Inspiring Motherhood

...Finding joy in mothering...


Packing your Diaper Bag

Well, technically I haven’t really used a diaper bag. Instead, I found a few beautiful tote bags and hobo bags and have been using those after my baby was born. It has enough space for essentials. My sister uses a large diaper bag and she loves it. I have used backpacks for air travel and outdoor sightseeing trips. My husband can also carry backpacks on long trips. Now that I have a toddler, the stuff that I carry in my bag has changed so much. Gone are the days when I had to stock up diapers in my bag even for a quick trip to the grocery store. These days, I don’t take diapers if we are going to the neighborhood park or grocery shopping.

Here is a list of what I used to pack in my Diaper Bag broken up into different sections right from newborn to toddler years. Since, I was breastfeeding, I didn’t have to pack formula and bottle-feeding supplies. This list is just a quick guide for new Moms. If you are going on a long trip, you will need to pack lot more stuff. During Winter, I always end up with more stuff like extra socks and mittens.

Baby (0-6 months)

  1. Plenty of Diapers and Wipes
  2. Diaper Cream
  3. Travel Changing Pad
  4. Body Suits and other essential outfits for unexpected diaper blowouts or spit-up
  5. Hat, Socks & Mittens
  6. Burp Clothes
  7. Blanket
  8. Breast Pads
  9. Maternity Pads
  10. Plastic bags
  11. Pacifiers in a zip-lock bag
  12. Nursing Cover
  13. Hand Sanitizer

Baby (6-12 months)

  1. Diapers and Wipes
  2. Diaper Cream
  3. Travel Changing Pad
  4. Body Suits or other outfits
  5. Blanket
  6. Baby Food Pouch or jar
  7. Spoons
  8. Bottle of Water for baby
  9. Baby friendly snacks like banana or puffs
  10. Bib
  11. Burp Clothes or other towels to clean messes
  12. Plastic bags
  13. Toy for Diaper Change
  14. Pacifiers in a zip-lock bag
  15. Nursing Cover
  16. Hand Sanitizer

Toddler (12-18 months)

  1. Diaper and Wipes
  2. Diaper Cream
  3. Travel Changing Pad
  4. Toddler Snacks or Pouches
  5. Sippy Cup with Milk/Juice/Water
  6. Tissues, Napkins & Towels
  7. Toy for Diaper Change
  8. Pacifiers in a zip-lock bag
  9. Hand Sanitizer

Toddler (18 months – 2.5 years)

  1. Snacks like cheerios or Pouches
  2. Candy or chocolate (has helped me during toddler tantrums)
  3. Juice box or Water bottle
  4. Tissues, Napkins & Towels
  5. Hand Sanitizer
  6. Small Toy

Extras

  1. Bottle feeding supplies
  2. Sunscreen
  3. Summer Hat
  4. Moisturizer or Vaseline specially for winter
  5. Tylenol or other medications
  6. Thermometer
  7. First-aid essentials like bandaid or neosporin
  8. Socks and Mittens in winter
  9. Spare Outfit for toddler
  10. Bug Spray

Mix and Match your Toddler Outfits

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Dressing Your Toddler for Summer

Summer is here and I thought I would come up with an essential list of clothes for your toddler boy. You don't have to spend a lot on summer clothes. Most of the time your little boy will be running around in tees and shorts. Now that my baby has grown up, I love to shop Mom-to-Mom Sales for stocking up on clothes. I am also grateful to family and friends who have gifted us with beautiful outfits. Essentials or Basic Clothing Body Suits/Onesies – 5 Nos. I love these while my toddler … [Read More...]

Dressing your Toddler for Winter

When we moved up North after our baby turned a year old, I was dreading the cold and snowy Northern Winters. I loved living in the South and had been used to the mild winters. I really didn't realize how many more layers we needed to keep warm during snowy days until last winter. In general, most people recommend that parents put one more layer on a child than they themselves need to stay warm. I would take my son outside to play until the weather hit the -10C mark. If the temperature fell … [Read More...]

Stylish Outfits for Baby & Toddler Boys

Have you often wondered how you can turn your baby or toddler boy's casual outfit into something dressy or stylish? You don't have to spend a lot of money on dressy outfits if you use accessories . My little one has way too many casual clothes like tees and jeans. If I want to dress him up a bit for a birthday party or church, I use a few accessories. Here are my favorite accessories for boys: Hats - Fedora, Bucket etc. Bow Ties Suspender Belts Open-front Vests like the … [Read More...]

Importance of Progesterone in Pregnancy

Progesterone is a hormone which is very important in sustaining a pregnancy. The progesterone levels rise after ovulation, preparing the uterine lining for implanation. If a woman is not pregnant, the progesterone levels will fall just before mensuration. If a woman is pregnant, the progesterone levels should remain elevated inorder to have a healthy pregnancy. The Corpus Luteum is responsible for the production of Progesterone in the early stages until the placenta takes over the production by … [Read More...]

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A Chemical Pregnancy is the Medical Term for a Very Early Miscarriage which occurs shortly after implantaion. A Woman may find out she is pregnant using Home Pregnancy Tests or HCG Blood Tests few days before her period is due, but unfortunately, miscarriage occurs before a gestational sac/ heartbeat is seen through ultrasound. When the pregnancy develops to the point that ultrasound could confirm the existence of the pregnancy, the term becomes Clinical Pregnancy. Thus, a chemical … [Read More...]

Importance of Fertility Awareness

Your Menstrual Cycle and associated Biomarkers can reveal amazing facts about your body. Cervical Mucus is an amazing Biomarker which can be used for monitoring one's gynecologic heath and fertility. Similarly, if you keep track of your bleeding patterns and ovulation, you can learn a lot about your body. By charting your Cervical Mucus and Basal Body Temperature or in other words, Fertility Awareness can help you determine if you are in your Pre-Ovulatory or Post-Ovulatory Phase. You can easily … [Read More...]

Fertility of the Female Body (Fertility Awareness)

The Female Body is so complex and wonderful. Women have always been clouded in mystery when it comes to the working of their bodies. Many of us cannot comprehend Menstrual Cycles, Ovulation, PMS (Pre Menstrual Syndrome), hormones and other changes which take place in our body. You no longer need to remain unaware. Thanks to Fertility Awareness which was initially promoted by the Roman Catholic Church! With a little bit of study, you can fully comprehend how your body works. Fertility … [Read More...]

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