Baby can’t stay home all the time. Sometimes, mom wants to go shopping or head over to the local park for a little fun in the sun. Whether you’re going to run errands, or you’re going to church, there are a few diaper bag essentials you should bring with it. They will make those poop-tastic emergencies so much easier to handle.

Diaper Bag Checklist

Obviously, you can’t pack everything and anything you might need. Your diaper bag will end up being too heavy and too much of a hassle. Stick with the following necessities and your outings will be smoother and more enjoyable.

Diapers

When you’re toting around a diaper bag, you’ve got to have the main item. Diapers! Whether you’re a cloth diapering mama, or you like the ease of disposables, you have to pack a few diapers in your diaper bag.

The big question is – how many diapers do you need? This depends on how long you’re away from home, and how old your child is. If you have a baby, count on bring one diaper for every hour you’re away. (Maybe two, if you’re overly cautious). So if you’re planning to spend five hours for an afternoon outing, bring five diapers. You might want to bring a few more, just in case you have a poop-tastrophe!

Baby Wipes

Wipes are a must-have when you’re packing a diaper bag. Not only are baby wipes handy for cleaning your babe’s bum, but they’re also useful for wiping messy faces and hands. No mom can do without wipes.

There are moms who like to bring an entire container of baby wipes when they’re out and about; others just bring some in an airtight container (like a plastic ziplock bag). You can also buy smaller packages of baby wipes or travel sized wipes that can easily fit into your diaper bag.

Diaper Rash Cream

Sore and irritated butts can strike at any time. You just never know when your baby’s bum needs a little bit of diaper cream. Always carry a small tube of diaper rash cream in your diaper bag; you just never know when you might need it.

Hand Sanitizer

Take a small, travel-sized bottle of hand sanitizer with you when you’re away from home. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is useful to clean your hands (or your little one’s hands) after a trip to the playground, or after a diaper change in a yucky public location.

Diaper Pad

Changing your baby’s nappy in a public place just breeds germs. Protect your baby from who-knows-what is lurking on that changing table in that public restroom. You don’t have to tote around a huge diaper pad. You can find portable changing pads that fold up neatly and can fit into your diaper bag.

Another alternative – bring a receiving blanket and use that underneath your baby when changing him or her.

Empty Plastic Bags

In the first few years of your baby’s life, empty plastic bags are quite handy. Ziploc or empty plastic bags are perfect for storing germy diapers and soiled clothes. Plastic bags can really protect your diaper bag from odor!

An Extra Outfit

Your baby is going to spit up, maybe even throw up, on his or her clothes. To be on the safe side, make sure that you bring an extra change of clothes for your child. (You don’t want to tote around a baby who just threw up and his clothes reek as a result.)

Pacifiers and Toys

Ask anyone who has a baby and they’ll tell you how much their child loves to drop things on the ground. Babies just have a knack for these things. Since you probably don’t want your child sucking on a pacifier that’s been dropped in a grimy-looking floor, you should pack extra pacifiers and toys in your diaper bag.

Feeding Supplies

Whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, you’re going to have to bring your feeding supplies when you’re out. If you’re taking along bottles of formula or breast milk, take along fridge packs to prevent any spoilage. Nursing mothers should bring some snacks to munch on, and a small blanket or nursing cover.

If you have an older child, you may want to bring some snacks for your baby to munch on.