Having a well stocked diaper bag is the first step to a stress free outing with your little one. When you have to take your fresh-out-of-the-womb newborn to their first pediatrician appointment, freshly postpartum, this list will make sure your bases are covered for that first outing!

A full checklist is available at the end, and includes links in case you need to add a few items to your cart.

Newborns need very frequent diaper changes, so chances are, you’ll need to do one during outings. So you’ll need diapers, wipes and a changing pad in your diaper bag at the very least. It’s a good idea to pack more diapers than you think you’ll need. A fair estimate is one diaper for every 2 hours you will be out of the house, and then a couple more for good measure. If you change your baby in your car, having little bags to store the dirty diapers is essential for your diaper bag.

I favor having a full pack of wipes in the diaper bag, as opposed to a travel size one. This means you don’t have to refill the wipes as often, and you also don’t have to add small packs of wipes to your list of things to remember to buy.

A lot of diaper bags come with a changing pad, but you can buy one separately, if yours didn’t.

Diaper rash cream would also be a good addition, as well as antibacterial hand wipes for your hands and to wipe down the diaper changing pad in public restrooms. A pack of antibacterial wipes for baby, as well as pacifier/toy wipes are also great additions to a well stocked diaper bag.

If you are 100% nursing, plan to feed your baby before you hit the road, and you should be all set. Just leave a little buffer time in your schedule if the clinic is a bit of a ways from your home, in case your baby needs to be fed again during the drive. A nursing cover can also allow you a little privacy when nursing.

If you are a pumping mama, you will need your breast pump and all the pump parts. Don’t forget to make sure your pump is charged. I loved my Spectra S1+, but after lugging it around in the car, I found the Pumpables Genie Advanced, which performs pretty similarly in a smaller and lighter package, and uses the same parts. That became my travel pump and worked great!

A ziploc bag or wet/dry bag for storing the parts and bottles is a great addition as well. If you will be away from home for more than a couple of hours, consider carrying a cooler or milk chiller to make sure your milk stays cool and safe no matter the temperature of your car or the places you will be. I like the Boon Frosh because it works with ice, which is generally easy to find when you are out and about, even at fast food places, and you don’t have to remember to freeze an insert the night before.

For formula fed babies, please don’t forget the formula and a few bottles of water. You can always buy more on the go, but the baby may not be happy to wait. Formula dispensers are more compact than taking the whole tin, and a great addition to your diaper bag for shorter trips.

For older babies that have been introduced to solids, keeping a shelf stable pouch or two, and some teether wafers or puffs in the diaper bag means you will not be caught without food for a hungry baby. And they can also offer some entertainment when the baby is bored.

A couple of burp cloths and bibs will be a great addition to your diaper bag for meals and spit up.

Babies can be a little messy, so having a change of clothes for the baby and and extra shirt for yourself can make messes go away quickly. The bags for dirty diapers can also double for getting soiled clothes back home if there’s a poop or vomit or spit up accident when away from home.

Let’s get ahead of boredom, which can lead to fussiness, especially if the car ride will be more than a few minutes. A hanging toy, some crinkly toys or books, rattles, or whatever your baby is enjoying at each stage.

A portable white noise machine is also a great addition to a diaper bag if your time away from home will include a nap or two. And a light muslin blanket to keep baby warm during their nap in the car or at the destination.

Having a thermometer, infant Tylenol (paracetamol) and a bulb aspirator in your diaper bag will have you extra prepared for long spells away from home. These are set and forget, and hopefully you will never need them. But if it’s cold/flu season, these can come in very handy to rule out illness if your baby gets unusually fussy.

Most baby items are generally pretty small, so choosing a bag with various pockets will make finding the needed items in the bag that much faster.

The list of items your tiny baby needs grows pretty fast. I often find that diaper bags are not large enough for my level of preparation, so I use a large handbag for pumping and feeding stuff and parent items, and dedicate the diaper bag to baby items.

Before you leave the house, don’t forget to plan for yourself. Wallet, keys, your charged phone, a change of shirt, a snack and a water bottle. Taking care of a baby is hungry and thirsty work! 

Placing the stroller and/or baby carrier by the front door helps make sure you don’t forget those items.

Now that the diaper bag is packed, please don’t forget it at home! And have a great time out. You’ve got this! 💛