Resources to help you prepare for a natural birth.

Diaper Bag Recommendations

You won't always have a lot to carry with your baby. At first it will probably just be some diapers and a clean set of clothes. Mothers who are bottle feeding will have more to carry than their breastfeeding friends. Choose a bag or two that will grow with your family.

Do not automatically think lots of small pockets makes a great bag. One or two small pockets can be helpful to store a pacifier or small toy, but make sure the pockets are big enough to carry the things you will need.

Also, don’t assume bigger is better. If you are taking your baby away for the night or weekend, use an overnight bag. A diaper bag should only be big enough to hold the items you need to keep your baby comfortable for a few hours.

Some mothers find it is easier to keep a separate, larger, bag for day care. This allows baby to have all the items necessary for a full day, but still provides the family with a more reasonable bag for family excursions.

Look for a bag that has a separate compartment for your wallet, phone, keys and other items you want to have handy but don’t want left in the bag by accident. This can cut down on the amount of bags you need to carry when you are out.

Special items to consider are an insert to bring home cloth diapers and an insulated carrier. Insulated carriers are generally only needed if you intend to transport breast milk.

Once you know what you need your bag to carry you can begin to decide how to carry it. Do you want a backpack bag or a shoulder strap bag? Do you want something with baby fabric, or something that looks like a handbag?

Key Considerations

  • Is this bag the right size for the amount of stuff we have?
  • Is this bag easy to be carried?
  • Does this bag allow easy access to the things inside?

Return to Top




You May Also Be Interested In:

Learn about epidurals so you can make an informed decision.

Explore the list of Recommended Childbirth Books and other products.

Find out about childbirth in other cultures and explore how culture changes your perceptions of pregnancy and childbirth.

Find out ways to keep a pregnancy journal.

Assess your pregnancy weight gain to see if it is healthy.

© Copyright 2000-2007 Jennifer VanderLaan and Birthing Naturally
Last Update October 2007


Home | Site Index | Disclaimer | Contact

Natural Childbirth Directory

 
Shopping Guides
The Birth Store
Infant Car Seats
Baby Carriers
Strollers
Diaper Bags


Departments

Pregnancy Nutrition
Pregnancy Exercise
Pregnancy
Monthly Guide to Pregnancy
Birth Planning
Natural Birth
Home Birth
Judging Progress in Labor
Labor Coach's Notebook
Labor Pain
Christian Childbirth