WHY EVERY MOM SHOULD HAVE BABY CHANGING BAGS
It was such fun preparing for the birth of my first child. I loved pouring over baby magazines, learning all I could about pregnancy, birth, and babies. As my due date neared, we began preparing for his or her arrival by securing an overwhelming pile of baby gear, including sleepers, diapers, bouncers, toys, blankets, bags, and more. After the birth we quickly realized that a lot of that gear might be considered unnecessary. Our son didn’t like to be swaddled, did we really need 10 receiving blankets? He only took a bath every few days, and we re-used the same towel, leaving three unopened packages of baby towels. This list of unused items began to grow as our young boy did.
Along with the items deemed useless, there were a few that came to the had of the pack as priceless, can’t-live-without-them items. I found that I couldn’t leave the house without a long list of essentials, including extra diapers and wipes, extra clothes, emergency bottles and burp cloths, and oh yeah, my wallet. It usually took me up to an hour to pack for even a short outing. I quickly realized that had I not been giving a baby changing bag I would not have a bag big enough to accommodate these sudden necessities.
Baby changing bags come in a variety of styles, sizes, and materials to suit every mom’s and dad’s individual style. The materials are extremely durable and stain-resistant. My bag wiped up easily after every spill or other inevitable mishap. I will even admit to throwing the whole bag into the washing machine after desperate attempts to rid it of the “mystery smell.” I can happily report that it came out as fresh as the day it was gifted to me.
The other thing I love about my diaper bag are the handy little pockets around the inside and outside of the bag. My Type-A self took enough of a hit upon having a baby whose needs I was obliged to cater to all hours of the day and night, throwing quite a wrench into my daily schedule. At least my diaper bag allowed me to neatly organize all of our baby’s stuff, where it could easily be found when needed. After I began to get the hang of “mommyhood,” I found it helpful to keep the bag stocked with extra items so I could grab it and go in a pinch.
To all moms-to-be I say, you must have a baby changing bag if you wish to survive for the next three years. Your baby will grow and his needs will change, but he or she will always, always need a bunch of stuff anywhere you go.
