Diaper Bag Essentials: Powders, Creams and More

It's a two-hour drive to my in-laws' home, and as we approach the half-way mark, I detect a particularly noxious odor coming from the general direction of my 18-month-old son's car seat. Luckily, just ahead lies the exit to a small town along the way. My husband pulls into the gas station, and I get out of the car to get the baby. Upon unhooking the car seat, though, the extent of the disaster is apparent: A blow-out diaper has covered the seat, and the baby in poop. Yes, poop.

As a parent, diaper disasters have become a part of everyday life, but when I first brought my son home, I wasn't fully prepared for the unexpected messes that come along with infants and toddlers. Unfortunately these messes do not confine themselves to days at home when cleanup is simple. All to often they occur when we're away from home with my diaper bag for my only resource.

Gratefully I've learned to always come prepared, much like a boy scout. I have refined my diaper bag contents to perfection and so no disaster, no catastrophe, no blowout escapes my control...assuming I didn't forget the diaper bag. Knowing what to pack can make outings with your new baby, or not-so-new baby, much less daunting. Here is my list of the top ten diaper-bag essentials.

Sam's Club Member's Mark Diapers: The commercial says "Live and learn, and then get Luv's." Well I did, and I wasn't pleased. So after reading a great review in a parenting magazine, I decided to give the Sam's Club brand diapers a try. My conclusion, these diapers match Huggies, the preferred brand among my less price conscious friends, for performance, and they are the best economical diaper available. They don't carry newborn sizes, at least not the last time I checked, so for smaller sizes I do recommend Huggies. However most baby's will grow out of the small size diapers in no time, and then you can save yourself some money by purchasing these workhorses.

Homemade Baby Wipes: OK, I know the jaws of all you busy mom's just dropped at the thought of spending extra time making baby wipes, but all honesty it's worth it. I'm a big fan of keeping chemical laden products away from my children, and after reading the ingredients on my baby wipes I was frankly disgusted. My policy, if I don't know what it is, I'm not putting it on my baby. Making wipes really isn't all that time consuming and can actually be more cost efficient. Try this recipe.

You'll need one plastic container (I use Gladware), one roll of paper towels (I like Bounty because they're soft and strong), two cups boiling water, one tablespoon baby bath (I use Koala Kids Body Wash from Melaleuca.com), one and a half tablespoons baby oil (I use Renew Bath Oil, also from Melaleuca.com). Cut the paper towel roll in half with a serrated or electric carving knife, and remove the cardboard from the middle. Mix the baby bath and baby oil with the boiling water and pour the mixture over the paper towels in the container. You could also use Avalon Baby organic products for the baby bath and baby oil. Put a few in a Ziploc baggy to keep in your diaper bag. (This recipe courtesy of childbirth.org)

Desitin Diaper Cream: I know, I know, it's not herbal, organic, or botanical, but it works the best. I've tried a lot of other diaper creams and ointments, including some organic formulas, and none work as well as the original Desitin. When my baby's uncomfortable, I'll set aside some of my ideals to make him better.

California Baby Calming Baby Powder: It's true, talc based baby powders are not good for your baby's skin, but this natural powder containing cornstarch and natural clay will help keep your baby's diaper area and little chubby baby folds dry and prevent chafing. It also contains Tea Tree and French Lavender essential oils.

Huggies Disposable Changing Pads: Even though I use reusable diaper pads at home where it's easy to throw them in the wash, I don't want to carry around a soiled changing pad when I'm out about town. These disposable pads are great for protecting baby from "germy" public changing tables, and come in especially handy for diaper messes that have leaked up their back or down their legs.

One Gallon Ziploc Bags: Keep several in you diaper bag to contain soiled or wet baby clothes.

Hand Sanitizer: Not every on the go diaper change can be made in a restroom. Sometimes mom's are stuck with the back seat or a blanket in the park. Don't carry around germs that will get transferred to your hands from your baby's diaper. Keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag for just such an occasion. Sanitize your hands often to avoid spreading germs from you to your baby as well.

Playtex Fridge to Go Insulated Cooler: Diaper bags aren't just for changing emergencies, you also need to come prepared for any feedings that your baby will need while you're out and about. Whether baby is still bottle feeding or you need to pack some fruit or vegetable puree, this handy insulated cooler is the best for keeping baby's meals cool.

Disposable Bibs: More convenient than worrying about regular bibs that need to be cleaned off after meals, these can be thrown away after feeding.

Antibacterial Wipes: In addition to your diaper wipes, keep some disinfectant wipes handy for wiping off high chairs, shopping carts, and other possibly contaminated surfaces. I like Clear Defense Sanitizing Hand Wipes from Melaleuca.com.

Well, now you know what to put in your diaper bag, you're almost prepared for any emergency while you're away from home with your little one. I have only two other recommendations, inspired by the story I shared with you at the beginning of this article. Consider getting a stylish car seat cover from bellababycompany.com and keeping your old car seat cover in the trunk just in case of a leaky or blow out diaper, or even spilled juice or food. Also, fill one of those one gallon Ziploc bags with a couple of extra diapers, another baggy of wipes, a changing pad, and an extra change of clothes and stow it in the trunk in the inevitable event that your diaper bag turn out to be out of stock. Follow these tips and you'll be better than a boy scout, you'll be a mom scout.