As a mother of a nine month old baby girl who has already been to five countries and numerous road trips, I have the diaper bag essentials down to a tee. When I first started out on this crazy little thing called motherhood, I found myself weighted down by the contents of her bedroom, just in case... Until my own always tactful mother pointed out that it was very unlikely I'd ever actually come across disease carrying mosquitoes that would warrant the portable insect net I carried around in the middle of rural Ireland. So I had a good look at the suitcase otherwise known as my diaper bag, and scaled down.

Here are my essentials, which apply to a trip that you expect to last around five hours, but with supplies for eight just in case the car breaks down, you miss the bus, or, if you live anywhere near me, are prevented from getting home due to a herd of stubborn cattle refusing to get off the road.

Age 0-3months:
-At least 8 diapers (your newborn is likely to 'go' quite a bit a this stage)
-At least 8 plastic diaper bags, personally I like the fragranced, colored ones, they save spraying your bag with Febreeze every day (who has time to wash the darn thing constantly?)
-Baby wipes
-Diaper ointment
-At least three pacifiers if you use them, they will get dropped.
-6 pre-sterilized bottles, pre-boiled water and formula if you're bottle feeding. I do highly recommend getting a little tub with sections so you can pre-measure the formula before you go.
-Breast pads if you're nursing, and a shawl if you feel more comfortable being discreet in public
-A change of clothes in case of accidents (for baby, not you...)
-Two or three bibs

Age 3-6months:
- At least 6 diapers (Hopefully the diaper situation won't be so bad by now)
- At least 6 plastic diaper bags
- Baby wipes
- Diaper ointment
- Again, at least three pacifiers, just don't get too attached to them...
- 4 bottles, water, formula etc.
- Breast pads and shawl as before
- A change of clothes
- Bibs
- Baby pain killer or teething gel
- Teething ring
- A couple of toys to keep baby amused

Age 6 months plus
- You could get away with 4 diapers at this stage
- Ditto the bags
- Baby wipes
- Diaper ointment
- Pacifiers, and I'd get a clip that attaches them to your baby's clothes, as you're probably sick of buying new ones by now!
- 3 bottles, water, formula etc.
- Juice cup and juice
- Teething biscuits
- Baby pain killer or teething gel
- Teething ring
- Food ( I put it in several little jars so as not to waste too much)
- 3 or 4 feeding spoons
- 2 zip lock bags, one for clean spoons, one for dirty
- Bibs! you will really, really need them!
- Change of clothes
- 3 or 4 toys

Above all, ask someone to get you, or buy yourself, a proper baby kit bag. They make quite stylish ones now, and the convenience of the built in changing mat means you'll never have the 'oh-dear-I-need-to-change-my-b aby-and-there's-no-baby-change -unit-to-be-had-anywhere' panic.

Learn more about this author, Siobhan S.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Diaper bag essentials: What you really need to pack?
We want to hear your view. Write now!