by Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Perfect Parenting and Kid Cooperation

Question
I’m pregnant and trying to do everything I can now to get ready for my baby. Can you tell me what I need to know about diaper bags? What should I buy, and what should I put in it?

Learn about it
I’ve gone through about ten diaper bags in the last fifteen years. One thing I noticed is that with each baby my diaper bag has gotten smaller! With my first baby I was ready for anything; I put everything imaginable into my diaper bag and lugged it all from place to place. I also continued to carry a purse, so by the time I added coats and a baby, I needed a U-Haul just to get from the house to the car! By now, I’ve reached baby number four and my diaper bag is ten inches by nine inches – and it even contains my wallet and cell phone! So, to save you a few years, and an aching back, I’ll share what I’ve learned about this ever-present baby necessity.

What kind of diaper bag should I buy?
Diaper bags have come a long way over the years. Many today are stylish carry-everything bags with compartments for all your belongings. While there are an endless assortment of choices, but there are similarities between bags, so here are the basic styles:

• Hand held or over-the-shoulder tote bag
• Many manufacturers have designed specialty diaper bags like large tote bags. These have two handles and/or a shoulder strap.
• Backpack
• A backpack-style diaper bag functions like any backpack. These have more length than width and tend to have a smaller opening than a tote bag. The advantage to these is that you will be able to have two hands free to tend to your baby or other children, stroller and anything else. Look for a backpack that is also easy to carry as a tote, since you won’t always want to sling it on your back.
• Other styles
• In addition to the standard diaper bag styles, you can also find diaper bags made as waist packs, stroller attachments, satchels, duffel bags, and more. Don’t rush to make a decision, because there are an abundance of styles to choose from.
• The not-a-diaper-bag diaper bag
• There’s no rules that says you must buy a diaper bag to use as a diaper bag. A large purse, beach tote or backpack of any kind can work beautifully. So as you shop, look around at all your options.

All of these bags also come with different inside features. Some have one large open space, and others have lots of compartments and built-ins. The advantage to the compartments is that your bag may tend to be more organized and it’ll be easier to find things. The disadvantage is that the size and shape of the compartments don’t always match up to your individual needs.

What size diaper bag?
Diaper bags also come in various sizes. You may find that the best choice is to purchase two bags. This way you can have a small bag for everyday errands and short tips, and a big bag for all day excursions.

How to decide which bag?
A key to choosing the right bag is to take a look at the purse you’ve been using, and to pick a diaper bag that has similarities. For example, if you enjoy a purse with lots of compartments, choose a similar style for your diaper bag, versus if your purse is one open space, lean towards the same type of diaper bag. If your purse is a backpack version, try the same for a diaper bag. Another way to gauge your needs is to examine the luggage, computer cases, and makeup bags that you’ve enjoyed using and figure out which features most appeal to you about these carriers and duplicate them in your diaper bag choice.

When shopping for a bag, take along a list of the things you’ll expect to carry in your bag. As you look through various bags envision the items on your list. In which compartments will you carry which items? Will your things fit in the designed sections, for example, will your wallet fit in the space provided for it?

What to look for in a diaper bag
Once you’ve thought about what kind of bag to purchase, keep this list handy for your shopping trip. Since your bag will get nearly every day use, it can be frustrating to be stuck with the wrong choice. Here are a few tips:

• Fabric Is it sturdy and durable? Will it hold up to daily use?
• Washability Can it be wiped clean or is it machine washable?
• Quality Are zippers, snaps and Velcro openings smooth and well-constructed?
• Straps Are the straps adjustable to your size, and to your partner’s size also? Are they comfortable and easy to adjust?
• Weight Is it lightweight? (A bag that starts out heavy is a burden when filled.)
• Design Will everything you plan to carry fit inside, without a lot of extra, wasted space? Will it still zip or fasten shut when it’s filled with your belongings? If the top is shut with a draw string will it shut tight when full?
• Size Will it fit in the bottom of your stroller?
• Compartments Do the number and size of compartments match your needs? Are they logically organized?
• Changing pad Is a changing pad included? Is it big enough for your growing baby without being bulky and hard to fold? Does it take up too much space inside the bag? (Changing pads that are attached to the bag aren’t at all practical.)
• Accessories Does it have the extras that you need? Are there extras that you’re paying for but will never use?
• Style If both Mommy and Daddy will be carrying the bag, does it have an appealing unisex design? Most men (and many women!) prefer not to carry a bag covered with pictures of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends!

Practical use
As you use your bag you’ll figure out what works best for you. Keep these thoughts in mind:

• Keep your small diaper bag where you normally keep your purse and coat. Stash your big bag in the car so it’s ready to go when you are.
• When you return home from a trip, unpack, restock and put the bag back in the car, or the small bag on your counter, so that it’s ready for your next event. Clean out dirty diapers, used bottles and old food as soon as you get home to avoid spills and smells.
• If your diaper bag is not baby-proofed, because it contains plastic bags, and small choking hazards, then always keep it out of Baby’s reach.
• Store your wallet and keys inside the bag, not in an easily accessible outside pouch, where they could fall out or be stolen.
• If you keep valuables in your diaper bag treat it with the same care you treat your wallet and purse – thieves know that diaper bags often contain money and credit cards.
• Put your name and phone number on your diaper bag in case it gets left behind on one of your outings.

Copyright Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

About the author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.

By Lena Hilltorp

Congratulations if you are a new parent! Aren’t you eager to dress your newborn in those adorable cute outfits but you must know that your baby will quickly outgrow them. So buying baby clothes can be quite a challenge and it will largely depend upon your baby’s growth and your budget. While you set out to shop for those cute outfits keep a few basic buying tips in mind.

1. Always buy a larger size. You will be wasting money if you buy clothes that fit your baby perfectly. Babies grow very fast in the first few years and buying a larger size will ensure a longer life for the clothes.Â
    
2. Take weather into consideration. For example if your baby is due in winter you’ll have to store your baby’s wardrobe with winter clothes. Baby clothes are labeled according to the age groups and when you are tempted to buy an outfit make a weather prediction first -What will be the weather like when my baby is of that age? In this way you will invest in clothes that will fit your newborn and also be seasonally appropriate.Â
    
3. Functionality of clothes is most important. The clothes should be easy to put on. One-piece jumpsuits, clothes with front buckles or snaps or zippers will be more comfortable for the baby. You must be able to change the baby’s clothes and diapers easily and for this purpose snap crotches and stretchy necklines will be of great help. Try and avoid buying clothes with buttons, beads or clasps. Do not buy scratchy materials and even if you buy clothes with frills and lace or embroidery make sure that they are easy to pull off and comfortable for the baby.
4. Store up for emergencies. Babies spill food all the time and if they become sick they may throw up on their outfit itself. You will have to change the baby into a clean set of clothes a number of times in a day. Especially when you are traveling with the baby and you neither have time nor the necessary arrangement for washing, you will need a lot of extra clothing for the baby.Â
    
5. Do not refuse Hand me downs. Your relatives or friends might offer you their children’s clothes. These may be new clothes that a child may never have worn for babies outgrow their clothes very fast, or these may be second hand clothes. You can add to your baby’s wardrobe in this manner.Â
    
6. Covering the feet is equally important. Those tiny feet need care and one-piece outfits with footies attached are ideal. Socks would be another alternative but most infants pull them off and if your baby is already walking or is able to stand up then you could go for those adorable little shoes with squeakers.Â
    
7. Wash the clothes first. Wash the clothes before you dress your baby. Clothes that you buy might have had a long shelf life, you never know! New clothes may cause skin irruptions and irritation. Washing will not only clean them but also make the clothes softer. A baby’s skin is extremely sensitive and you have to take extra care to keep his clothes dirt free. Before you go shopping for your bundle of joy keep these tips in mind. Baby clothes can be quite expensive so you need to know beforehand exactly what kind of clothes you are looking for, taking into consideration weather factors, the infant’s growth and your finances. You will never run out of options and shopping for your baby can be real fun!

Baby Footprints
Everyone loves sweet baby feet, and baby footprints are a classic symbol of a newborn. The first year of a child’s life is a time of remarkable growth and development.

Now you can preserve a piece of your baby’s first year forever with easy-to-use kit, which captures a perfect impression of your child’s tiny foot.

Anyone can make cute cards with a cherished reminder of baby’s adorable feet and hands.

Parents and grandparents will think this is the best baby shower gift.

For thank you notes or baby announcements after baby has arrived, use his/her real footprint or handprint.

About the Author:
Lena Hilltorp is a freelance publisher based in Sweden. She publishes articles and reports and provides Baby footprints resources on http://www.baby-footprint.net.