The top 10 must haves for your diaper bag and the 5 best ways to keep it all organized.

Sorry I've been away for a few days. Luckily a friend of mine gave me some blog ideas. If you've got anything you'd like help with, email me lisayunt@gmail.com and I'll try to research the topic and post it on the blog.

Still in the diaper bag stage? Have you ever lost a bottle of formula only to find it nearly exploded in the bottom of your diaper bag? Ever had a cranky baby and can't quite find that teething ring with out completely dumping your bag all over the floor? Here are some helpful tips to keep your bag organized.

1. Create diaper packs. Stock up on sandwich and gallon sized ziplock baggies. Place 3-4 wipes into a sandwich sized ziplock and zip it up tight. Place this wipes bag and a diaper into the larger, gallon sized ziplock bag. When it's time to change baby, finding the supplies you need will be no problem. Use the empty baggy to dispose of the dirty diaper or save it to use again. Make these packs no longer than a week ahead of time because your wipes may dry out. If our wipes do dry out, a few drops of water will fix them. Keep these diaper packs inside your changing pad to make them easy to find. I used to rely on a small, plastic container for my wipes but often found that the container didn't hold enough wipes or that it was awkward to get into while changing my baby. If you have room in your bag, re-purpose this plastic container as a back up supply of wipes.
2. Keep a large baby bag in your car. Keep a change of clothes for your baby, and maybe you if your baby is prone to sharing his/her "wipe out episodes" with you. Additionally, keep 3-5 extra diapers, a package of wipes, a few tubes of baby formula (if you're formula feeding), an empty bottle, a receiving blanket (can work as a blanket or burp rag) and perhaps a bottle of baby tylenol and teething cream. This way, you have everything you could possibly need but you're only carrying the essentials with you.
3. Tether that toy! Does your child have a favorite toy? Consider sewing a cloth loop on the toy so you can attach it to the strap of your diaper bag or an inside zipper.
4. Do you formula feed? Those little tubes of formula can get expensive! It's definitely a good idea to have these on an airplane but it's just too expensive for everyday use. Purchase bottles that have tops on them such as the avent bottles. Put the proper amount of formula into your bottle and cap it. When it comes time for feeding, poor the formula into the cap, fill the bottle with water and redeposit the formula back into the bottle. Most formula companies instruct to add the water first, then the formula. Does the idea of pouring formula back and forth make you nervous? Consider purchasing a small, divided snack container available at target or your local grocery store.
5. Purchase disposable spoons and keep a few in a ziplock bag inside your diaper bag. Rinse them after feedings and put them back in your bag so you're never without the proper utensils to feed baby.

The TOP TEN must haves for your diaper bag! (Supplies for 1 day)

1. 3-4 diaper packs (See #1 above)
2. Changing pad
3. empty bottle
4. formula
5. pacifiers or other toy to soothe your baby
6. bottle of food and or small ziplock of crackers or other treats.
7. disposable spoons
8. 2 burp rags
9. diaper rash cream
10. hand sanitizer

When choosing a diaper bag, make sure there is a separate compartment for your changing pad. A few separate compartments help but too many can be restricting and overwhelming. An outside pocket that holds a baby bottle and/or bottle of water is especially helpful. Consider a backpack style if you travel a lot or need your arms free to carry baby. Make sure your diaper bag is washable. A waterproof interior is especially helpful.

To make life easier, consider switching from a purse to a wristlet. Keeping your driver's license, a debit and credit card, your auto club and medical insurance cards as well as a folded blank check and some cash will keep you covered for the day. Sunglasses, car keys and your cell phone can slip into pockets in the diaper bag.