomit a lot so having a spare shirt in your baby bag just for you in case there is a power chuck is a great idea

4 Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes

access to a convenient tap isnt always guaranteed when you take the baby out of the house so hand sanitizer is the very next best thing plus we are now living with covid so it is an essential item you can get hand sanitizers that clip onto your car keys but if that is too much of a hassle pop a small bottle into your baby bag Disinfectant wipes are really handy to have too good for cleaning hands benches shopping trolley handles anything

5 An old cloth nappy or similar for spit up

dont buy anything new see what you can repurpose no point in buying something just to be vomited on if you can find a nice soft cloth nappy those really old style ones they are just perfect whack it up on your shoulder and just rock it everyone has been there and will understand Also just wear white for the first two years of your babys life

6 Muslin wrap

a muslin wrap is an essential baby needs to be wrapped Grab your muslin wrap if your baby vomits all over your black shirt Clean it up with the muslin wrap you need to change your baby and the area is germy Put down your muslin wrap they are so damn handy

7 A small toy

just something to keep baby entertained if they get bored but seriously they will probably prefer your car keys And if this isnt your first child you will probably let your baby chew on them The lamaze range is very sensory great for babies

the lamaze octotunes from baby bunting

8 Formula dispenser

if you are bottle feeding and thats okay those little containers for formula that is all measured out for you ready to go are just invaluable An alternative to the dispensers is to grab the formula stick packs that have a single serve of formula in them This basic version is only $7 99 from baby bunting

9 Fresh bottle filled with boiled and cooled water

both for the baby if they get thirsty or for feeding bub some formula its always handy to have a fresh bottle or two popped into the baby bag

10 Snacks for baby

easy things that your baby can eat on the run We love the raffertys garden range you can just take off the lid and give it to baby easy no washing up Or there are also rusks which are great for teething You can grab them from your local supermarket or check out these online stockists

• baby bunting
• pharmacy online

11 Water bottle

for you if you are breastfeeding you will know how thirsty you can get and because most baby bags are insulated they are the perfect place to keep a water bottle Or you could keep one of those insulated water bottles on hand We love these beautiful stainless steel water bottles from biome eco stores

12 Nappy bags or an old plastic bag for soiled nappies

if you are out and about and dont have a place to dispose of that shitty nappy nappy bags or old plastic bags are the way to go just wrap them up really good and dont forget to dispose of them at your first opportunity

13 Spare dummy in a ziplock bag

nothing worse than when bubs is in distress and crying in the back seat of the car when you are in traffic Always have a spare dummy on hand if you keep them in a ziplock bag they stay clean and sterilised and dont collect dust and dirt that often accumulates in the bottom of nappy bags

14 A portable changing mat

something you can lay down anywhere to pop baby on whilst you change their nappy many fold up and can be just popped straight into your baby bag and there are even disposable changing mats available now

15 Bibs

if you are out and about and are feeding your baby food bibs are essential just pop one or two in the baby bag for such times

what other items do you like to include in your baby bag

Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

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