[mommamarci]

Okay, yesterday I caved in and bought a diaper bag. Of course as soon as I got home, I had to pack it, just in case! (We do not have a match but there is a woman interested in us that is due within the next month, so I figured we should be ready, in case.) So, I feel like I am missing stuff in it. (I hope not because it is full!) Please keep in mind, this is the bag that would go to the hospital and it could be anywhere in our state, so possbily a 6-7 hour drive (without baby, much longer with baby!) Here is what I have so far:
- diapers
- wipes
- travel size lotions, shampoos, diaper rash stuff
- boy outfit
- girl outfit
- extra neutral outfit
- socks, hat, baby scratch mittens
- 4 empty disposable bottles and nipples
- 2 blankets
- baby nail clippers, thermometer, suction thing (I know I probably don't need these things, but I am over prepared!)
- burp rags

I think that is everything. Have I forgotten anything? I have been told that the hospital will probably give enough formula, bottles, diapers to get home, but I did not want to take a chance. Let me know what you all think!

[proudmomof4]

I would be doing the same thing!!!

How about a few recieving blankets to wrap your special bundle in?

[momofmykids]

Extra liners for your disposable bottles.

[StorkWatcher]

You should receive enough formula for the beginning. Most hospitals I know give the premixed kind that are already in small, glass bottles with nipples you just screw on. They feed this at room temp.

I am always OVERprepared (HATE to not have something when I need it..)

• I always keep an extra onesie or two in ours. (In case of accidents).
• Be sure you have a couple different weight blankets (although they might not fit in the bag!)
• anti-bacterial hand gel (our hospital sent home a small bottle of it, and I still have it in there!)
• listing with phone numbers (friends/family to call, your HR or insurance people if you need to add baby on to insurance before you get back hom)
• maybe extra change for vending machines
• CAMERA!
• bib? Did you already have that down? In case he/she's a spitter
• important credentials, where applicable: you may both need your driver's licenses, a copy of any adoption plan, if you've worked one out w/ your e-mom that involves hospital time, if you need any paperwork from the adoption agency
• MY PHONE NUMBER! So you can call if you need anything and I can run it over

[Emster]

Do you have your car seat? They will inspect it in your car before they will allow you to leave. Make sure it is properly installed and you know how to use it. I didn't take that much to the hosptial knowing that there is always a walmart nearby for those things we might have forgotten. Also, a good tip, we learned because our little mittens were too big for Reid and fell off him, socks work great to prevent scratches! Don't forget your camera, too!

[mommamarci]

Thanks for all your quick repsonses! I have one receiving blanket and one thicker blanket. The bottles don't take liners. They are from a friend. The hospital gave them to her when she had twins. However, she is breast feeding and did not use them. They are 3 oz. and in plastic wrap. You just undo, fill, use, and toss. We have a car seat, have not installed it yet. I think we might soon just to be sure. We want to take it to the state police post and have them inspect it. I had heard that about the socks. (I think I packed 4 pairs of socks, so we will have plenty!!)
Stork- I have the onesies, different blankets, and bibs. (Forgot to add those to the list.) I take my purse everywhere and that has license, change, and cell phone which has all numbers programmed in (including yours!!). I have a binder I created with all adoption info and paperwork which is sitting next to the bag. I guess I should move the camera bag and put it next to the bag. I did forget the antibacterial stuff. Must get some! (Although I do carry that in my purse. I hate public restrooms!)

[StorkWatcher]

You crack me up. It's like watching myself go through this again. When Em asked if you had a carseat, I started to laugh. DOES SHE HAVE A CARSEAT? I'm telling you, this woman is SO ready to be a mom TODAY!!!

Great idea to have the seat checked out. I did practice w/ mine beforehand, which was GOOD. Some are harder than others to install (oh, sure - it LOOKS simple). I had a devil of a time w/ our LATCH system.

Our co. health dept (where we get our shots) gave me a free sheet for free carseat inspections. Ours is done every week at a local fire station. My friend had hers checked at AAA (Triple A), I think.

I did also take out and wash my carseat liner before (just because I love the smell of Dreft.....!)

[Emster]

omg--the first time I took out my carseat liner (after projectile vomiting occurred), to wash it I almost had a meltdown. You have to take the WHOLE thing apart to get it off and then try to put it back together the way it was. I just KNEW I was going to put it together wrong and put the little guy in grave danger as a result. thats the thing ulcers are made of!

[ValerieP]

It sounds like you are prepared! My only addition would be to consider packing a smaller bag to take into the hospital with you. (in it you might take one diaper, wipes and outfits). You can leave the bigger one in the car. The only reason that I say that is because when our daughter was born, the hospital packed 5 bags of stuff for us to carry back out to the car -- including the blankie she was wrapped in, diapers, formula, binkies (pacifiers), a copy of her birth certificate (blank), wrist bands she wore, and more... In addition, the birthmother gave us two toys for her, an outfit and other items she received while pregnant that we could use... (samples).

It took my husband and another gentleman two trips out to the SUV before we could even plan to pack up our daughter...

Enjoy this time. It is wonderful!

[DreamingAzure]

When I was doing a lot of traveling alone as a nanny(3 boys under 3) I had 2 seperate bags. One that could stay in the car that held all my "what if" stuff like extra outfits, long sleeve(in case it got cool), short sleeves(in case it got hot) etc, shampoos, extra diapers, my different weight blankets, refill wipes(I only carried the slim pack in my #1 bag). There is a LOT of "What IF" stuff on your list A second bag that can stay in the car makes for a MUCH lighter diaper bag and EVERY ounce counts when you are carrying the bag AND the baby & probably the baby carrier!

BUT I do want to add one more small thing to you list! A roll of small clear baggies to put dirty diapers in. I use to buy mine from the pet store, but you may be able to get them from wal-mart now. My boys were VERY stinky little guys, those bags were a life saver.

Best Wishes!! I hope you get your call SOON!!!!!!

**ETA** LOL guess Valerie beat me to it! LOL great mind think alike!! LOL

[StorkWatcher]

Dreaming - EXCELLENT advice. I do that now w/ the two bags, but didn't think to tell her.

The baggies? I bought mine at Target - they come in a 3 pack (usually) in small cylindrical red containers that snap apart. YOu can hook one at a time on/in your bag.

They're not terribly expensive, but if you want free ones, my mom reuses the long plastic bags that her newspapers come in every day (same for doggie duty). They work great and are very similar!

[Poleczech]

One thing that several of my friends advised me to do was have an infant sized outfit and a 0-3 month outfit, if the baby is full-term. You never know how big the baby will be until he/she is actually born, and a 0-3 would swallow up a smaller baby, but the infant sized won't fit a larger baby.


Other than, I think your diaper bag is as stuffed as mine! Our PBmother is due within the next 2 weeks and has already had one false alarm, so it could be sooner! Never hurts to be prepared!!

Best wishes,

[StorkWatcher]

I think I need to start a thread on what everyone's diaper bags WEIGH. It appears I'm not the only packaholic.... You should see me when we go on a quick overnight trip to my folks'!

[Hopp]

Just a quick note on the car seat...we went to a "class" hosted at our local hospital for $10/couple. They went through the different seats and then if we had one, installed it for us. If not, they helped us learn how to install ones in our own vehicles so we would have hands on experience. It was a great 2 hours.

[SchmennaLeigh]

Fire departments (sometimes only paid but occasionally volunteer as well) will also install/check your installation. My Husband's department does. Tiny installed ours in both cars. We're going to have him check our convertible over when we install it to make sure we're doing it right when we get it next month!