Posted by You’re almost ready to meet your baby, which means it’s time to figure out what to pack in baby’s diaper bag!
For me, packing my baby’s diaper bag was really the moment that made things feel real. It’s happening. We’re having a baby. And he’ll be here soon!
What can be more exciting than that?
Baby needs a lot of stuff though, which is why I created this post to cover what to pack in baby’s diaper bag so it’s ready to go for the hospital (and every outing after that).
You won’t use all of these items for the hospital, but they are things that should always be in your diaper bag going forward. That way you will always be prepared and won’t have to think about it each time you go out with baby.
Once you’re done packing your diaper bag you can mark that task off of your third trimester checklist, and you’ll be one step closer to bringing baby home.
Let’s start with the essentials:
What To Pack In Baby’s Diaper Bag For Diapering
Diapers
The most obvious of items, diapers of course. The hospital will supply diapers during your stay but it’s up to you to have them in the diaper bag when you go home. Newborns go through 10-12 diapers a day, so keep that in mind when you’re packing diapers for your outings.
Wipes
You’ll be going through lots of wipes during the newborn phase, so put a big pack in the diaper bag. My favorites are these sensitive wipes that are made to dispense with one hand.
Portable Changing Pad
If your diaper bag doesn’t come with an attached changing pad, you can easily pack a small portable one (this one here is similar to what I had). I used mine all the time doing diaper changes on the floor at friend’s houses, on the grass in parks or for sanitary reasons in public restrooms.
Plastic Bag
If you’re out and your newborn baby has a blow out but there’s no garbage can nearby it’s nice to have a small plastic trash bag handy. That way you can wrap up the soiled diaper until you’re able to dispose of it.
Diaper Ointment
You’ll probably have a big tub of diaper rash ointment at home by your changing station, but for on-the-go, grab a smaller version. I use this tube of butt paste, which is travel sized.
What To Pack In Baby’s Diaper Bag For Comfort
Blanket
Pack a small blanket for baby in the diaper bag or keep one in the car for the car seat. I usually pack one of these muslin blankets because they fit into the diaper bag easily and have so many uses. You can use it to swaddle baby, wipe up a milk mess, drape over the stroller for shade, cover yourself while nursing or just as a regular lightweight blanket.
Pacifier
If you plan to give your baby a pacifier, pack a couple in the diaper bag so you always have a clean one as backup.
What Clothes To Pack In Baby’s Diaper Bag
Hat
Newborn babies need a hat for extra warmth so be sure to pack one in the diaper bag. The hospital will provide your baby with a generic one after they’re born, but I recommend bringing one of your own to the hospital for photos. There are so many cute ones like this boys one here or this girls one here.
Going Home Outfit For Hospital + Extra Clothes
Initially when you pack baby clothes for the hospital, bring a “going home outfit” in both newborn and 0-3 month size (in case you have a big baby). Think about what you want baby to be wearing for those first photos.
Then consider that whenever you go out with your baby, you’ll want to have an extra outfit in the diaper bag just in case baby spits up badly or has a blowout that leaks onto his clothing.
This is what that looks like for me:
- Extra long sleeve onesie
- Extra short sleeved onesie
- Extra sweater
- Extra pants/shorts
- Extra socks (I also like to use socks as hand mitts to stop baby from scratching his face)
Breastfeeding Essentials For Baby’s Diaper Bag
Lanolin Cream
When you first start to breastfeed, your nipples will be sore and can potentially crack and bleed from an improper latch. I can tell you, it’s painful! But it will go away once you and baby get the hang of feeding together. Keep this nipple cream in your diaper bag and put it on after every feed to help prevent and heal sore nipples. You’ll thank me later!
Nursing Cover
Pack your nursing cover in your diaper bag to give you privacy when breastfeeding in public. Of course, covering up is optional 🙂 If you do choose to cover up, pick a nursing cover that’s lightweight and allows you to look down and see baby hands-free (this is the one I have).
Nursing Pads
While you’re at it, throw a couple extra nursing pads into your diaper bag for yourself. If you’re leaking a lot, you might just need a fresh set.
Burp Cloths
Burp cloths are a must when out with baby especially if you’ve got a spitter! My second baby would practically throw up what seemed like entire feedings sometimes so we went through a lot of burp cloths daily. Pack one or two in the diaper bag just in case.
Medicine Cabinet Items To Pack In Baby’s Diaper Bag
Thermometer
You never know where you will be when a fever strikes, so always have a thermometer in your diaper bag so you can take baby’s temperature if it seems like something’s off. Fevers can be dangerous in newborns and infants so it’s important to know what you’re dealing with. This is the small thermometer that I keep in my diaper bag, which goes on baby’s temple (inner ear ones are not accurate until 6 months old).
Infant Tylenol
If baby does come down with a fever when you’re away from home, it’s smart to have some infant Tylenol stashed in the diaper bag. Check in with your baby’s doctor who can advise the correct dosage based on baby’s weight.
Gripe Water
For other common ailments like gas, hiccups and general fussiness, I absolutely love having some gripe water with me wherever I go with baby. This stuff saved my sanity when nothing else worked to relieve my firstborn’s gassy tummy. He would be in so much pain and it would instantly relieve him and stop his crying. Seriously magic.
Nail scissors
Your infants nails will grow so fast, and guess what else? They break off into sharp little razors and before you know it, baby has scratched his face! This is why I like to keep a pair of these baby nail scissors in my diaper bag. That way I can fix any sharp nails as they happen (don’t even get me started on nail clippers- nail scissors are the way to go for infants).
Final Thoughts On What To Pack In Baby’s Diaper Bag
Once you have these items packed in your diaper bag, you’ll be ready to go anywhere with baby at any time. Then it just becomes simple to replace what you’ve used when you return home- a few diapers or a burp cloth here and there.
You can print a free copy of this list of what to pack in baby’s diaper bag by clicking here.
Or to come back to this post any time, go ahead and pin it!👇
Not sure what else is left to do to prepare for your baby’s arrival?
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