Going out with children: what's in your bag?

by Irene Nam (Subscribe to Irene Nam's posts) Feb 25th 2006 6:42PM

Categories: Preschoolers, Baby Essentials

I've never been able to find a decent diaper bag when my kids were babies so I used one of those giant beach totes to store everything I needed. And I just could not believe all the things I had to pack to go out with my kids even for just an hour.

I dream about the day when I will be able to just take my kids, my cellphone and my keys and close the door behind me. Of course, now that my boys are 4 years old, my bag is a lot smaller and lighter (and cuter!). But there are things I just have to take with me, things that ensure my survival when we go out, to restaurants, go to church or our to friends' house:

my kids' sketch books and crayons
a couple of cars
my kids' security blankets, or commonly called in France "Doudou"
snacks and chocolates in Ziploc bags
Pampers wipes
two small books
tissues
a favorite DVD
a bottle of water
a hand sanitizer and a travel first-aid kit (and sun cream during the summer)

Do you pack that much when you go out? What's in your bag?

Comments (18)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Caitlin 2-25-2006 @ 7:03PM

I keep a small pack of wet wipes, a few diapers, 3 of the dole mini fruit bowls, 3 earth's best toddler granola bars, a bottle of water, sippy cup, a few small board books, and Paul's toy cell phone.

I also keep my camera, my GPSr, 12 aa batteries, my treo, and my wallet. I've yet to find a good laptop/diaper bag, or my laptop would be there too.

momma2mingbu 2-25-2006 @ 7:18PM

Always -
Dum-dums suckers
granola bars
fruit snacks/fruit roll-ups
small first aid kit
at least one bottle of water

Sometimes -
fresh apples or bananas
packages of cheese and crackers

We have a bag of clothes that lives in the car for emergency changes. Every couple of months I bring it in and restock it with clean clothes and some empty plastic bags.

If we are going on may be a longer outing - like a trip to the doctor's office or a meeting, another child's dance/soccer practice, etc. - then I will also bring along some coloring books, workbooks and crayons.

P's mama 2-25-2006 @ 7:36PM

I actually use a large Cole Haan tote bag that seems to have endless stretching/stuffing capabilities. My little girl is barely 9-months old, and I'm a first-time mom, so I know I'm guilty of over-packing it, but I don't want to be caught without and have someone look at me as if to say "she should have known better." I carry with me at all times:

diapers & wipes & tush ointment & hand sanitizer & sterile wipes for my breasts (although I've never used them)
pacifier (two, even though my daughter has NEVER taken to them!)
disposable changing pads
board books (which are used more as chew toys)
Sophie the Giraffe (her FAVORITE!)
change of clothes
ziplocs for anything dirty and/or gross
cellphone & mini day planner & pen & my wallet & tiny make-up bag
small digital camera just in case she does something cool while we're on the run

I just know I have too much with me, and I, too, long for the days when I used to be able to just grab my keys & wallet and go. Soon...

VenturaMom 2-25-2006 @ 8:38PM

Now that my daughter is 2.5, I usually let her carry a "purse" with toys and little cans of play-doh in it when we go to restaurants. That way, I just have to add snacks and a sipper in my purse (which is always stocked with wipes, one diaper, and raisins).

Belinda 2-25-2006 @ 8:58PM

Usually when we are just going to walmart, i take diapers wipes blankie a cup and one of her stuffed animals. If we are going on an all day trip I take the above and add a canister of snacks (like the gerber graduates veggie puffs container that has been emptied and filled with cherrios) and a books and one toy that makes a lot of noise. I pack very light. I try to remember a change of clothes. I use to try to bring the whole room but learned quick (from the fact we don't have a car and walk everywhere) I need to pack the essentials only. I also have my id credit and debit cards and my cell phone. I am trying to find a phone case that may have a wallet attached to it.

Kate 2-25-2006 @ 9:53PM

I hoped that my bag would get lighter as Morgan got older, but not so far. Right now I carry around an emergency diaper, wipes, a change of underwear, pants, and socks, baggies of graham crackers, rice cakes and cheerios, crayons and a coloring book if we will be out for an extended period, a small book, maybe a toy, a sippy cup of water, a bottle of water for me, and my wallet, keys and cellphone when I remember them!

Becca 2-25-2006 @ 10:00PM

Aidan is 3 now. He carries a backpack with a few pull-ups, a small pack of wipes, a couple of books, 3 or 4 small cars, fruit snacks, maybe some crackers or cookies, and either a water bottle or cup just in case he needs something to drink. In my purse I have all the things a woman normal needs and a digital camera. Eventually his backpack will have the things he thinks are important I suppose.

Pink Rocket 2-25-2006 @ 10:14PM

jerrett gets a "bye-bye" bag when we go anywhere (a special tote i made for him, not too big mind you). whatever he wants can go inside as long as it fits with the juice and snack i pack too. if it doesn't fit, it doesn't go. now i still carry a large tote but find it only filled with my essentials, a few legos, and old gum he spit out. [thinks must go clean out purse]

Jamus 2-25-2006 @ 10:31PM

10 Month old...

1. Minimum 4 diapers.
2. Sippie cup (half grape juice, half water).
3. Wipes.
4. "Chew toy".
5. Change of clothes (pants, shirt/onesie).
6. Tiny tuperware cup full of "puffs".
7. Passie with cord attachment.
8. Bib.
9. Spit cloth.
10. At least 2 Walmart/grocery plastic bags for diaper duty.
11. Patience, patience, and patience....

Daisy 2-25-2006 @ 10:39PM

Geez, I feel so unprepared. I have been a mom for 7+ years (3 kids) and I have a hard time remembering the diaper bag! I have taken to stocking the car with extra diapers so that when I forget the bag, I have back-up. Sigh... I was so organized pre-kids.

thordora 2-26-2006 @ 5:44AM

Holy crap...you guys lug a lot of stuff!

We never need that much stuff when we go out. If I only have Vivian with me (2.5years) I'll throw a diaper and wipes in my backback with some crackers. If Ros (1 y) is with us, I'll up the diapers and bring a sippy. That's it, aside from my wallet. I've never carried a ton of stuff for them when we go out.

momma2mingbu 2-26-2006 @ 10:01AM

With three kids, I have to carry a lot of food! LOL!

Kim 2-26-2006 @ 10:14AM

For my 10 month old, whenever possible I grab my "Diapees & Wipees" fabric pouch and that's it. It contains 3 diapers, wipes, a disposable changing table cover and a washcloth. Other than wallet, keys and cellphone, that's all I take.

If we're going to be out longer than an hour, I bring some gerber wagonwheels or cheerios.

If you ever saw me pack for a vacation (I bring EVERYTHING) you would never believe how little I take for short outings.

karrie 2-26-2006 @ 10:30AM

18 month old:

1. epi-pens & Benadryl due to peanut scare.
2. wipes, 2 diapers, and almost empty tube of diaper cream in a ziplock.
3. sippy cup
4. small ziplock of crackers, when I remember
5. lip balm & travel sized sunscreen

1-4 are always there, #5 optional. Before the epis I would sometimes just stuff a few wipes in a ziplock, and place in a larger one with a diaper and cram into a coat or other pocket. I hate bags, purses, etc. so like a previous poster, use a random totebag.(swag) I also keep a few diapers, wipes and at least a clean t-shirt in my car.

Since I live in a city, I figure in a worst case scenario, I could just pop into a drugstore or children's clothing store and grab whatever I did not bring.

Heather 2-26-2006 @ 12:20PM

We have a 7 month-old and a 4 year-old and they each have a Lands End Little Tripper bag dedicated to them. For most trips, we just take the baby's and stuff big brother's water bottle in the side pocket. The baby's bag always has: 2-3 diapers (cloth), change of clothing, bag of cloth wipes, bottle of warm tap water for messy changes, changing pad, burp cloth,a wet bag for dirty diapers and sometimes, a sling. If we're going to be out a bit longer we grab big brother's bag which also has a change of clothing, some books and a game or two, a tub of goldfish crackers or other snack, and a tub of hand wipes.
I had to stop carrying a purse; just too much hassle. I was always going off without it anyway.

mar 2-26-2006 @ 3:54PM

My kids are a bit older now, so I definitely carry less stuff. Nonetheless, we never leave w/o water bottles and granola bars. I always have a deck of cards in my purse (the mini ones - get 'em at the dollar store!). The mini ones are much easier for little hands to hold, and by 3, 3 1/2 anyone can play go fish! If I expect we'll be someplace longer, it's my daypack backpack with pencils, twistable crayons, paper, and a book like Where's Waldo or something else to keep their attention.

When I had diaper aged kids, instead of worry about a diaper bag each time I ran to get milk, I just kept a small plastic bag in my trunk w/2 diapers, a onesie, sandwich bag w/diaper wipes, and a bottle of water.

Pamster 2-27-2006 @ 2:58PM

I have to agree with Thordora. I don't bring that much stuff. All I pack for my 14 month old are:
**Diapers
**Wipes
**A small container of snacks (cereal)
**Drinking straws
**Lightweight blanket (to use as a mat)
**Keychain with keys (which I put together just for my kid since she kept stealing mine. Has several keychains, keys, a small mirror, small flashlight, and a small plush jacket zipper pull on it)

tanya 3-27-2006 @ 11:43AM

i have to pack for my daughter (16 m) & my nieces, (2) & (5), when we are out and about...but i try to keep it simple...
1 bag w/ the basics (diapers, wipes, change of clothes)
3 snack bags (w/ gold fish crackers or animal crackers, etc...)
(if it's a long trip i may pack mini pb and j's and small bananas)
3-sippy cups or juice boxes
we live in florida so sunblock is a must!
children's advil & hand sanitizer
my wallet,mini make-up bag,sunglasses, cell phone and keys!

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