So my youngest babies, my twins, just turned 3, meaning we’re (almost) past the diaper bag days. For the last 5.5 years I have carried a diaper bag with me basically everywhere! As doulas, we get lots of questions about our favorite products, so I decided to share my favorite diaper bag essentials. These are the top 5 things I have used and loved!
1. EDEN & EMERALDS ORGANIZATIONAL POUCHES
Eden and Emeralds makes organizational pouches for pretty much anything you need! There are some for diaper bags, backpacks, reusable snack pouches, swim wet bags, and even custom pouches with your child’s name on it! Each word is hand-lettered in Jeleah’s personal style, and then either hand drawn or small batch screen printed onto the fabric. The bags are hand sewn in Dallas, TX, and each one is lined with a fun fabric! I love that Jeleah is a mama herself. I have owned an embarrassing number of these over the years. My favorites for the baby years were the mama, baby, and diapers pouches to keep my diaper bag organized. In the preschool years, I have loved having a custom pouch to go in each kiddo’s backpack to hold a change of clothes for school. I also LOVE the reusable snack pouches! Check them out at edenandemeralds.com and make sure to follow them on Instagram @edenandemeralds to get details on what pouches are dropping and when on the site.
2. SAKURA BLOOM RING SLING
Another of my diaper bag essentials is my Sakura Bloom linen ring sling. Y’all, this thing is so floppy and soft, but it is crazy strong. In a pinch, I know I could even sling my 5 year old up in it. It’s easy to wash, easy to wear, and so easy to care for! It means your baby can grab a nap while you wander around Target and actually drink your coffee without needing to microwave it (ahhhhhh), or you can skip lugging the infant carrier or stroller around (this is better for their hip development anyway). I promise you, once you practice a few times, the ring sling will be your best friend! Check out Britt Brown Marsh on YouTube to find out how to use the ring sling properly!
3. PIP SQUIGZ
These little suckers have saved my sanity on more than one occasion! They are made of high quality, BPA-free silicone and can suction onto each other, or any smooth surface. They are teething toys, rattles, building toys, and can be washed in the dishwasher. They will stick to a high chair, airplane tray table, restaurant table, stroller tray, and pretty much anywhere with a smooth surface! I love that they are easy to play with but not so easy to throw on the dirty ground. Trust me, you won’t regret having a small set of these in your diaper bag for kiddos of any age.
4. EARTH MAMA DIAPER BALM
This stuff is the real deal. It’s so sad when you’re out and about and you notice that baby is developing a diaper rash. I love all of the Earth Mama products because they are non-toxic and 100% organic. They are extremely thoughtful about every ingredient that goes into their products and that shows in the quality. This diaper balm is also cloth diaper friendly, which is not always easy to find. We’ve used this on everything from diaper rash, to knee scrapes, to eczema spots, to dry winter skin. It is truly multi-purpose, and packs easily in your diaper bag!
5. JUNE & JANUARY BASIC BLANKET
This blanket, y’all. This blanket has become part of our family in a way I never envisioned when I originally bought them for my twins. I had a vision of having them coordinate after they were born, so I bought these when I was still pregnant. They turned out to be the very best swaddles (because they’re stretchy) and the very best blanket to just throw in the diaper bag (because they’re compact). Now my sweet twins are 3 years old, and my daughter still carries her purple basic blanket around everywhere we go! It’s the best lovey.
There are so many other things that have cycled through my diaper bag over the years, but these are by far my favorites! If you want to shop any of our essentials, you can click on the picture to visit each shop’s website. Tell us in the comments what your most loved diaper bag items are!
