There’s never been a better time when it’s more important to have the bare essentials ready for your little ones than now. I wanted to share with you what I do to plan and prep in the event I need to grab a bag and go – let’s call it our “go bag”. This can be whatever you choose, whatever works best for your personal situation. I always have at minimum, one bag ready at all times, my diaper bag. I chose to have a rather large diaper bag from the beginning, a backpack style is my preferred choice so my hands stay free. I have an itzy ritzy bag and I absolutely love it https://amzn.to/3FZoFTh

I’ll also go over some items I keep in my car that just make sense and take little to no time or extra money to set up.

Here’s some things to keep in mind when you pack your go bag for your babies specifically.

• Clothing – I have a spare set of clothes that will at minimum work for the daytime and to sleep in. So for me, that means in my area it’s incredibly hot during the day and tends to be chilly at night. I like to keep a two-piece set for the day and a onesie for the night. I also keep a size up in a onesie tucked in at the bottom because well, you just never know. I always have two pairs of socks as well.
• Diapering – At minimum, I have 24 hours ‘ worth of diapers in my bag, which means 6-8 diapers. Always a brand-new pack of wipes, and a new tube of diaper cream. I love having doggy bags packed to keep everything clean should a blowout occur.
• Bathing – Something you probably don’t think to pack for, but you should. Especially when it comes to babies with skin issues. I keep an unopened tube of her medicated cream for her Eczema, a tube of hydrocortisone cream, and a standard travel lotion and cream for her.
• Medication – I do not leave the house without a spare bottle of Zyrtec and of course an Epi pen. It’s a nonnegotiable pack to keep in the go bag. I highly recommend when it comes to liquids to just pack a new, unopened bottle and forget you even have it. The last thing you want is a spill of sticky medication in your bag that soils everything.
• Water/food – When she was on formula I kept an entire unopened can of formula in my bag. Yes, a full-sized can of Kendamil formula lived in my bag for months and I would rotate it out for a newer one every 3 months or so. I also keep a life straw packed. It is truly one of the things I recommend everyone have either in their purse, backpack, or car. You will have clean drinking water, wherever you go if you need it. LifeStraw Personal Water Purifier for Hiking, Camping, Travel, and Emergency Preparedness I keep 2 water bottles inside too. If you have a little that is at the stage of eating whole foods I recommend always keeping a handful of snacks inside that you know will last a while. I love these wafers because it’s a simple snack and they come individually wrapped. Happy Baby Organics Teether, 3 Flavor Variety Pack, 12 Count (Pack of 3)

Let’s get into a bag for your car.

I have a simple caddy that stays in the back that has pretty much all of the above plus a few handy extras you might not think of.

• 6-8 diapers
• 2-4 water bottles
• Unopened snacks
• Spare charging cords for electronics
• travel toys
• Muslin blanket
• compact family-sized, waterproof beach blanket
• An unopened pack of baby wipes
• 2 burp cloths
• Flashlight
• Multi-use tool
• First-aid kit
• Sanitizing wipes
• Hand sanitizer

These are just some of the items I like to keep on hand for emergencies that are separate from my own personal go bag. Being in a military family, you just learn to stay prepared. That old saying is true, “it’s better to have it, and not need it, than need it and not have it” Most of these things you probably already have. They serve zero use if they are scattered around the house. So, take a couple of minutes and gather your essentials to keep in one place. It’s always a good idea to go through your emergency bags every couple of months and adjust/swap things out as your family’s needs change. How do you like to stay prepared in case of emergencies? Let me know in the comment section!

Until next time, stay ready, stay safe!

Kinda crunchy mama.