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You are about to head out of the house on your first outing with the new baby. You've remember to get dressed, put the baby in one of the thousand cute outfits you have been given, and you are feeling exciting to finally get out. But wait! Have you packed the diaper bag yet?

Some parents would say there is an art to packing the diaper bag. If you pack too light your risk not having something important and possibly needing to buy a last minute replacement. Depending where you are this could mean spending nearly twice as much! Yet overpacking has its own disadvantages as well. If there is too much stuffed into your diaper bag it will be heavy to carry and difficult to find what you need inside. So what should you pack in your diaper bag?

Starting with your baby's needs pack a few of the basics. A travel sized pack of baby wipes, three or four diapers, and a change of clothes is a great start. Parents who cloth diaper will also need to include a wetbag to store dirty diapers in, a set of cloth wipes, and a small water bottle to use for spraying water. You may also want to include a small tube of diaper rash cream or ointment, a small bottle of hand sanitizing gel, and a small towel or light baby blanket for spit-ups and accidents.

Formula fed babies will also need a bottle or two and their formula. It can be easier for parents who are going out to premeasure the powdered formula they will need and have this in the bottle already. Then you can buy or bring along a bottle of clean water to mix with the formula when your baby gets hungry.

Of course the parents will need a few things as well. Breastfeeding mothers will need an extra shirt in case of leaks. Special breastfeeding pads for the bra that absorb excess milk is also good to bring along. Do not forget to grab your cell phone if you have one, a list of important phone numbers in case of emergencies, and your camera. You never know when your baby is going to do something that needs to be captured in a photo!

If you do not want to be stuck carrying your baby around in the bulky and heavy car seat carrier, you should also pack a good baby carrier. There are several different styles you can use, such as a HotSlings pouch or a Moby wrap. Most of these cloth carriers will fold easily and fit in any diaper bag.

Now your diaper bag is all set and you are ready to head out with your new baby. Enjoy getting out of the house and have fun.

Learn more about this author, Summer Minor.
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