It seems there are hundreds of articles online giving moms ideas on what they should have in their diaper bags. It’s easy to see why this can leave dads feeling left out, because most men want to have their very own diaper bags to take around town. Not to mention some items in a woman’s diaper bag may be useless for a man. So what should a dad pack in his bag? Whether you’re already a proud father or daddy-to-be, some of the most important essentials you’ll want to have are listed below.
Before You Get Started: Find the Bag
If you’re not interested in the traditional diaper bag that’s carried on your shoulder, there are many more options out there for dads. This includes backpack-style bags that are incredible functional due to the large number of pockets they have. What most men like about these even more is the fact that they come in neutral colors so they don’t have the traditional cartoon or baby-themed designs that female diaper bags do.
Essentials for a Dad’s Diaper Bag
1. Diapers and Wipes
No man or woman should leave the house without diapers and wipes in their diaper bag. After all, you never know when your little one is going to need changed. It’s better to take more than you need, although there’s no reason to carry a full package of each in your bag. Most parents recommend one diaper and a few wipes for every 2 hours out. However, keeping an extra couple on hand certainly won’t hurt or take up too much space.
2. Hobby Supplies
If you’re taking your baby out with you to do a hobby, then why not bring your supplies in your bag? By doing so you won’t have to take a separate bag just to carry what you’ll need. For example, for a day spent fishing, monofilament fishing line is something you’ll want to have on hand. You can even use this for fixing a broken zipper on your backpack or tying a broken toy together, so it’s actually quite useful to keep on-hand even when you’re not fishing.
3. Food and Bottles
Whether your baby drinks breast milk or formula, it’s important to bring it with you for your outing. Fresh breast milk lasts for around 10 hours but only if it’s stored at 66 to 72 degrees. If it’s warmer out, then it won’t last as long (however, if it’s below 60 it can last an entire 24 hours). When it comes to bringing formula, it’s best to bring the powder pre-measured and a bottle of water so it can be made any time.
4. Change of Clothes
No parent wants to deal with a blowout while they’re at a restaurant or trying to grocery shop, but it’s an unfortunately reality. Do yourself a favor and stick an extra onesie in your bag just in case. For even more protection, bring an extra shirt for yourself as well; you never know when you’ll need a change of clothes from a messy diaper.
5. Plastic Bag
What would you do if you had to change a diaper but there wasn’t a trash can nearby? Or how would you transport a dirty outfit that you had to change the baby out of? In situations like these, you’ll be glad you have a plastic bag stored inside of your daddy diaper bag.
6. Tools for Garage Work Away From Home
Do you often work in the garage fixing things or working on your car? While you might have all your tools and supplies at home, if you go over to a friend’s house, you’ll have to bring your toolbox. However, if you are taking your baby, then you can carry things in your diaper bag instead. With so many pockets to store things, you can easily fit something like these different sizes of drill bits inside.
7. Changing Pad
While it would be ideal to have a changing table no matter where you’re at, this is very rarely the case. Fortunately dad diaper backpacks have dynamic designs that hide changing pads in sleek and convenient ways. Just unzip the bag, put the changing pad down, change the baby, and fold it back up. Due to the fact that this will fit inside of a zippered compartment, nobody will know what’s inside.
8. A Dad Snack
Let’s face it: babies are hard work! Although your baby bag might be for your son or daughter, that doesn’t mean you can’t store a snack in there for yourself. An energy bar or piece of fruit can help revitalize you right when you need it.
9. Pacifiers
Although not all babies take pacifiers, it’s essential to have on-hand if yours does. If your child tends to lose these easily, then do yourself a favor and invest in a pacifier clip. These are cheap and can save you a lot of money/frustration.
10. Backup Phone Battery/Charger
While men are just as capable as women when it comes to taking care of babies, sometimes moms know best (or just have answers to specific questions). To avoid not being able to get important because of a drained phone, a backup battery or charger will be appreciated. With this you’ll be able to rely on your phone when you need it the most.
What’s In Your Daddy Diaper Bag?
As a father myself, I must admit that learning how to fill a diaper bag took longer than I’d like to admit. However, one important thing I did learn over time is that every man is different with what they need. Some guys might need more and some may need far less. As time goes on personalize your diaper bag to yourself to ensure you have everything you need for an outing with your pride and joy!