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Abandoning the Diaper Bag
April 21st, 2011 | 
Author: By JJ Keith, Staff Writer, JJust Kidding (@jj_keith)
I was pretty shocked when my sister, who I always thought of as a seasoned mom, asked me for a diaper. Shouldn’t a mom of three remember to bring diapers? I mean jeez, what is the learning curve on this stuff?
Back then, when my oldest was a baby, I carried a meticulously packed diaper bag: wipes, three spare diapers, a change of clothes, a first aid kit, rubber bands for when her hair grew out, SPF 80 sunscreen, pacifier wipes, boogie wipes, changing pad, an iced bottle of expressed breast milk, a five dollar bill in case there was an unexpected run-in with an ice cream vendor and a wine opener. So what the hell was my sister doing taking her three kids to the fair with nothing but two bananas and a bottle of water stuffed in her pockets?
She was being a pro, that’s what. I get it now that I’m rolling around town with a toddler and an infant; the more kids you have, the less you carry because YOU CAN’T carry more. Strollers are wonderful inventions, but unless we’re walking long distances it’s easier to wear my baby and let my toddler walk on her own. This generally works great, but inevitably she’ll have some sort of meltdown and I’ll end up carrying the big kid on my back and still wearing the baby on the front. I can do that. It’s fine. But if you add a diaper bag to the mix it’s all over.
So I traded in my traditional diaper bag for a small washable canvas messenger bag (this one to be exact). In it I place the holy trifecta of wallet, keys and phone, plus the bare baby essentials: one toddler diaper, one infant diaper, a CamelBak water bottle for my toddler and I to share (it’s basically a sippy cup that an adult can drink from and not look like a weirdo), wipes and a small stash of snacks. Now that my baby is eating solids I also stow one Ziploc bag with a pouch of purée, a spoon, and a wet washcloth. He’s also taking some formula so just before I leave the car I mix one bottle up and stuff it my bag and leave a full formula dispenser and an extra bottle with the water already in it in the car.
However, I still might need that stuff I used to keep in my diaper bag, so I keep it all in the car in zippered pouch including a change of clothes for each kid in their current sizes. I also keep a changing wallet stocked with three diapers for each and lots of wipes in the car. If we’re walking more than a block or so away from the car I’ll want to take a stroller anyway, so then I just stow my pouch and changing wallet in the storage basket of my double stroller.
What’s the worst that could happen without a bulky diaper bag? My toddler waddles back to the car with crap in her pants? We run out of snacks and have to leave early? We have to borrow a diaper from our judgmental little sister? I can live with those consequences. What I can’t live with is carrying 40 pounds of offspring and a 20-pound diaper bag meticulously curated in anticipation of all the un-anticipatable variables in my life as a mom to two two and under.
The first thing I learned as a mom of two two and under: I was going to have to be a lot more inventive if I planned on ever leaving the house. I realize my way isn’t the only way to do it, so other moms of two and more out there: how do you get your show on the road?
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Absolutely. When baby is tiny and a poo monster the fully loaded diaper bag is NECESSARY! But once their over say 18months (over even a little younger)…not so much. Now it’s about efficiency. Diaper and small ziploc of wipes a bag or 2 of fruit snacks and my phone (duh!) and we are good to go!!
Crystal´s last blog ..Sweet Valley High
I never bring anything…I’m horrible! I do have diapers in the car at all times. I bring water for each, a few snacks, lollipops for bribes/meltdown stoppers, and one diaper. Of course, not long ago, I used the one diaper only to have my 2 year old pee again immediately and throw a fit that I didn’t have another diaper! He survived.
Katie Hurley´s last blog ..Hitting- Biting- and Pushing Tips for dealing with toddler aggression
As a mom of a twenty month and nine month old, we now pare everything down to the basics – juice, formula, a snack, two diapers and wipes. We leave some snacks in the ride and toys too, just so we don’t have to carry it and there is something for the kids on the way to wherever. It’s just easier that way.
Erlinda´s last blog ..Going to China in Three Weeks
I am a first time mom and I have to admit I go out with a fully stocked bag as well. However if we are just going to a quick dinner and the baby has already eaten, I throw a travel case of diapers and wipes in my purse and just go. Then I feel like a rebel.
Breann´s last blog ..Send money I need new stuff!