What I NEVER Leave Home Without (as the mother of a one year old)

These days look so different than my pre-kid days. I used to carry a sleek bag, usually Kate Spade or Coach or something fancy with a million things inside. Notebooks, water bottles, iPad, wallet, keys, makeup bag. The works. And then I had a baby and it because FAR TOO MUCH brainpower to try to remember all of my things AND all of the baby things. Can’t do it. Not with mom brain. SO that being said – I still wear a small belt bag out and about for my essentials and I carry a bag full of Jack things. Check out what we can’t leave home without below. It’s nothing groundbreaking but this is what works for us!

What I NEVER Leave Home Without (as the mother of a one year old)

In my belt bag:

Wallet
Keys
Lipgloss
AirPods
Sunglasses

In my diaper bag:

3-5 fresh diapers
Change of clothes
Sippy cup with water
Puffs
Baby wipes
Bibs
Hand sanitizer
Baby sunscreen
Little sunglasses
3-5 little toys

I have switched over from a traditional diaper bag to a clear, plastic backpack for Jack. No, it’s not as aesthetically pleasing (sigh) BUT it’s made my life like…a MILLION times easier. Those beautiful, aesthetic diapers bags are amazing. I totally get it. But I could never. find. anything. Ever. I was CONSTANTLY digging around and losing everything and anything that I threw in my diaper bag. With this clear backpack, I can keep it stocked, throw it on my back and I can always see where everything is. There is no losing things. I carry significantly less things around with me now that Jack is no longer a newborn and I think with the next baby, I won’t try to stuff the diaper bag quite as full. I definitely over carried and over packed when Jack was first born. Nowadays, I firmly believe less is more. Mainly as long as I’ve got extra diapers I’m typically golden.

PIN THIS FOR LATER:

I have found that I love going places with my little man, but it’s SO stressful to realize you left something behind at the house that you need for your baby. I tend to keep a little bag stocked with wipes, diaper and a fresh onesie in the back of the car JUST IN CASE I somehow forget Jack’s bag. Every couple months I switch out the diaper with the next size up and just make sure it’s ready to go in an emergency.

What do you never leave home without when you have kiddos?!