What’s the one thing moms can’t leave the house without? Caffeine! OK, you got me there. What’s just as crucial as caffeine to moms on the go? A diaper bag.
Your diaper bag is as handy as your actual hands. It safely and systematically holds everything you need for an outing with your baby.
But when the temperatures drop, don’t leave your house with only the everyday essentials. Yes, you still need diapers, wipes and baby food, but your baby (and you!) need a few extra things. You wouldn’t want to get caught in an unexpected winter storm without the essential seasonal items, would you?
Here’s what to pack in your diaper bag this winter:
1. Hand Sanitizer
‘Tis the season for germs. Cold and flu viruses thrive in winter. Unlike many of us who shrivel up in the cold, dry air, these viruses flourish in winter weather. People also tend to spend more time indoors where there’s poor ventilation and no Vitamin D, which can cause us to more easily get sick. So if you’re heading to the grocery store or doctor’s office, be sure to have hand sanitizer with you. Or if you’re like me, I always have hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes packed in my diaper bag.
2. Moisturizing Lotion or Ointment
Dry weather equals dry skin, and your baby’s skin will get chapped faster than yours. Sensitive baby skin needs to be kept moisturized daily in winter with a gentle lotion or ointment. I’ve kept a small tube of Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment in my diaper bag since I had my first child. It heals chapped skin and diaper rashes. I also have mom friends who rave about Tubby Todd All Over Ointment. This creamy ointment naturally moisturizes skin and is safe enough for newborns, yet strong enough for toddlers and kids with eczema.
Check out these 17 other body lotions recommended by dermatologists.
3. Lip Balm
Another thing you need to keep moisturized is your lips. Your lips don’t naturally produce moisturizing oils like the rest of your skin does. Lip balm forms a protective barrier between your lips and the cold temperatures and dry winter weather so you don’t have cracked lips. Dermatologists recommend using a non-irritaing lip balm or mositurizer with SPF several times a day and before bed, and applying it every 2 hours if you plan to be outdoors.
Here are some of the best lip care products to use in winter:
- Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment
- Smith’s Rosebud Salve
- Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lip Therapy
- Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
- Supergoop! Play Lip Balm SPF 30
- Sun Bum SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm
- Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
4. Sunscreen
Just because you won’t be heading to the pool anytime soon, don’t take the sunscreen out of your diaper bag. The sun still shines in winter so your baby can still get sunburned. Plus, if you live in the mountains or are planning to hike in the mountains, you’ll want sunscreen. It’s easier to get sunburned at higher elevations because there’s less atmosphere for the sun’s UV rays to travel through.
5. Winter Hat, Mittens and Baby Booties
Babies tend to lose a lot of heat through their head, hands and feet. A winter hat, mittens and baby booties or warm socks will help trap heat on your baby’s head and little hands and feet so she stays warm when it’s cold outside. If your baby leaves the house with these things on, be sure to pack extra ones in your diaper bag. You’re only one frigid breeze or foot grab away from a lost winter hat and socks. An extra warm blanket is another good thing to pack, although it may be too bulky for your diaper bag.
Did You Know? – A newborn loses large amounts of heat from their head because it is such a high skin surface area. Insulating a newborn’s head with a hat or bonnet and adding extra clothing layers on their body reduces their total heat loss. [1]
6. Extra Liquids
I knew winter was dry, but what I didn’t think about as a first-time mom was needing to pack extra liquids for my baby in winter to help keep my son hydrated and comfortable. If you’re breastfeeding, well then you’re always packing extra liquid. But if your baby is formula fed or is drinking from a sippy cup, make sure to have extra formula and water on hand.
And while you’re packing extra liquids, don’t forget to pack extra diapers. The more your baby drinks, the more wet diapers your baby will have.
7. Baby Carrier Weather Cover
Some moms, especially those with newborns, like to keep a baby wrap in their diaper bag. Other moms use a soft structured carrier that won’t always fit inside a diaper bag. If you own the latter, be sure to toss your all weather cover in the diaper bag to keep your baby warm and dry when you have to adventure out in windy, wet or cold and weather.
How To Use All Weather Cover
Are you a visual or auditory learner? Maybe you’re a bit of both? Either way, check out this instructional graphic and video to help you learn how to use an all weather cover for your Ergobaby carrier.
Explore Ergobaby Weather Covers
8. Car Seat Cover
Another cover you shouldn’t leave your house without in winter is a car seat cover. Since it’s not safe for your baby to wear a coat in her car seat, a car seat cover will help keep her warm and protected from the elements.
But before you buy a car seat cover, remember these 3 things:
- Buy one that allows for good air circulation, so your baby doesn’t overheat or have trouble breathing.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, so you use it correctly to keep your baby warm and safe inside her car seat.
- Just because it’s sold online or in a store doesn’t mean it’s safe. Double-check that the cover is approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Now that your diaper bag is winterized, learn how to get your stroller ready for winter weather.
