How do you organise baby bags when out and about?

[ridl14]

Hoping not to get ridiculed! My baby is 7 months. I feel like I'm packing as if for a weekend away just to go to a baby group with him. First time mum obviously.

I was given a large cloth duffel (?) bag by a family member to use as a nappy bag. It's got good capacity but is basically one big sack and I find it really hard to find things in it and bring a cloth tote as well. Also feel like stuff just ends up everywhere and I find the chaos overwhelming but also need everything visible or in an easy to reach place or I end up packing double.

The weather changing constantly isn't helping! Left in freezing fog this morning and it was really sunny and warm by the time we went to a cafe after my baby group.

In an attempt to sort myself out I now have:

• a pram organiser, thinking to put keys, phone, wallet, wipes, muslin at least, hopefully eliminate the need for my tote.

• a secondhand Bugaboo with a much more accessible pram basket underneath than the last one.

• a pram parasol (hopefully not as urgent if I don't have his sun hat for shade)

• I've sorted the nappy bag contents into different mesh bags which has helped

• thinking to put a caddy in the car with spare nappies, outfit, blanket

Current nappy bag contents:

• thin cloth blanket, muslin for wiping, large muslin for feeding cover (which tbh I hardly use)

• two toys

• jumper, spare vest x 2, spare leggings x 2, a hooded tracksuit all in one in case of cold, sun hat, knitted hat, baby sunglasses

• changing pad with nappies, wipes, bags, nappy cream

• Ziploc bag with some toiletries (is this ridiculous? Probably) travel size moisturiser, teething gel (no teeth yet and not used yet)

• baby sling in two parts + hooded cover for sling in case of rain/cold

Side pocket: hand sanitiser, saline spray (baby has a cold currently), thermometer

Tote had a bib, container with his food, Ziploc bag with cup and baby spoon

How do I ruthlessly drop some baggage?

If the duffel doesn’t work for you buy one that will. The duffel will come in handy later

Buy the bag you need, don’t feel obligated to keep using one that doesn’t fit what you need anymore. I was gifted a lovely change bag that I used initially but once my baby started weaning but was still needing bottles I needed something bigger. I second the backpack style ones with the compartments especially if you baby wear. Get one with the clips on the shoulder straps for clipping it to the pram handle as well. That frees up your pram basket.
Have an honest look at what you use vs. What you don’t. Look again at the things you don’t use and ask yourself if you were in a pinch could you buy them whilst out? They instantly get the chop (so toiletries, things like calpol). You’d be surprised how creative you can get when necessary too. Muslins can become a sunshade, bib, change mat, blanket and plenty of other things I should think.
Also, think about your day. A baby class not far from home? You don’t need much. Leaving baby for a full day with a grandparent or relative? Add in the calpol and extra clothes and nappies just in case.

I had a box in the car - spare clothes nappies wipes dummy warmer too or jumper.

Then a smaller backpack for stuff for the day.

Didn't have a wet bag - it’s what nappy sacks are for.

And if you forget something - you’ll manage

Pouches in a bag with no departments are life changing.

I don’t have one in relation to kids, but when I have a bag with no pockets, such as a tote, or a duffel, then I have a little pouch with two zipped pockets, in which everything important can go, keys, phone charger and power bank, lip balm, paracetamol, things like that, and then when I move bag, I just put the pouch in whichever other bag I’m taking, it saves faffing about moving things from bag to bag, and keeps things very streamlined. I would probably apply the same to a baby bag, although I would definitely streamline what you are taking.

When DS was that age, I used a biggish leather handbag that had straps thst slung comfortably over the pushchair handle, and kept wipes, a couple of nappies and a spare babygro in it.

Unless your baby group is miles from your house I wouldn't take so much. Also eventually I switched to a backpack and it made life easier. I would put it in the basket underneath and it had everything. I had

• one personal pouch: phone, car keys, wallet etc.
• One pouch for changing: nappy, wipes, bum cream,
• and 1-2 sets of clothes- again, just a babygrow for change is fine, put two babygrows and a jumper in (ones you don't like so much) and then you don't have to keep swapping.
• . Multiple hats and sunglasses are not needed, these can be worn as and when needed.
• I didn't carry toiletries or a thermometer. If the baby needs their temperature checking then you come home.
• Maybe carry some snacks but that's it.
• Toys and books went in the basket below rather than the backpack.

One spare set of clothes, a bib, snacks and maybe a toy or two and then changing pad and nappies and wipes never needed much more than that but like you I always overpacked until she turned 1 and I finally learned I don’t need everything

Thank you for asking xx I thought so? All the "insane" comments are making me rethink though tbh. I haven't spoken to my GP, I wasn't sure at what point it's GP-worthy. I heard something about when it stops you living your normal life. It has got better, I've stopped thinking one of us was going to die and the intense climate change anxiety has eased off. But I have struggled to leave my baby, I've left him a handful of times with my husband, twice for an hour and a half which were the longest times.

I thought my husband was being ridiculous packing the red book in the nappy bag when he did it but I've been humbled on here!

Nothing wrong with being prepared! I carry

• pouch with changing stuff (nappies, wipes, nappy bags, mini bum cream, change of outfit)
• pouch with my make up/toiletries etc
• bag of snacks & bib

Keys, wallet, muslin, couple of toys, warm hat loose in the bag. You don't need a wet bag, you can use nappy bags in a pinch, and you def don't need the hot weather stuff any more! If I think I'll need them I'll shove a blanket and sling into the bottom of the pram.

My kids are now older but it was usually just nappies, wipes, 1 or 2 changes of clothes, couple of bibs and milk/ bottle. My personal items went in my handbag.

This is great, thank you! You're right, the changing tables are 🤢 I anti bac the bottom of my changing pad on the regular. Sounds so well thought out though! I know if we had another I'd have to be a lot more sensible. Hopefully more chilled too.

Two nappies feels like living on the edge though! I guess depends how long we're out for but I worry that's one change and a surprise poo or something.

Thank you! No you're right this sounds like a good list. Blanket and sling I do end up using a lot - blanket either with the cold weather or to lay him on when we go to yoga.

That made me exhausted to read

my baby is around the same age

i have a Uniqlo bag with three nappies, wipes and a rolled up spare babygrow (+ spare shorts for my 3 year old).

If we have a massive faecal event- we’ll be coming home pretty sharp ish.

spare dummy in my pocket

I keep a bag with a spare outfit for each in my car, and keep some spare nappies and wipes in the seat pockets- you don’t need a caddy

if they need snacks and they are genuinely hungry, there’s generally a Tesco or whatever nearby

Thanks this sounds so sensible! It's a drive away but not far. I'm really leaning towards a backpack now, it's what I originally planned then got given this bag.

This is brilliant advice honestly thank you!

Toiletries you don’t need.
Sunglasses and sun hat not for this season.
Too many clothes, for change of clothes I bring 1 romper, 1 trousers and 1 long sleeve shirt.

Thanks all for the great advice! I reorganised the bag yesterday. One thing that helped and probably feels like too much still is I put things in a caddy for the car boot - spare wipes and nappies in a Ziploc, hand sanitiser, the sling rain cover, a spare outfit, teething gel. Hairbands and socks for me to avoid my "oh shit" moments when I've remembered all the baby's stuff and forgotten about myself.

Pram basket will have the rain cover and possibly the sling. Nappy bag now has:

• Ziploc with spare vest, socks, leggings

• blanket (still use it at the group)

• two toys

• changing pad with nappies wipes bags

• hand sanitiser in outside pocket

• winter hat

I'm changing my bag to the pram organiser just so there's less things hanging from my body so will put keys phone wallet and a muslin in there.

Does feel liberating!

Bonkers amount of stuff. I took a normal sized rucksack. Nappies, wipes, bags, change of clothes and layers, snacks for both of us as needed, water bottle or tea flask for me. Keys and phone chucked in once we got there. Done.

Thanks so much this is really helpful! I think that's part of the problem I was keeping a bag packed for all outcomes and days that I could just grab and go. But ended up grabbing stuff before I left anyway, overfilling and felt like a frazzled pack horse!

Nappies don't take up a lot of space. You can always pop a few more in the bag. ☺️
Agree with wiping the change pad.
Hope you're feeling ok. 💕

ETA
just remembered when baby was small I'd have a baby carrier in case I needed to carry dc. That was mostly for to/from car trip when going to GP and not much else. In that case I'd just take a couple extra diapers, wipes and a receiving blanket. I didn't have to deal with a blow out where I needed to change clothes.
BTW the old towel is to wipe off stroller/rain gear etc before getting back into car/going into shops etc

My kid is 4m, I carry a flask of hot water, a nuby rapid cool, 2-3 bottles, powder formula pot, nappies and wipes, sudocrem, nappy bags, spare outfit, hat, toys, dummy, cream (has eczema so needs it all the time), milton wipes.

It's alot and I feel the same way. No matter what type of bag I buy it doesnt seem to be big enough cz as soon as ive taken things out its so hard to put things back in because there's just too much!

Sorry to jump on this but could you guys also say what bags you are using for the items you carry