In this post I wanted to share packing options to stay organized and always prepared.
Maybe you can see how OCD I am through this post. But I have been stuck with no diapers, or no change/ too small of clothes out and about before. Since I wouldn’t wish it on any momma out there, here are some tips.
In my previous company I got 10 days of maternity leave. 10 DAYS. Which I thought was crazy. With the pandemic coming around, I was then able to work from home for almost 8 months with my daughter at home with me. Then I changed jobs, and got pregnant with my son.
Low and behold, no PTO because I had not been working here for at least one year, and I only had 7 days total PTO accumulated. Again, thanks to the holiday season, and my boss’s travel plans to a different continent, I was able to work from home for about three months with my son.
Leaving both of them at daycare, only having a short amount in the morning and a short amount of time in the evening with my children has and is still breaking my heart.
So my husband and I are working extremely hard this year to pay off debts, set ourselves up for success and hopefully be able to live off of his work only. Until that happens, I have to keep my current job, which is allowing us to hopefully get there soon.
And all this rant being said, this is how I stay organized to leave the house at 6:30am and get to work.
What’s in my Purse & Pumping Bag
My son is currently a little over five months old, and breastfeeds and bottle feeds breast milk. But he is getting really chunky, and I think I will have to supplement him with formula and foods here soon. A fed baby is the best baby!
And even though I love breastfeeding, for the bond as well as for the health benefits, I do think that the stress in this job is affecting my milk supply. I sure am not going to let my baby go hungry.
Even when I work from home, on rare occasion, I have to pump, which is no fun to me. So in order to make sure I have all I need, I pack my bags with the following essentials.
- Large tote: I recently switched back to using THIS tote for my daily work purse, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s huge but also very light weight, so I can pack it with my work laptop, my favourite notebooks, essentials bag and pencil case (my daily one is very old from Bimba & Lola), and I know it will hold it all. Depending on the leftovers, I can even fit my lunch in it and my water tumbler (essential for breastfeeding and pumping in my opinion). My “lunch” bag usually also includes lactation bites, a small tumbler with homemade coffee and a breakfast of rice, eggs and kimchi. I like consistency… so by usually I mean always.
- Pumping backpack: This one is pretty straight forward. All pumping supplies and a Ziploc and cloth bag to put the breast parts in the fridge at the office is all I keep in here. I use the Spectra 2 which came for like $19.99 through insurance.
I did get all this through Aeroflow Breastpumps. [This is NOT sponsored!] You sign up and create an account with them. Then provide your insurance information and they reach out to them and lastly give you all the pump options that are fully or partially covered by your insurance. It’s truly an amazing program.
I chose this package because it came with the backpack to put all the supplies in that I need at the office. Not only that, but they also email you periodically and get you pump part replacements for FREE (with insurance of course) every couple of months. I used this with my daughter and again this time. I couldn’t recommend this enough.
What’s in the Toddler Bag
In 2022 we spent the Christmas and New Year’s season with my family in Brasil. And the most memorable and happiest time for my daughter was spending 3 days at my uncles farm.
She is a lover of all animals, just like her mama, but two horseback riding trips and this girl was hooked.
Since then, there is not a time she doesn’t speak about horses and notices them wherever they are. Pictures, billboards, cartoons… you name it. So the Bentgo unicorn backpack was the closest I could get her to that love of horses she has.
What I love most about this backpack is how functional and big it is. And trust me, it’s almost as big as my daughter herself. It’s hilarious to see her running around with it, and how happy she is. In the main, and largest compartment, I usually add a change of clothes. I love this Columbia jacket we got her, which stays in her backpack at all times.
Despite living in Florida, we have had some very unusually cold days recently. The last thing I want is for her not to be able to play outside at school because she doesn’t have a jacket. I also always keep a change of clothes, so extra pants, shirt, undies and also a pair of easy clean shoes.
In the next compartment I usually keep any paperwork the school needs signed from us, or anything else important. All pens and coloring materials they need and use stay at school, so she doesn’t need much more than that.
And the bottom compartment is my favourite part of this backpack. It will fit a full bentGo box in it, which is so practical and perfect for lunches. It even has a zipper for an ice pack if you needed that, but I usually pack her warm food to take to school, as well as fruit. You can see how a Tupper of pasta, one with oranges and kiwi and even a banana on the side fit.
What’s in the Baby Bag
Monday’s are the days I have to pack the most amount of items for him.
He usually needs clothes for the week in case he gets soiled. I also pack his favourite sleeping swaddle from Halo. I originally got this one because Alaia had terrible spasms which would wake her up startled and make her cry.
Luke loves to just hold onto the swaddle when he sleeps. Then of course I pack a Ziploc with my pumped milk, and ice pack to keep it cold. Lastly go a few bottles for the school.
We also have to bring him diapers and wipes when needed. But otherwise, his bag is the smallest.
What’s in the Diaper Bag
This is the only diaper bag I have ever owned, and I have not yet find a reason to change it. It’s the one I invested in when my daughter was born almost four years ago, and it is still amazing and incredibly practical.
This one is from Freshly Picked, and I love the peachy, light beige color, size and fact that it is not too girly. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for one yourself.
I keep it organized by using pouches and making use of all the pockets in it.
Some things I bring for my daughter. At three, she is thankfully potty-trained, but of course accidents happen.
Sometimes I also want to change her clothes, if she’s been playing at the park and gotten dirty, or especially when she gets into her grandpa’s and nana’s garden and gets all muddy.
She I have this clear travel pouch I keep a change of clothes, a coloring book for church, pens to draw, a drawing board, some little girl’s organic Chapstick (we are definitely in our girly, lipstick loving era here) and some gummies and a hair brush and also hair ties for when her hair gets unruly.
Then I bring several things for my son.
He is obviously then one with the most needs, but I do try to keep it very simple in an attempt not to include too many things that I won’t have any use for.
I also have a travel pouch for him with two pants, a long sleeve onesie and a short sleeved onesie. It also includes a pair of baby socks.
In another pouch I include some hygiene and bath items. Since we sometimes bathe him and his sister at family or friends’ homes who not have babies themselves, I prefer to bring these baby items myself.
I believe these came with larger items I either got gifted at my baby shower, or in a registry set up. I have a two travel shower and shampoo gels, travel baby lotion and extra travel sized diaper cream.
Then I have an extra pacifier and pacifier clip, which my son of course doesn’t take. He is not a pacifier baby. He prefers to hold onto a blanket or burp cloth. His are from Zara baby, but any cozy blanky will do. My breastfeeding cover has to be one of the most practical things I own and love. What I love most about it, is that it takes no fuss to use it. Simply put it over your head, and it covers my whole torso and my baby. I can even get it over my bent knee, and make sure that Luke doesn’t pull it up by mistake while he plays.
Then of course I have several diapers in different sizes and wipes. I always feel like I realize he has grown when I’m changing him at church or out and about. So I like having diapers on me that are a bit bigger than the ones he is using at the moment.
I have also been in the situation when someone at Disney World asked me for a spear diaper, and I had a few on hand that fit her daughter, who was 1-2 years older than Alaia at the time. It was perfect, and I hope I can prevent a difficult situation for myself or any mommy out there.
The diapers and wipes go in two of the pockets this backpack has, and the pacifier, pens and Alaia’s snacks in one of the side pockets meant for a baby bottle.
Since I don’t use bottles when I’m out and about with him, it leaves me with one pocket which I fill with creams.
These three are my basic and go-to creams I use on a daily basis. Nipple cream because even though my babies luckily latch on well, I sometimes still get very sore.
This organic all purpose balm which has become my absolute favourite cream to use on both my babies. It’s so good that I even my hands when they get dry and hurt.
And lastly some sun cream in a roll-on container, because it makes it easier for Alaia to want to put it on.
Looking back at all these items, it may seem like a lot. But with a baby, a toddler and a job to arrive early to, I feel like I can never be prepared enough.
Every person uses what works best for them. But I do believe that preparing the night before in calm ensures that nothing is missing.
How do you pack your bags to be ready for the day? Am I missing anything that you think is essential? Please let me know in the comment section below. I love seeing how other people organize their things to stay on top of kids and work!
Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope I could help someone out!
With love,
Yara