Clarification of the Diaper Bag and More Useful Packing Items

First, to answer Jen. My diaper bag is indeed huge.

As most readers of this blog know, we bought just about everything for the twins used/second hand. To this day, I can count the number of clothing items we have bought ourselves as we get so many hand-me-downs from friends/cousins. I think it's great! More money to spend on other things.

However, the diaper bag was one of the items that I splurged on. I love it, love it, love it and it's perfect for traveling.

The brand is called Ju Ju Be and my bag is the Be Prepared.

The name fits me well as I pride myself on being organized and prepared!

Also, my list was a bit misleading as I didn't quite fit all of that into the diaper bag and had to shove some items in the suitcase (for instance, the 40 pack of diapers). But yeah, I can get ALOT (most of it) in that bag.

I also always carry a supply of large and small ziploc bags when traveling. I can't even count the number of times those have come in handy.

My last item I forgot to include was a travel pack of duct tape. I know, it's so lesbionic, but trust me--it has a million uses. It's always in my bathroom bag, but I think I'm going to switch it to my diaper bag now so it's always with me.

For instance, when we got to the condo we discovered how bright the bedroom was even with the blinds closed. What to do? Baby needs to nap...

I grabbed a dark sarong that I had packed specifically anticipating this problem, climbed up on a chair and duct taped the fabric over the window. Viola! Darkened room perfect for napping!

I never travel without a sarong. It's a blanket for a picnic, a towel at the beach, a dress, a skirt, a cover when you're cold and so many other things. I could probably sling a baby in one if I tried.

We DO always carry a back up set of clothes for the twins--just 2 extra onsies--and also these bags for anything dirty. They are great!

We've been very fortunate in diaper blow outs in that I can count on one hand the number of times we've needed back up clothing items for the twins.

As for extra clothing for ourselves, we have been super lucky and have never the joyful experience of being pooped or peed on. Not once! So, we've never packed that in the bag, but now that I've typed this, surely one of us will get shat on promptly.

Questions?

Tips for Traveling with Twins/a Baby; Packing Tips for Twins/a Baby, Packing List

I meant to post the packing list for the trips we took to Florida at 3 months (flying) and Argentina at 4 months (flying), but I never got around to it.

This list is more or less a variation on those lists. Of course the needs change as the babies get older (for instance, we have to worry about solid food items now) and the list changes depending on the season.

BUT, no matter where you are, clothing items can be hand washed and air dried overnight and dishes can be washed in a condo sink or hotel sink.

If you pack for a week, you can pack for a month. It's the same amount of stuff!

We have rented condos in Florida, Argentina and North Carolina and find this arrangement works best for babies. Hotels are tough as you are all in one room and what do you do when the baby goes to bed at 6pm?? You either sit quietly in the dark or sit on the balcony and get eaten alive by mossies! This way you have a real living arrangement and a real kitchen.

We have never bothered with a 2 bedroom as we have found one bedrooms still fit 2 cribs or pack n plays. However, we are already used to the twins sleeping in the same room with us.

We are also big believers in renting cribs or pack n plays for the condo OR making sure the hotel/guest houses we stay in have these available for our use.

You can use a site like BabiesAway for rentals all across the USA.

Also, if you are traveling within the USA, consider shipping items like diapers, wipes and even baby food to your location from a site such as Amazon or Diapers.com.

This will save you a lot of packing space!

When we fly we keep it to (2) overhead size suitcases, one (big) diaper bag and one backpack PLUS the car seats, snap n go stroller bases (we have 2 singles which we find much easier than the double which we hated) and 2 baby carriers (Ergos, etc).

Obviously since we were driving we had the luxury of packing a few more items, but overall, I find less is more.

I like to be able to make one trip: Wearing the baby/Strolling the baby with a diaper bag on my shoulder (or backpack on my back) and pulling the suitcase. We did this for all air travel and it worked great.

Now that the twins are outgrowing their snap and go car seats, it's going to be a wee bit more complicated for awhile, but we will figure that out as we go and I'll let you know how we do it!

For now, the list. I hope this helps someone on their travels! It's more work with twins for sure, but it can be done and it can be FUN!

In Diaper Bag

Breast Feeding supplies:

2 collection bottles, 2 caps, 2 phalanges

lanisoh ointment

tube bra for pumping

breast pump and cord

4 Dr. Brown's bottles

1 can formula

Bottle brush

dishwashing detergent

baby zantac

medical syringe

2 baby medicators

children's tylenol

saline drops

thermometer

clippers

nail file

pack of (40) 7th Generation diapers

packet of wipes

California baby wash and lotion

laundry detergent

2 Boon travel feeding spoons

8 packages Plum organics squeezable baby food

1 box of Earth's Best multi grain baby cereal

4 baby spoons

collapsable steamer insert

immersion handheld blender

8 empty storage containers to make baby food

6 cloth bibs plus a handful of disposable bibs for the car

***we did not bring any baby bowls to feed them out of as we figured we could use the ones in the condo***

In twins overhead size suitcase:

6 burp clothes

2 blankets (probably won't use/need)

2 crib sheets (probably won't use/need as the cribs we rented come with sheets, but just in case of a night time leak)

2 hooded towels

4 baby washcloths

2 turtle dresses (Anais and Aden wearable muslin blankets printed with turtles)

6 footed pj's

2 pairs pants (probably won't need)

8 short sleeved onsies

2 sun hats

2 swim diapers (eco friendly and reusable from One Step Ahead)

2 pairs baby sunglasses

2 baby wetsuits

Chemical Free baby suncream

2 baby robes to wear after getting out of the water

2 pairs baby sandals (ridiculous gift, probably won't use!)

Misc Items:

sun tent (from One Step Ahead)

foldable blanket mat (from Pottery Barn Kids)

2 Ergo baby carriers

jumperoo (could've left this at home as there is NO where to secure it to a door frame here. lesson learned!)

car seats and padded body/head inserts

clip on toys to go on car seats

beach sarongs to cover car seats to keep out bright lights at night and sun during day (this was my best idea yet getting multiple use out of a sarong!)

Back Pack with:

toys

books

ABC taggie blanket for floor

One small overhead size suitcase with: (if Chicken and I can't fit all our stuff into ONE overhead suitcase, we've overpacked. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't go.)

our clothes, shoes, swim suits, etc.

bathroom bag

sun hats

suncream

In my (large) handbag:

wallet

makeup bag

sunglasses

snacks for the car

iPhone

iPod and charger

Crackberry

car adapter chargers

camera, batteries, charger and cords

travel pillow and neck pillow for car

ear plugs and eye mask for car

Laptop Bag:

2 laptops and related power cords

We shipped to the condo from Amazon (or Diapers.com)

One box of diapers

One box of wipes

3 new toys for the car ride back home