What's in my diaper bag (when my kids are 2.5 and 17 months)

So, speaking of spring cleaning, today I decided to clean out and wash my diaper bag!  It was becoming overrun with receipts and just needed a good cleaning.  Anyway, while I was unloading the contents, I decided to snap a quick pic and share what I always have in there for my non-baby-now-toddlers.

So obviously there's the essentials... I always keep two diapers (my boys were a 5 & a 4 but can wear each others if needed) and a mostly used bag of wipes so it's not too bulky in there.  I also have a free sample Huggies changing pad pack I've never used but keep in there because you never know when you'll encounter a nasty diaper table and have to do a change.  I always keep diaper supplies at the bottom of my bag's main section because these days we rarely need it and I'm accessing other things more often.

Then there's the mom stuff.  I keep my wallet, keys (unpictured), a small pad to jot down quick notes or numbers or lists and a pen as well as a few of my favorite Chick Fil A sauces, gum, and *ahem* emergency equipment a lady may need.  I keep most of these things in a zip pouch in the front of my bag away from the kid's stuff so I can find what I need quickly (and this pouch is hidden so they open it less if I leave my bag out).

Then there's snacks, of course!  I always keep a bag of peanut butter crackers because you never know who will be really hungry and need a little protein hit.  I keep at least 3 Dum Dums on me because they're GREAT distractions when I'm pushing two toddlers through a grocery store or they're stuck in a stroller.  Our bank gives Smarties.  I only ever ask for two but they usually give me more and I throw the extra ones in the bag in case I need to pull out the big guns and you know, get like, 5 seconds of relief from tears or tantrums.  ;)  And then there's the apple sauce squeezer that's in there mostly so I feel like if they need a healthy snack, they have it.  Depending on our outing, I usually toss a couple bags of goldfish or pretzels in the bag too.  My oldest is over carts at the store so giving him a bag of goldfish to hold and eat keeps his hands off things and on his food and makes him less apt to run ahead of me.  I keep big snacks (like bags of carb-y things) on top of diapers and easily accessible and then the little snacks I keep in mesh pockets that line the inside of the bag so they're more organized and not just loose in the bag.

The "you never know when you'll need it!" supplies which is hand wipes and napkins and sunscreen.  You never know when hands will get grubby and a sink or wipes won't be handy or a major spill will happen!  Or when you'll spend more time in the sunshine than you expected (a good problem to have!). I also keep these in mesh pockets inside my back.

And finally, boredom killers.  I rely on snacks and suckers to keep my kiddos occupied, but when we're out to eat or waiting in a Doctor's office, it's so great to have one of these little coloring books from the Target $1 bins handy.  The come with crayons, stickers, and a book to color in the handy little pack.  I toss it in it's only little zipper section I rarely use and it's there when I need it.

OH and lest I forget DRINKS.  My kids want their drinks all the time.  I pack up two sippy cups of milk or juice before we head out and put them on the outside pockets of the bag so they can grab them and then fill a water bottle up and stick it in the bag for when/if they run out of juice/milk.  Sometimes I also bring an extra juice box to fill a sippy cup back up if necessary.  Once I didn't bring a water bottle with me and we took an unplanned trip to hike some trails and play at the park.  J had already finished his cup of milk and E had finished his.  They'd also already knocked out the juice box.  My poor baby was begging for water the whole way to the grocery store and I felt so bad for him!  NEVER AGAIN!

The bag I carry is a Ju-Ju-Be* messenger bag in case you were wondering...  I love it because it's fun and bright and just slings across my chest.  A similar one can be found HERE (they don't carry the style I have any more).  I could have never afforded one but received it as a gift and love to use it because there's SO much storage space and different areas for different things.

And sometimes, since my kids are older and we go nicer places for a shorter period, I do bring a purse. I have a larger pink and cream stripe J Crew bag from last season I LOVE and I've been using it a lot lately.  I just toss in my wallet, gum, keys, snacks, a couple diapers, wipes, and their water bottles and we head out the door!  Older kids still require a lot of packing, but it's nice not to have to take extra clothes and formula or ice packs for breast milk and ALL of that anymore.

*This is not a post sponsored by Ju-Ju-Be and I'm not being paid for this.  These are my own thoughts and opinions and my bag was purchased as a gift from a family member several years ago.