Are you looking for the ultimate diaper bag checklist so you can grab and go in the morning? You can make it so much easier on yourself when taking your little ones to daycare in the morning by having a diaper bag checklist.
There are so many things to pack, and it can be hard to remember some of the items for your diaper bag without having a diaper bag checklist.
The goal is to grab and go in the morning so that you can just head out the door!
Going back to work already puts so much pressure on a mama when you have one or two little ones that need so many things. Kyla was around a month old when I packed a diaper bag full of items while going to school one day a week for five hours.
Most of the time, I felt like a mess, and it was not until I made a diaper bag checklist that I knew I would always need one so that I did not leave without something important for the next day.
So I created an entire list that I then added to when I started my internship around the time she was three months old. The internship was 40 hours a week, like a full-time job.
I referred to that list every evening when I set out new diapers, milk, and cleaned bottles. I felt so much more prepared and had a lot more sanity! Just about everything I do involves some sort of list or a system.
Here are the items you will want on your diaper bag checklist that will save you SO MUCH time!
The Ultimate Diaper Bag Checklist:
1. Two outfits-
in a worst-case scenario, pack more than one outfit. The baby can have a blowout at 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year old.
You might want to add socks or a beanie for cold weather.
2. Burp cloth/bib-
if you have a little one under 6 months, you will want a few burp cloths for messes. 6+ months or older, you may want to go with a bib!
3. Changing pad
the coolest thing that has ever been made to prevent big messes is a foldable changing pad. It is waterproof and makes it easy to clean up!
4. Wipes-
always a must.
5. Diapers-
Pack 8-10 if your little one is around 4-5 months old or less. Once the baby is 6 months, you will only need 5 diapers. As they get older, your baby will not need as many diapers. In the beginning, you will pack a lot of diapers when they drink a lot of milk and do not have as many solids. Kyla is almost two, and I only pack about 3-4 diapers for an 8-hour workday. Certain daycares may require more if they have diaper changing protocols.
6. Dapple Dish Soap-
if you have a family member watch your little one, you will want this non-toxic tiny plant-based soap to wash the baby’s bottles. I always packed this soap in the small pocket of the diaper bag so that the bottles were clean and ready for the next day.
7. Bottles-
you can guesstimate how many bottles the baby eats for around 8-9 hours while you are at work. If the bottles are washed throughout the day, you can pack 2 to switch out or more if you wash them out once you pick up your baby.
8. Milk-
depending on how you feed your baby, you can pack a small formula can or put your breastmilk bags or storage bottles in the bag by counting the ounces the baby eats at each feeding. To do this, you will want to consider how long you are gone for (5-9 hours) and count how many feedings the baby will have in that amount of time. For example, if your baby eats 3 ounces every 2 hours and you work for 8 hours, you will want to pack 12 ounces for 4 feedings.
9. Baby Carrier-
this is the best for when your baby is a few months old. You can have a family member such as your mom or sister hold your baby in the same baby carrier that you use to help them be as efficient as you with a carrier.
10. Your T-shirt
when your baby starts going to daycare, your shirt is another item that is helpful if you breastfeed. You can pack your shirt in the bag. Your baby will miss you, and smelling your scent will help keep the baby calm while you are gone. I packed the exact shirt that I wore the night before and left it in the bag. It was helpful for Kyla while I was gone when she would cry a lot.
11. Ziploc Bag-
after a long day, you will want a clean bag for soiled clothes or burp clothes that need to be washed. There is nothing worse than being unprepared with dirty clothes and not a place to put them.
12. What to add if your baby is 8+ months-
once your baby eats baby food, you can pack your baby’s favorite pouches, puffs, or Cheetos. I always packed two pouches for Kyla around 8 months because she still had milk during the day and snacked on some puffs or her Lil crawlers Cheetos.
13. Medicine-
make sure to pack any current medications that your baby might be taking along with a syringe if they need it. This could even include Tylenol, body creams, or Aquaphor (for diaper rash).
Be sure to pack your diaper bag the night before and leave it by the door! Most of the time, you may be rushing to make it to work on time, and it will make it easier on you if you can see it and take it out of the door with you.
If you breastfeed, you can leave bright post-it notes on your fridge to remind you to grab the baby’s milk and put it in the diaper bag. I always put post-it notes around the house, which reminded me to do so many things!
Ever since I have become a mom, this diaper bag checklist has kept me on track for weeks that I felt like I was barely able to make it to work on time.
Using this diaper bag checklist will help you to know what to grab each evening. You can adjust it to your baby’s needs. Packing diaper bags have become a lot easier to pack over time, and this will give you a good head start when you return back to work or pack a bag for a date night. I hope you find this diaper bag checklist as useful as I do!
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