Diaper Bag Essentials for Newborn Babies: What to Bring
Having a baby can bring a lot of joy into your life, but there’s no denying that newborns require quite a bit of attention at all hours of the day. The best backpack diaper bag will be able to accommodate all of your newborn necessities so that you have everything you need for your child no matter where you are.
Packing your first backpack diaper bag might seem a bit puzzling if you’ve never done it before, and you certainly don’t want to forget anything. To avoid getting caught out and about without a spare diaper or nursing blanket when your child needs to be fed, be sure to read this roundup of what to carry in your diaper bag if you have a newborn.
Extra Diapers
As its name hints at, diaper bags are made for carrying diapers (though that’s not all!). You never want to find yourself stuck in a situation where your newborn needs a diaper change and don’t have any spares with you. To avoid this less-than-ideal situation, always carry one diaper for every hour you plan to be out and about, plus a few extra. Simply put, you can never have too many diapers on-hand.
Baby Wipes
You can’t change a diaper without baby wipes, so carry a pack with you in your backpack diaper bag. Newborns can urinate up to 20 times a day, which means that carrying a couple of these wipes with you simply won’t cut it. Instead, purchase a portable baby wipe pack that contains at least 20 wipes. As an added bonus, baby wipes work well for cleaning up just about any kind of a mess, so they’re handy to have around should mother, father, or child have a spill.
Diaper Changing Pad
When you’re on the go, a diaper changing pad is a necessity. Changing pads can be folded up and placed on any steady, smooth surface for changing your newborn’s diaper. This can include beds, couches, floors, tables, and even the changing tables that you find in restrooms for some extra sanitary protection.
Diaper Rash Ointment
Newborns are prone to diaper rash, so you should always be sure that you have diaper rash ointment on you whenever changing your little one’s diaper. Instead of moving your ointment between your nursery and backpack diaper bag, it may be wise to purchase two containers so that you can always have one kept in each space.
Baby Blanket
Carrying a baby blanket in your backpack diaper bag can serve three purposes, making it one of the most practical and functional items to have on you at all times when on the move with a newborn. Firstly a baby blanket can be used to keep your newborn warm whenever the temperature begins to drop. A baby blanket can also be used to hang over an open stroller if your newborn is napping and you don’t want him or her woken. Finally, baby blankets work well as a cover when breastfeeding if you’re looking for some extra coverage in a public space.
Extra Clothing
As experienced mothers will tell you, carrying extra clothing for your newborn is a must. Newborns are messy, and between the spit-ups, diaper leaks, and formula spills, having an extra onesie on-hand is one of the smartest ways you can prep for whatever mess comes your way. In addition to carrying an extra onesie, tossing in an extra pair of socks is a good idea as well in case your newborn needs some extra warmth while on the go. A sun hat and beanie are also essentials, each one serving their own purpose depending on the weather.
Formula and Breastmilk
Newborns need to eat between eight to twelve times a day during their first month of life. While this number will slightly drop as your newborn grows, there’s still quite a bit of feeding to be done on a regular basis. If you use formula, bring the powdered mix with you as well as a thermos with warm water that can maintain the liquid’s heat. If you use breastmilk, be sure to pack the bottles with an ice pack to keep it from spoiling.
Sunscreen
You always want to be careful when taking newborns out into direct sunlight. To help protect your child from burns, always pack a tube of newborn-safe sunscreen with you in your diaper bag.
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