What every diaper bag needs to have

So you’ve got your routine in place and you’re pretty confident about seeing to your baby’s needs at home. Taking the show on the road is an entirely new challenge though. Every baby has different needs and habits so you’ll need to work out what works best for yours but use our guide as a start to ensure you’re ready for anything your baby might throw at you.

Helpful hint: Put your wallet, keys, phone, sunglasses and other small items into a small pouch, so you’re not rummaging through your diaper bag all the time to find them.

Essentials for a short trip

The barest minimum if you’re only planning to be out for a short time. These are also the items that should always be in your diaper bag. You can add other items to these depending on where you’re going and how long you plan to be out.

• 2-4 diapers. 1 for every 2 hours plus 1 spare.
• Wet wipes. Use a travel pack of Huggies®Clean Care Baby Wipes.

They’re all natural, hypoallergenic and clinically safe for newborns and sensitive skin.

• A changing pad. Most diaper bags come with one but if yours doesn’t, pack a thin waterproof pad, so you can turn any surface into a changing table.
• Plastic bags. For dirty diapers, dirty clothes or any other mess you might need to contain. Ordinary plastic bags will do but a handy tip is to save used Ziploc bags for this so you can seal the smell away too.
• 1-2 changes of clothes for your baby.
• Extra top for mum. In case of a spit up or spill.
• Pain or fever medication. Coughs and sniffles are common so be prepared.
• Hand sanitizer. To keep hands clean.
• Tissues. These always come in handy when you have a messy baby.

Add-ons for longer trips

For a longer trip away from home, make sure you’ve got all of these covered.

• Diaper cream. Get travel-sized tubes.
• Bottle with formula or expressed breast milk. For formula, fill the bottle with waterand measure out the right amount of formula in a separate container, so it’s easy to get it ready.
• Blanket. Can also be used as a changing pad or nursing cover.
• Small towels. For burping, washing faces and hands and other small messes.
• Extra breast pads.
• Baby food and spoon. If your baby has started on solids.
• 2–3 bibs.
• Pacifier. Pack a spare just in case.
• Teething ring. Babies can start teething as early as 3 months.
• Toys or books. To keep your baby entertained.
• Antiseptic cream. For small cuts or bites.

Nice-to-haves if you’ve got the space

Other items that would make your trip easier but that you can choose to leave at home.

• Crackers or other snacks. For your baby and you.
• Sling or wrap for carrying your baby.
• Hat. To keep the sun off your baby’s face.
• Sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Especially if you plan to be outdoors.
• Camera.
• Immunisation or other health records. Keep these in a Ziploc bag (to protect them from spills and drips) so you always have them on hand in an emergency.
• Cheap over-the-door hook. For public toilets that don’t have bag hooks.

Do you know that an average baby will need 1057 nappy changes in the first 6 months? Get exclusive promotions and free diaper samples by joining the Huggies Club now! As a member, you can also gain exclusive access to the Huggies Forum and connect with experts to get more personalized pregnancy and parenting advices.