Dumb diaper bag question

Izzy0927

So DH is going to drop off at daycare in the morning, and I'll be picking up in the afternoon (separate cars, 1 car seat, 2 bases, then when he's too big for the infant carrier, a convertible car seat in each car). We'll be dropping off large packs of diapers, wipes, and formula to daycare as needed so there's no need to leave those for him with the daycare on a day to day basis, but does the diaper bag still travel with the kid?

Do we each have a separate diaper bag? Do we have one and leave it with the baby at daycare and then pick it up with him in the afternoon? Do BTDT moms use the diaper bag like a purse? Do you leave some essentials in the car with no bag? What even goes in a diaper bag besides diapers, wipes, and an emergency change of clothes?

Why am I making this so complicated?

psychobutthead

If all his daycare supplies are left at daycare in bulk then I would say no as long as DH has his own diaper bag in his own vehicle for those what ifs that happen.

Also I personally wouldnt leave stuff at a daycare in bulk. I worked in a daycare and the first time theres a kid whose parent doesnt bring in diapers or they run out we were told use the other kids stuff even though it had their names on it. I'm not saying all daycares are that way but yeah heads up on that.

michelle142

DH has always done drop offs and I do pickups.

We never left a diaper bag at daycare because all of the essentials (diapers, wipes, etc.) will already be there.

I kept a small tote in the trunk of the car for "just in case" we went somewhere other than straight home after daycare. Diapers, wipes, blanket, clothes, ointment, extra paci, etc.

ETA: most daycares have a cubby or a tote for each child for you to keep a few changes of clothes, blankets paci's and other misc. things.

Izzy0927

Thanks @psychobutthead‌ and @michelle142‌! That's what I was thinking, but wanted to make sure I wasn't totally not thinking it through.

michelle142

Trust me - I totally over-thought the whole diaper situation the first time around too.. lol Totally normal.

The first time we left the house for a non-Dr. appt. outing after DS was born, I think I packed half of his room in the diaper bag. All for a trip to the in-laws.... which was literally a block away from our house at the time!

jennjilljo

I'm not a daycare mom so I don't know about that but I keep pacifiers, bottles, diapers, wipes, blankets, changing pad, at least 2 changes of clothes, a hand held pump (or formula), burp clothes, toys, butt cream, lanolin (if nursing) and anything else that may make things easier that day in my diaper bag. DS was really bad about needing nothing when I was fully packed and everything when I went minimalist.

smg2302

We send diapers and wipes to daycare.  She has a bag that lives there with some of her essentials that she likes from home (a blanket, stuffed animal, etc.).  Her faves we got doubles of so we wouldn't have to  lug back and forth to daycare.  In both of our cars, we always keep a spare outfit, diaper, and pack of wipes for emergencies.  Her daycare bag gets sent home if things need a wash or she is out of spare outfits.

As far as daily use of the diaper bag, DH and I each started with our own, but we both like his better so we only keep one packed.  At the beginning, we carried diapers, wipes, changing mat, spare outfits, diaper cream, feeding accessories (for us a bottle and formula, for others BM, travel pump if needed), nasal aspirator, burp cloths/receiving blanket, and a couple of empty grocery bags for baby needs.  For me/DH I always packed a bottle of water, my wallet, keys, and phone.  I was only able to use the diaper bag as my purse a couple of times.  In addition to the usual purse needs, I have to carry and epipen and inhaler, prescription sunglasses, and some other bulky things, so I just carry a purse and diaper bag.  HTH!

HailsMom

We wouldn't take a diaper bag unless someone else was going to pick Hailey up. Most days we would be going straight home from DC, but if we needed to go somewhere first I would swing by the house and grab the diaper bag. I would keep diapers, wipes, change of clothes(x2), burp clothes, pacifier, and her little grooming kit that I would keep gripe water and gas drops in.

schnitz9

When we were looking at Daycares we were told not to bring the baby's normal diaper bag.  Per NC state law they are not allowed to have certain creams or stuff in the kids diaper bag.  There are sometimes things that we have in our bag that were would have to take out each and everytime.  they recommended a cheap tote. The school that we chose we actually don't have to bring a bag at all.  He will have his own crib with a dresser next to him.  In the beginning of every we bring clothes and they send it back to us in laundry bag that they provide for us.  They also provide crib sheets for us so we don't have to bring them either.  As for diapers he will have his own drawer with diapers and wipes that we refill every few weeks or so.  The only thing we have to bring everyday is his bottles with formula or BM.  They provide us with a cooler bag as well.

t8keepr03

When DD was in the infant room at daycare we took a diaper bag back and forth to daycare. They had hooks and cubbies for each child that we would hang the diaper bag on. This just had our daily essentials that we would take everywhere. We would keep diapers, wipes, change of clothes, formula etc. it pretty much had our daily essentials in it that we would need anywhere we went. We would leave diapers, wipes, change of clothes at daycare and bring as needed. We had to bring bottles everyday so those were in the diaper bag for daycare.

Now we take a back pack for DD with a couple diapers and wipes, change of clothes but it's mainly for whatever they send home with her and her sippy cup. This is also our diaper bag for when we pick her up if we have to go somewhere.

We always keep diapers, wipes in the car for emergencies.

Izzy0927

What would I do without you ladies? So much stuff I had never thought of.

Kayla*Marie

The diaper bag is my purse! I'm not a daycare Momma, but I the contents on my bag include diapers, wipes, changing pad, snacks, thermometer (because my DH thinks that if DD is a little crabby the first step is ALWAYS to take the temp! *eye roll*), my wallet, phone, id, inhaler, epipen, chapstick, random toy that gets changed out regularly in case I need to distract DD (usually a book), baby lotion, sippy cup, now an extra hat and socks, and a pen. My bag is huge and I can still have room for an extra outfit or two and blanket if need be. We load that thing down when we take trips to the inlaws!

And there is always extra bobby pins on the bottom too!

ConstanceGoodspeed

Our diaper bag is ALWAYS packed and kept downstairs in the case of an emergency. Twice we've had to rush to the hospital and we've rushed out the door last minute for other things, and it is great to know we can just grab the bag and DS' needs are taken care of 100%. I keep my health insurance cards in it.

For your situation, I wouldn't bring the diaper bag to daycare each day but you should have a small bag for him in each of your cars. You never know if the car will break down/accident, or you need to stop somewhere after work and LO poops, etc. Just diapers, wipes, a blanket, a toy, and a snack.

psychobutthead

CrazyCornball said:

I think you'll also figure out as time goes on, what you really need to carry. Mine now usually has sunscreen, bug spray, diapers, wipes, change of clothes, snacks and some cream. It used to have pacifiers, 1000 burp clothes, nursing cover, tylenol, change of clothes, tons of diapers, wipes, small blanket, etc. It all depends on the baby, whether you're nursing or not, how old they are, the season, etc. 

I agree with this 100% when DD was a baby i don't think there was anything that I didn't bring with me. But she was a puker so I always had tons of back up outfits for her and shirts for me.

Izzy0927 after the first few months you'll see what you really need based on how your baby is. 

Also I would only leave the diaper bag at daycare if theres a chance a 3rd party (grandma, aunt) would be picking up Lo regularly for you.

mommaa1615

FTM but saw this recently...pack a shopping bag/freezer bag for any messy/gross clothes!