Diaper Bags

What would a mom do without the ubiquitous diaper bag? When you want to venture out of your home with a small baby, there’s no telling what you may need. The best solution is to carry it all. Beginning with diapers and baby wipes to diaper ointment, baby powders and anything else that you may need the diaper bag can hold it all – and then some.

The most important item in a diaper bag continues to be the diaper. You can carry up to a dozen of the thickest diapers in the market in a diaper bag. In another large compartment of the bag you can put in several changes of clothes. Some other useful things to put in the bag would be bibs, baby cups, burp cloths, washcloths and of course, a blanket too. A towel is another essential item – in fact anything that you need to use on a daily basis should go into the diaper bag. You can put in some pacifiers and some essential snacks and food items. The diaper bag comes equipped with several cylindrical pockets to hold bottles; and if your baby is on solids you will have to pack in plastic utensils, bowls and spoons too.

It is actually a good idea to keep your diaper bag at least partially ready all the time. Some people have toys, pacifiers and blankets stashed away in their diaper bags permanently. You may want to add toys and books too.

In the past, diaper bags were little more than large plastic shoulder bags with two big compartments. They had the most preposterous designs. They were used because one didn’t have a choice! Fortunately, the winds of change have brought in designs that vary from the trendy to the stunning and classy.

And for moms who wouldn’t be caught dead near a bulky, single-colored diaper bag, there are designer diaper bags. Stylish bags that are functional too – of course, the price tag may dampen some of your enthusiasm. The simple design of some of the bags may fool you into believing that there’s nothing much inside. But, you may be surprised to see some nifty features like a pullout changing pad or special pockets for keys and cell phones etc. Most bags come with nylon linings so that messy spills do not ruin the bag. If you like colorful, glossy fabric but fear for wear and tear, some designer bags even have laminated covers to keep the outside scar-free. You can get diaper bags in sleek leather, which is waterproofed so you need not worry about spills.

One of the most attractive diaper bags I’ve seen looks very much like a purse, and everything inside the diaper bag – changing pad, storage bag, wipes case – can come out. So, you can ultimately use it as a purse. Another one of my favorites has a non-slip grip on the strap, so the bag will not slide off when you bend to pick something up. A great feature in some bags is that they can easily be attached to a stroller with rings and clips that are included in the bag.

Besides the cost, the only factors you have to keep in mind while purchasing the perfect diaper bag is size and comfort. Take a look at various models before you make the purchase. That way, you know what you are getting.

Diaper Storage and Disposal

Since babies spend a whole lot of time and energy pooping and peeing, storing soiled diapers and disposing used diapers are major concerns for parents. With disposable diapers becoming the third most common item in landfills, parents who rely on disposable diapers have to be aware of environmental concerns too. Considering that the average disposable takes about 500 years to break down, the threat is really huge. So, cloth diapers are slowly gaining lost ground.

Whether you use cloth or disposables, the first step in diaper cleaning is to separate all solid waste from the diaper. Discarded human waste contains bacteria and viruses that can cause illnesses. The best thing is to empty out any poop into the toilet. Many busy parents store soiled diapers and wash them periodically. Clean and safe storage of soiled diapers is important. If you use cloth diapers and all-in-one diapers store them separately before washing.

Cloth diapers can be stored using the wet pail or the dry pail method. In the dry pail method after any solid waste is removed, the cloth diaper is stored in a dry diaper pail until laundry day comes. Some parents rinse the cloth diaper before it is stored. Wet pails contain water that helps to remove any stubborn solid waste. But they are a potential threat because wet pails contain enough water to drown a baby. Keep wet pails in an area that is inaccessible to small children. Young children may even topple the pail inadvertently.

  • Pails should be Washable, tightly-covered, plastic-lined receptacles that support hands-free operation.
  • Rust-proof, have a foot-operated pedal and child-resistant deodorizer compartment
  • Covered with a firm fitting lid that will trap odor and will not cause water to drip
  • Large enough to hold all the stored diapers
  • Tall enough to prevent children from reaching or falling into the receptacle.

Always use separate containers for disposable diapers, soiled cloth diapers and soiled clothes. DO NOT mix soiled clothes with soiled cloth diapers. If you use the wet pail method change the water in the pail every day; even if you only do laundry once a week.

Diapers stored dry should first be run through a cold-water cycle to rinse out any waste before the actual laundering. After wash, always try to sun-dry the diapers, as this ensures total cleanliness. Sunlight destroys bacteria and also helps restore whiteness.

While washing cloth diapers, use mild detergent and hot water. Avoid detergents that contain bleach or fabric softeners.

Cloth-diapering while away from home:

When you leave your home, cleaning cloth diapers may pose a bit of a problem. Depending upon the place of visit and accessibility to a washing machine etc, decide on the number of diapers you have to carry. You will also need a plastic or waterproof tote bag to carry the soiled diapers if you cannot clean them immediately.

Diaper service:

New parents may find it easier to make use of a diaper service. If you have more than one child in diapers the service becomes cheaper. Hamper, pails, and liners are supplied by most services. Cleaning and sanitizing is done by state-of-the-art technology. Diapers are picked up and delivered to your doorstep every week. Some services offer disposable diapers too.