By: Megan Murray Elsener
Chicago Parent – 1/12
Is your diaper bag filled with half-eaten snacks, leaking sippy cups and dirty wipes? Is it sometimes difficult to even find a diaper in there amidst the clutter? You are not alone!
These Chicago-area moms share some of their deep, dark diaper bag secrets and the must-have essentials they won’t leave home without.
Mom: Marci Hughes, Chicago
Kids: Bronko, 19 months, and Mazzy, 4 months
Must-have: “California Baby Diaper Area Wash. I always forget to refresh my baby wipe supply. When I run out of wipes, this is a great backup. You can make your own with the diaper wash. It has saved my baby’s butt more than once!”
Dirty secret: “I have hand sanitizer that I’ve never used and the bottom is filled with goldfish crumbs.”
Mom: Annette Filwett, Glen Ellyn
Kids: Mila, 2, and Natalia, 4 months
Must-have: “The most important item is the camera. It has to fit somewhere in my bag. I also can’t leave home without Mila’s Minnie Mouse doll, Natalia’s pacifier and the iPad!”
Dirty secret: “My poor diaper bag is constantly being spilled on with milk. Breast milk, chocolate milk, formula. I have left bottles in the bag for days at a time with enough milk at the bottom that would make any mom want to throw out the bottle.”
Mom: Carla Bird, Chicago
Kid: Kennedy, 23 months
Must-have: “Eco-friendly RuMe bags. They’re durable, portable, and perfect for grocery shopping, messy diapers and anything else that your heart desires. They come in different colors and sizes, and the mini bags are the perfect size to hold a wallet, keys, cell phone, a few diapers and wipes.”
Dirty secret: “I have had anything from an extra bra, breast shields, Crystal Light On the Go packets, protein shakes, lip gloss, and even cuticle nail oil in Kennedy’s diaper bag.”
Mom: Lauren Pero, Oak Park
Kid: Ava, 16 months
Must-have: “Besides diapers and wipes, I always have Wet Ones on hand to wipe down dirty shopping carts and sticky hands. Graham crackers and an Elmo book are always in my diaper bag in case of a meltdown. They can buy me an extra 15 minutes until I can get where I need to go.”
Dirty secret: “This is gross, but I actually just looked in there today and found a piece of petrified dinner roll from probably two months ago.”
Mom: Kristyn Coleman, Chicago
Kid: Jacob, 2
Must-have: “I can’t leave home without having a snack cup in my diaper bag. If there’s one thing I have learned, it’s that food solves almost every problem of an opinionated toddler.”
Dirty secret: “On occasion, my diaper bag escorts a bottle (or two) of red wine home from Whole Foods on those ‘extra long’ days when I am in need of a relaxing evening.
A multi-purpose bag for sure!”
Megan Murray Elsener 
Leave a comment