The Evolution of the Diaper Bag and its Items

While packing up my daughters “diaper bag” (at this point, and has been since she reached the toddler stage, it’s a mini backpack) today, heading to my moms for the afternoon, I realized how diaper bags & their items go through stages.

First, you have the Newborn stage. And if you are like most moms, it’s huge! Some might even mistake as a suitcase. Mine were never THAT big, but they were pretty big. I had two children close in age, so mine had to be big enough to hold the items of two children. 

Now, if you breastfeed (which I did with my daughter), it consists of lots of diapers, bibs/burp rags and a couple of changes of clothes (maybe even one for yourself). As well as the pacifiers and blankets. If you formula feed (which I did with my son), it’s all about the items above, as well as lots of formula, water and bottles. And maybe even more changes of clothes, if they are a big spitter-upper, which my son was.

The second stage is Toddler hood. When they get to this stage, you can now forget about all that formula, but now it’s about remembering the sippy cup(s). And still, all the diapers and a change or two of clothes, the blankets and now some toys to keep them entertained. And if you are like me and spend the weekends visiting your parents or in-laws, you now need to remember pj’s, because you know they are going to fall asleep on the drive home.

Now you’ve reached your third stage, Potty Training. Wow! You’ve come a long way. Now, you don’t have to worry about diapers, or formula, or for the most part, even sippy cups. But now, it’s all about the extra underwear, the extra pants, the extra socks (if they happen to pee while standing). You have to make sure you have something to protect their car seat and you need to remember your portable potty (and the bowl that goes in it). ;} guilty of that one just last weekend. I didn’t have to worry about the portable potty when I potty trained my son. I just let him pee outside. We potty trained during the summer, so it was very convenient. But with my little girl, I can’t do that. So she gets to sit in the back of the car and use her potty. She thinks it’s so cool! Which makes it’s easy on me!! But it also means “she has to potty more often”. I think it’s kind of a game with her, sometimes. Just yesterday, it was POURING down rain and on our way home, she said “mommy, I need to poddy”. So I pulled over, stood outside in the pouring down rain, while she pottied. I was soaked, but she peed and the clothes remained dry. So, it was totally worth it. 

And now, fully potty trained. OMGoodness. Who would have thought we’d see this day??? Not me. This stage sets you home free. You can pick up and run out of the house on a moments notice, with no worries. The only thing you use a “diaper bag” for these days is for entertainment. You fill them with toys!! These are the good ‘ole days, so I think. :)

Good luck on your “diaper bag” adventures. Just don’t get in to big of a hurry to get to the “next stage”. There’s a lot of love and wonderful memories to be had at the “stage” you are at right now! <3 

Love, Play, Joy

~Amy