How many things do you need to take with you for the baby? A new expectant mother has no idea, but any mother with experience can tell you, more than you ever expected. Baby changing bags come in a variety of sizes and styles for a good reason. No size fits all situations.

Think about what you need to take along with you for just a simple day of going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. You are going in the morning and expecting to stay until after supper. You will need multiple bottles, possibly four or more. If you are taking four bottles, that means you need at least four measures of baby formula, unless you are breast feeding.

You will need an undetermined number of diapers. Pack plenty to make sure you do not run out. Since you are taking diapers, it mean you need baby wipes. One more big item going into the baby changing bags. You may want to take along the Desitin or other diaper rash cream, just in case.

Since you are going for the day, it means you will need two to three extra outfits along with you. Make sure you take along tops, bottoms, diaper covers, and any other accessories you might need for each outfit.

You might have thought about bringing only one blanket, but what if they spit-up right in the middle of it? Speaking of spit-up, did you pack plenty of burp towels?

Baby changing bags are essential. We need plenty of room to carry all of these items and sometimes more. You will want to get a large bag for these extended days out.

What about those days you are just running out to pickup a couple items? You will want a smaller bag for those days, since you do not want to be carrying around a lot of extra bulk. Baby changing bags can become almost as addicting as purses. You need several to fit different needs. You may want several different styles to match a day at the lake, going to church, or the quick run to the grocery store.

Just getting the right sizes and styles is not enough. You will need to check into how they store items. You want pockets to separate baby wash from the clothes. You want a water proof area for bottles, so if a lid comes loose not all the clothes are soaked. You want separate areas for diapers, clothes, and even toys. This makes it easier to find the items when you are needing to grab them quickly to silence a crying baby.

Did you notice two more items just popped into our baby changing bags? You will need the pacifier to stop the crying, and of course a good assortment of toys to keep them entertained. Sometimes it feels like we need two bags, not just one. Go ahead and grab a couple extra, you never know when you might escape for an entire weekend and really need to load up on supplies.