When I had my first baby, as an inexperienced mom, I hated having to trek up and down the stairs to attend to the stinky pants. I was also confused about what to put in my portable diaper caddy as I wanted to have one when I took my baby to my parent’s house. My sister suggested that I have two organized diaper caddy for downstairs and upstairs beside the changing station and also one for taking the baby out. And that changed my life! I’ve found that the key to making diaper caddy useful, is to regularly check and update the things I need to store in the caddy to meet the baby’s current requirements.
Babies normally require a lot of diaper changes in the first few months of life, and a properly organized diaper caddy is a must-have for new moms. Like shower caddies holding all bathroom essentials, a diaper caddy should hold just everything a baby needs for a diaper change or when rashes and insect bites start creeping in.
So…
What to put in a diaper caddy? (Diaper caddy essentials)
Technically, a portable caddy should hold all baby essentials that can be arranged neatly into its slots and especially needed when taking the baby out for a doctor’s visit or general outings.
Here’s a list of things that your caddy shouldn’t be without:
Diapers
Babies usually require up to 10 or more diaper changes in a day. Have this handy on your diaper caddy for you to easily reach up when there need arises.
Wipes
Go for antibacterial wipes when stocking up. While it’s ideal to wash baby’s bum during a diaper change, wet wipes can also do the job.
Changing pad
Having a changing pad is an easy way to protect the couch, bed, floor, or table when changing nappies. It also ensures a soft space for baby to lay upon.
Diaper cream
Nothing is more painful to a baby than a diaper rash. Have diaper cream handy to quickly make them go away.
Nasal aspirator
You will need this after each bath time to collect accumulation on the baby’s nose. This even more useful when the baby has colds.
Pacifier
I like storing an extra in your diaper caddy. Make sure it’s sealed with a cover to keep microbes away. Great for giving comfort to the baby.
Baby Lotion
Whether it’s to moisturize the baby’s skin or to prevent eczema, always have one within reach.
Nail clippers
You won’t believe how fast those fingernails and toenails grow on your baby. Always have one handy.
Thermometer
Get a Braun thermometer for the easy scan of baby’s temperature before a bath or when needed.
Toy
Most babies do not stay still during diaper changes. Toy is great for visual and tactile stimulation. Make sure it’s babyproofed and clean all the time though.
Hand sanitizer
Your hands will do a lot of cleaning. Do make sure it’s clean, too, before touching baby.
The key to choosing what goes into a diaper caddy is to assess what your own baby needs on a daily basis and update and stock it up.
What is the best diaper caddy?
There are various types of diaper caddy which I researched and compiled when I was doing my search for best diaper caddy. You should get one according to what you may require. Here’s the list of some of the best diaper caddies that I compiled.
Sturdy Diaper Caddy
This type of baby diaper caddy is usually made of heavy duty frame and clear-cut tough slots to hold baby’s essentials without a cinch. It can be carried or buckled anywhere without folding. Read more about my research on this type of caddy here.
Stylish Diaper Caddy
This type often doesn’t resemble a diaper caddy. It’s chic and usually comes with artistic trimmings yet maintaining utmost functionality. It sometimes resembles a tote bag. Here’s what I found out about stylish diaper caddy.
Versatile Diaper Caddy
These types may also be easily buckled on the play yard, closet, car seat or changing table. Here’s what I found about versatile diaper caddies.
Portable Changing Caddy
This one can be used in a car, nursery, crib or stroller when out and about. Here’s the best type of portable diaper caddies I found.
Pack-N-Play Diaper Caddy
Roomy and convenient, this comes with slots big enough for toys and baby stuff. It can be hanged on a crib’s side or in a tent or stroller when having fun outside. Read more about Pack n Play diaper caddy here.
Hanging Diaper Caddy
This diaper caddy can be attached on the side of the crib, closet, or changing table. Here are some great choices.
Diaper Caddy for Organizing Changing Table
This can either be a portable one or a stationary caddy or one that hangs on the side of a changing table. Read more about this type of diaper caddy here.
There’s more to a diaper caddy than just what meets the eye. When thinking of buying one or you are organizing it, ensure that you know precisely what’s best for your baby care routine and what essentials to stock. With that, you can easily find the ones that you need and make taking care of baby’s clean-up needs more convenient and fun.
Which is better? Diaper Caddy Or Diaper Bag?
Diaper caddies are useful to keep all the diaper changing essentials organized in one place at home. But when you are going out with the baby, you would, of course, need a diaper bag for convenience ease of use.
Can’t I Just Use A Storage Container instead of a diaper caddy?
If budget is a constraint, do not worry. You can use other organizational options by just being a little more creative. Look around your house and see if there’s a spare storage bin to use as a portable diaper caddy. Or you can make your own diaper caddy at home. Watch the video below which shows how to make a cheap diaper caddy.
I know some moms even use a cleaning caddy or a shower caddy. Whatever, your storage solution is, if it doesn’t have any compartments, repurpose your makeup or travel bags to organize your essentials
Bottom line, I found it a great timesaver and relief that I do not have to go to the nursery upstairs, every time my baby needs a diaper change. Plus, a diaper caddy is even more useful for moms who have to keep an eye on a toddler while having to change the diaper of the newborn.
First, figure out exactly what you need to store in the caddy, and then choose the perfect caddy to keep diaper changes organized and hassle-free.
Now’s your turn to share your secrets for keeping diaper changes easy and drama free. As always, I’d love to hear your feedback in the comment box below
