How amazing would it be to get out the door without forgetting anything. There is nothing like that sinking feeling of realizing you forgot diapers, or you really wish you had packed that extra outfit.
Remember Hermione’s bag in The Deathly Hallows? That. Is. Goals.
Getting the kids in the car is one of the most stressful parts of my day, but being out of the house is so good for everyone’s attitudes. It is part of the job.
How to Leave the House
Let me tell you about my 16 year old self. I have the best mom ever and if I forgot something, she would bring it to me, and I forgot a lot of things. It became pretty excessive so I made up a song to the tune of head, shoulders, knees and toes. “Elastic, sports bra, socks and cleats.” Not a naturally mindful person. I need lists.
The key to reducing the stress is to make it automatic. Create a system where there are no decisions to make. I keep the entryway organized, accessible and small. I keep a laminated list by the door. I need it right in front of me.
My list by the door
I have forgotten all of these things in the past. Having this list posted helps me not have emergencies out of the house.
- Change Diapers
- Shoes
- Jackets
- Masks
- Baby Bag
Pack at Night
Make sure you have the basics covered in the main baby bag or purse if you are done with diapers (That is a thing right? Eventually there is an end to diapers?). When I was dropping kids off for childcare I would dump out the whole bag every night and restock.This makes it harder to miss something.
When restocking you want to check the BIG THREE.
I have a video here showing my actual bag and how I organize the big three.
Baby Bag Big 3
- Diapers and Wipes
- Change of Clothes
- Snacks
I have streamlined my bag checklist to these three things. I sewed up three drawstring pouches that go in my bag. Each bag holds one of the three things. This makes it easy to pack and easy to check. It is not fancy, although there are plenty of cute diaper bag organizers available, but it is incredibly efficient.
What to Keep in Each Bag
Diapers and Wipes
This bag holds just diapers and wipes. When I have a very small baby I will also add diaper cream into this bag. When I am doing cloth diapers this bag is a wet bag.
Change of Clothes
This bag holds new underwear and pants for each kid, plus a pair of socks each.
Snacks
My go to is a big brick of Graham crackers. Other Ideas, jar of pretzels (so they don’t crush), whole apples, applesauce pouches, animal crackers, fruit strips, or tortilla chips.
Other Ideas
Here are some other things that you may want to consider adding to your bag checklist:
- Wetbag – great if you are cloth diapering, but also super useful for swimming, potty training and smelly shoes. These bags are a great way to reduce single use plastic and keep your van from being full of dirty wet things. I suggest keeping this in your bag, not the car, because you will need it when you think you don’t.
- First Aid – I keep a small ziplock with bandages, aspirin, allergy medicine and anything else that could be urgently needed. Aspirin can save a life, go grab some to keep in the bag! Read more on that here:
- Entertainment – there are so many ideas on the internet about things that you can do to entertain children of all ages when out and about. If I am packing toys, it is because we will be out of the house for more than 6 or 7 hours. If that is the case, then I will pack blocks and small figures. These satisfy my kids and are small enough to fit in a small bag. I keep them packed and I add them to the bag only on those long trips.
- Hair Elastics and Brush – This is a wonderful thing for mom and kids! It is so nice to be able to get a little extra presentable when out amongst the public.
As a mom the decision fatigue is real, and I like to do everything in my power to reduce the number of decisions I need to make. One simple list of things to remember is sufficient for most trips.
What about those 4 or 6 hour days in the van
Since we have mostly transitioned to staying home, it takes a lot more mental energy to get out the door for a hike, playground trip or for a grocery pickup. The lists by the door and the well packed bag make it easier, but there are still hiccups.
This is grocery day, not a vacation. I need clean, happy kids on these days. Here is my plan:
- Basics Covered
I make sure I have covered all the basics, clean diapers, potty in the car, snacks in the bag, shoes, jackets, and well packed baby bag
- Entertainment
For me this means music. I will be honest, I really prefer to listen to my own stuff. If I give up my choice and do the playlist I have for the kids there is a lot more harmony. I choose to use drive time to extend learning for my kids. I play classical music from one composer a month, some counting songs, classic folk songs and other classics I want my children to know. I also throw in some fantastic early 2000s rock so they can develop taste, you know, just the good stuff.
- Meals
When you are going to the drive thru I like to park and let the kids get out and tailgate. I think this is a sweet little break for the kids, helps keep the car clean, and lets us spend time together that is just richer than throwing food into your mouth while rolling down the road.
What about an Overnight?
I cannot tell you how much I love being able to spend the night away unexpectedly. This is how I keep the van ready for a night with the grandparents or an AirB&B in the next town over.
- Clothes Kit
I keep a simple set of clothes, with socks and underwear, under the seats in the minivan. I keep this separate from the extra clothes in the baby bag. You could set aside an outfit from the hand me down right into the van. This means we are always ready for an overnight or a potty accident or a mud puddle. Keep a few trash bags in there with those clothes in case you need to put some dirty clothes in there.
- Hygiene Kit
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, razor, and chapstick. I do not know why but adventure gives you chapped lips.
- Diapers – Extras are always helpful. I grab the $1 packs from Dollar Tree or Dollar General in several sizes so they are always there. The fact that they are in a sealed pack makes me less likely to use them unless they are the last ones available. Keeping a cloth diaper in the van is also a great emergency option even if you do not normally use cloth diapers.
- Jackets – We live in the American South, sweatshirts are all we need most of the year. I grab a few that are not favorites and they stay in the trunk. Great pillow for a camping trip too!
- Coffee – This is to ensure my husband will agree to the overnight adventure!
Here are 2 of the kits I have in our cars
These kits stay in the van and have made it easy to take advantage of all kinds of opportunities.
I love being so free to say yes. When you have kids, it can feel like you cannot do things, but that is just a lie. I love doing things and I love having my kids with me. I feel freer when my family is all together.
I hope this helps you feel pumped to get out there and not forget anything.
