This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HappierFirstMoments #ForBetterBeginnings #CollectiveBias

There is a lot of thought that goes into packing a diaper bag. You don’t want to pack too much, making the bag heavy and bulky, but you also don’t want to forget anything. Today I’m going to go through what we like to pack in Elle’s diaper bag on a daily basis.

Since it’s summer in Chicago and the weather is nicer than the colder months, we like to spend longer chunks of time outside and need a few more essentials to get us through the day without any meltdowns. I like to ALWAYS be prepared for the unthinkable, but not go overboard and bring anything that we don’t need.

I’m going to go through everything in the bag down below, but first I want to start off with the most important part {besides the diaper bag itself}. That would be the bottles and her food. Elle doesn’t cry much, but when she is HANGRY girlfriend can wail and won’t stop until she eats.

The bottles we are using these days are Playtex Baby™ Nurser with Drop-Ins® Liners and the reason we chose these specifically is the fact that they are designed for your baby’s unique needs. These bottles are BPA-free and come with easy-to-dispose liners for extra convenience and perfect for on the go.

When Elle was first born we tried breastfeeding and these were great because this specific bottle simulates the same suck, swallow, and breathing patterns as breastfeeding.

Now Elle is formula fed, but we still have continued to use these bottles. I’m a huge fan of the disposable liners that are not only great with clean up, but also aide in an air-free feeding that helps reduce with colic.

Now onto everything else that goes into the diaper bag…

DIAPER BAG
Let’s first start with the diaper bag itself. Before Elle was born, I put a lot of consideration in choosing what I believe to be the perfect one. First of all you want it to be light weight because there will be a lot heavy items going into it that will weigh it down. You also want it to be a unisex color and husband friendly because he will be using it too and might not be too interested in carrying something around that is hot pink. Lastly, lots of pockets as well as a changing pad is key and comes in very handy. I went with this black one from LeSportsac because it checked off all my boxes and is also easy to wash and wipe.

BIBS & BANDANA BIBS
I always like to bring 2-3 bibs as well as 2-3 banana bibs with me. I use the bibs while feeding Elle and the bandana bibs for before and after to soak up all the drool and spit up. Elle is 7 months now and has started teething so there is lots and lots of drool.

HAT & SUNGLASSES
Since it is summertime in Chicago and we are outside a lot, a hat and sunglasses are both essential. Elle doesn’t like getting the sun in her eyes so these are both great for swinging in the park, pool time, and picnics.

DIAPERS & WIPES
I usually like to have 5 diapers in the bag at all times as well as an entire package of wipes. You never know when there will be an accident so it’s important to be prepared. I also like to use wipes for EVERYTHING. They are honestly the best!

SUNSCREEN
Since it is summer, I like to have some sunscreen in our diaper bag. I don’t always use it, but if Elle is exposed to the sun for large chunks of time, I like to apply some on her since she has fair skin.

TEETHING TOY
I always like to have at least one small toy in the bag. It is great for keeping her entertained and right now she is a fan of putting everything in her mouth so it is good to have on hand.

EXTRA OUTFIT, SWEATER, & SOCKS
I am always panicking about the temperature of my baby. Is she too hot? Is she too cold? Is this just me or does every mom feel this way? I like to always have an extra outfit incase of accidents. I also always have a sweater and 2 pairs of socks in the bag incase it gets cold.

BURP CLOTHS
I like to keep 2-3 burp cloths handy. I use them for feedings, cleaning up spit-up and drool, and also Elle sometimes likes to just chew on them and play with them.

BLANKET
I also always keep a baby blanket in the bag. It is great to use if Elle gets cold or for her to play on when we are outside or at a friend’s house.

BOTTLES & FORMULA
Lastly and most importantly bottles and formula. During these summer months we never know exactly how long we will be outside. It is important to be prepared at all times with Elle’s food! I like to always bring 2 bottles as well as 3 packed feedings. As I stated above, the bottles of we use are Playtex Baby™ Nurser with Drop-Ins® Liners. They are especially great for on the go because of their disposable drop-in liners and easy clean up.

So there you have it. Everything we like to include in Elle’s diaper bag. As she gets older, I’m sure we will make subtle tweaks to what we bring, but in the meantime this is what we like to always have on hand.

If there are any items you think this first time mom is missing, please let me know!

Interested in trying out these bottles for yourself? You can find them at Target. Download Cartwheel and save 25% on Playtex Baby Bottle Gift Sets {Nurser or VentAire} 7/15-7/28 by clicking here or the coupon below:

Also, you can shop the Playtex Baby™ Nurser Gift Set with Drop-Ins® Liners by clicking on the photo below: