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March 18, 2010
All of our maternity sweaters, sweater coats, hoodies and cardigans are currently 15% off. Pick up a few pieces to last you through the entire Spring season.
What’s “In” a Diaper Bag?
January 20, 2010
The Essentials of a Diaper Bag … the bag itself and what goes in it.
Have you ever wondered what to pack in your diaper bag? How do you know what the essentials are versus the nice-to-haves? When I was pregnant with my daughter, my sisters gave me what was simply the best, most practical baby shower gift ever … a diaper bag filled with all the essentials for a trip out with the baby. With 4 kids between them, my sisters knew what they were talking about.
Well, what kind of little goodies did my sisters pack in the diaper bag you might ask? Of course there were the bare-bones essentials such as diapers, a travel size wipes case, a travel size petroleum jelly or zinc oxide based diaper rash cream, an extra onesie, a bottle with formula (if you are not breastfeeding), a large receiving blanket, a pack of tissues, and a plastic/disposable bag. Extras included a change pad (my diaper bag came with one and I would argue that this is actually an “essential” as I found myself in many public places where there was no proper change area), full change of clothes, face cloth, teethers, rattles, pacifiers (my daughter never took to them), nursing cover (if you want some privacy when breastfeeding – like me!), bibs (for the big spit-ups), burp pads, and a book (for mom of course – we need something to do while the little one sleeps). TIP – don’t forget to replenish the diaper bag when diapers or wipes run low.
The diaper bag does not need to be fancy, although there are certainly many designer brands out there to choose from that are quite chic and stylish. I wanted a bag that did not scream out “DIAPER BAG”, but it needed to be functional at the same time. I ended up with a JJ Cole System Diaper Bag. At first, I felt the diaper bag was a teeny weeny bit big, but now both my husband & I find the “big” bag invaluable. The strap is well-sized so the bag is easy enough to carry in your hand or on your shoulder, even with your arms full of groceries. It lets us put in some of those “extras” for the big day trips out.
The JJ Cole System Diaper bag comes with a changing pad and tote (for a quick trip out to the store, you can just carry the tote with a diaper and a couple of wipes tucked into the outside pocket), a pacifier pod, plus features such as separate bottle and cell phone pockets. There is even a small little pocket that is tucked away in the handle strap to hold a little MP3 player with its own little opening for the earphones. The inside of the bag is well organized with several different sized compartments and pockets for easy access, as well as a handy wallet organizer under the front flap. On many a doctor’s visit or trips to see Grandma, the diaper bag doubled as my purse/handbag as well. And if you spend as much time as I did going out for walks with your baby (I had a Spring baby so I had over 5 months of nice weather), the bag easily attaches to the stroller and does not slide or move around.
We were fortunate to have a received a diaper bag that was “ready” to go. It is so easy just to grab the diaper bag as we head out the door, even for those unplanned, last minute trips. For some reason though, we are always forgetting to pack the bib. Our meals out are now are a “little” messy as our little one likes to feed herself. 🙂
Our daughter is now 21 months old … and we still use the same JJ Cole Diaper bag, but it is now packed with bigger diapers, sippy cups instead of bottles, “favourite” snacks such as cheerios and crackers, and of course, Elmo. Okay … maybe Elmo doesn’t go in the diaper bag, but you know what I mean. 🙂
Happy packing!
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