No one likes to be caught unprepared while out with her baby. Use our diaper bag checklist to make sure you have everything your little one needs on the go.

Think of your diaper bag as your to-go nursery. No, you can’t take every single teddy bear and bodysuit with you, but you want to make sure you have the baby care essentials packed up to keep your child happy and cared for when you’re out of your home. By keeping a list handy of what you need, you’ll be less likely to be caught empty-handed and stressed. You can even keep a printed copy of this checklist in your diaper bag to make sure you haven’t forgotten to replenish used-up items.

While this might seem like a lot to get into one (hopefully sturdy and easily washed-off) bag, organization is the key for your baby must haves. That’s why we split this into key groupings of products—you can keep them together in easily accessible pouches within your diaper bag so you can always grab what you need. Makeup or cosmetic travel bags are great to re-use here since they’re made to be wiped down (just remember to label them if they’re all one color or size). After all, no one wants to discover they’re missing wipes—or even diapers—once they’re mid-change! You can also pick up our handy Pipette Baby Travel Kit, which has minis of all the necessary on-the-go products for your little one in a chic pouch.

DIAPERS

This is what your bag is primarily for: changing diapers on the go! Make sure this pouch is sitting towards the top of your bag so you don’t have to dig through the whole thing to get to it.

• Wipes: These are your diaper bag MVPs! Not only do you need them for diaper changes, but you’ll want them on hand for messy faces, dirty hands and assorted spills. Pipette Baby Wipes include plant-derived gentle cleansers and built-in hydrators to keep tender skin soft and happy.
• Diapers: Make sure to keep at least 5 diapers on hand in your bag, and always check to make sure you have the correct size before you head out. Putting a baby into a too-big or too-small diaper is never a good idea!
• Diaper Cream: Babies’ skin needs constant attention to keep it calm and supple. Pipette Baby Balm is the ultimate in hydration, keeping even the most delicate areas hydrated. With 100% sugarcane-derived squalane and super-fruit pomegranate included, your baby’s skin will be moisturized and supported.
• Lotion: Dry skin patches can appear out of nowhere, so be prepared with a hydrating lotion. The lightweight Pipette Baby Lotion offers instant hydration and replenishes the natural moisture of babies’ skin.
• Disposable sacks: Having a disposable diaper sack to throw dirty diapers into is a must, especially if you end up changing diapers in your car or other trash can-free zones. Look for biodegradable options.
• Changing Pad: You can’t always depend on finding a clean surface to change your baby on, so bringing your own changing pad is key. If your diaper bag doesn’t come with one, look for a lightly padded option that wipes down easily and folds up neatly.
• Hand Sanitizer: Changing diapers is a dirty job, and you definitely have to do it. (Sadly, the baby won’t change herself!). After wiping down with hydrating wipes, go one step further to stay germ-free with a hand sanitizer for yourself.

Try: Pipette Baby Wipes, $4

TEXTILES

Your laundry bag will attest to the fact that your baby goes through a lot of blankets and outfits on any given day.

• Swaddle: A good swaddle blanket goes a very long way. Whether you need to bundle up your little one to calm them or because they get chilly when you’re out, having one or two of these in your bag is a most. Bonus: they double as playmats, breastfeeding covers, and stroller sunshields.
• Burp Cloth: Newborns need constant burping while eating and burp cloths will save your clothes from unfortunate spit ups. They’re also useful for cleaning up spills and other messes.
• Bib: Babies are naturally messy eaters, especially when they aren’t in their home high chairs! A bib keeps her outfits clean, which hopefully saves you from too many out-of-home changes.
• Bodysuits/Other Clothing: And when the bib doesn’t work or the diaper change is messier than you’d hoped for, having a change of outfit is clutch. Try packing a few options in her current size, in case you want a short or long sleeve depending on the weather.
• T-shirt: That’s for you, not for the baby. If you get messy from any number of things (spit up is high on the list), you can easily change into something new and clean.

SOOTHING

Diaper changes or just being out of the house can throw a normally cheerful baby out of sorts. Keeping just a few key items on hand to soothe her can smooth out the toughest of moments.

• Pacifier: If your baby is still loving her binky, pack a few. Pacifiers don’t take up much space, but woe be it if you’re out of clean ones and faced with a fussy baby.
• Toys: Whether your child is all about her lovey or obsessed with rattles, pack one or two small toys that will keep her happy. If there’s a particularly beloved toy, consider getting a duplicate for your diaper bag so you don’t have to worry about remembering to pack it each time.
• Book: Having a small book with you at all times means you always have an activity to do with your little one. Bonus points if it helps them go to sleep during a long day out.

EATING

Babies need stay fed while out of the house. While you don’t have to pack a feast, you also don’t want to be on a stroll through the park utterly empty-handed.

• Milk (Cooler Bag): If you’re pumping or going to be in a situation where you can’t breastfeed easily, pack your bottle of milk in a small cooler container to keep it fresh.
• Formula/Snacks: For older kids, a few snacks will come in handy—whether it’s cereal, crackers or cut-up veggies. Be prepared for babies who are on formula with either a ready-to-feed bottle or pre-measured powder and water in a bottle to mix together.
• Bottles/Sippy Cup: Pack up your pre-sterilized bottles and her favorite sippy cup in baggies so you know they are clean and ready-to-go.
• Water: A bottle of water is helpful for mom and toddlers, and a reusable bottle is ideal for days out.

Now that your diaper bag is totally complete, you’re ready to take on the world—or at least a day out in it.