A Well-Packed Diaper Bag Makes Motherhood Feel Lighter

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As a new mom, I felt so intimidated by leaving the house with my newborn, especially by myself. I was anxious about being out in public with a screaming baby, not having what he needed to feel safe and comfortable. Now, I feel so confident bringing him along on quick errands and full-on adventures—and as silly as it may sound, my diaper bag is a big part of the reason why.

Some millennial moms joke about having emotional support water bottles…I have an emotional support diaper bag.

A diaper bag that’s always packed, thoughtfully organized, and ready to grab at a moment’s notice removes one more decision from your already full mental load so you can say “yes” to more adventures with your family. The best diaper bag isn’t the one with the most stuff in it; it’s the one that consistently has what you and your baby need:

Choose a bag that is functional and comfortable.

Your diaper bag doesn’t have to be an actual diaper bag, but it should at least be comfortable to carry. Before buying anything you’re not crazy about, look around and see if any bags you already own and love will work. A diaper bag is something you’ll carry almost every day, often while holding a baby at the same time, so comfort definitely matters. I personally use an old nylon backpack, which I love because it’s lightweight, has a lot of organization pockets, and I don’t have to be too precious with it. If I ever decide to upgrade to an actual diaper backpack, I’d like to try this one (or this mini version) from Parker Baby because I absolutely love the two diaper caddies I already own from that brand.

Pack for the most likely scenarios, not every possible emergency.

When I initially started researching what to pack in my diaper bag, I got bit overwhelmed by the blog posts with endless lists of every single item you could possibly need to bring…I wondered if I really needed to pack Tylenol, nail clippers, and stain remover pens for every outing with my baby. It turns out, every mom’s “essentials” will be different. It’s not necessary (or even possible) to pack for every single emergency scenario, so give yourself permission to just pack for what you’ll most likely need. Your diaper bag should thoughtfully address your family’s unique lifestyle.

Create a diaper bag “baseline” checklist.

Before I leave home with my baby, I make sure to at least have the following items packed in my diaper bag. (I never want to be out and realize I forgot to re-stock wipes or a clean changing pad!) Consider creating a checklist based on your own needs that you can quickly review before leaving home. You can also carry less by choosing double-duty items; for example, I love using this nursing cover as a light blanket for my baby, rather than packing both.

Here’s what never leaves my diaper bag:

Diapering

Diapers
Baby wipes
Diaper cream
Hand sanitizer wipes
Reusable puppy pad (to use as a changing pad, a playmat, and even a park blanket)
Doggie bags(way cheaper than the bags actually marketed for dirty diapers and wipes)

Feeding

Nursing cover (also doubles as a light blanket)
Burp cloth

“Just in Case” Items (That Frequently End Up Getting Used)

Pacifier + clip + case
Extra baby clothes (based on the weather and type of activity)
Wet/dry bags (to keep clean clothes clean, and to keep dirty clothes away from everything else)
Baby carrier (depending on the outing)

Mama’s Essentials

Lotion
Lip balm
Hair ties
Wallet

Re-stock immediately when you get home.

I’ve learned to treat my diaper bag like a gas tank, and never wait until it’s empty. After every outing, I immediately replenish the diapers and wipes, replace the washable items, and toss out any trash. For the reusable items that often need to be washed, it helps to have multiples. I own a couple of these reusable puppy pads, these nursing covers, and an endless supply of these muslin burp cloths.

Allow your diaper bag contents to evolve with your baby.

As your baby changes, your diaper bag essentials will also change. Your newborn bag contents are most likely focused on diapering and nursing, whereas your toddler bag contents may prioritize snacks and entertainment. Consider periodically returning to that baseline checklist and re-evaluating what you and your baby need on the go in this current season of life. What worked beautifully during the newborn stage doesn’t have to stay in your diaper bag forever.

Simple systems reduce your mental load and make motherhood feel lighter.

Something that surprised me about motherhood is how important confidence can be. The confidence I gained the first time I took my baby on a simple trip to Target slowly evolved into me feeling confident enough to bring him on an airplane, a road trip, and a camping trip. (And confidence is everything, because I swear babies can smell fear!)

Confidence isn’t something you suddenly wake up with as a new mom. It grows one small system at a time, to remove just enough friction that leaving the house starts to feel less overwhelming. You just grab your baby, your diaper bag, and head out the door.

It’s actually more about your self-sufficiency than it is about your diaper bag. The diaper bag is simply the first system that proves to you: “I can do this.” Every successful outing will slowly teach you that you’re more capable than you thought.