A while back, someone wrote me to ask how I pack a bag for a day out in the city for Hudson. I can’t say it’s down to a science–and ask me again next week and you might get a different answer–but here’s what I would currently pack for a day around Manhattan or, frankly, a day traveling just about anywhere.
In my “diaper bag” (actually just a large purse):
Sun Hat
Warm Hat
A few favorite toys (one is usually strapped onto the seatbuckle if we’re using a stroller)
IPhone (aka camera)
Wallet (now filled with coffee and frozen yogurt punch cards)
Carabiner
Diaper changing kit (with 3 diapers, wipes, and a few of these diaper sacks
Pouch with lipstick, hair tie, and keys
Glasses
Baggu 
“Go-Bag”
The “Go-bag” is key. I bought a rather utilitarian “Go-bag” from by Eagle Creek 
Inside the “Go-bag”:
Bib
Spoon
placemats
Tupperware of cheerios or puffs
Food packs (usually one fruit or veggie squeeze and one chunkier main)
Bottle (with extra nipple for water)
Some formula to-go packets just in case
Sunscreen
Hand Sanitizer
Infant Acetomeniphen and Ibuprofen
Teething biscuits
This seems to work for us at ten months. (Ten months today!) When he was an infant, I would have had less food and more diapers. I would have also had a change of clothes along. As he gets older, I have a feeling the snacks will increase. Aron is eagerly anticipating the increased-snack portage stage, he tells me.
P.S. I’ve had a few stroller hooks
Oh, and also, since I’ve taken these photos, we’ve missplaced his PO.P sunhat and his cute little wooden car toy! So my word on being organized should be taken with some serious grains of salt.
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I really enjoy reading this blog as a NYC mom. Your to go pack definitely made me laugh. I just might have had this much stuff when traveling abroad alone on a very organized day. But the more time I parent in NYC, the less I carry. In our neighborhood there is a 24 hour drug store at least every 5 blocks so it just doesn’t cross my mind to bring along something like tylenol. Probably once a month we have to dash into Duane Reade and buy wipes or a snack or a water bottle, but the trade-off is that I now routinely leave the house with nothing more than a diaper liner (gdiaper), a bib, a small ziploc bag with some wipes and sunscreen (presuming both kids are wearing hats and sunglasses on their way out the door). There have been a few occasions when my kids came home from a particularly messy meal sans t-shirts, but otherwise no major mishaps.
ps – when your guy gets a little older both of my kids -love- to buy their own fruit snacks from the fruit vendors. I’m a bit cautious about non-organic fruit but allow them to buy bananas, and the wonderful thing is that since they are almost always a quarter they can take a coin, give it to the vendor, and get their own snack without actually needing to talk. They are so proud of “going shopping alone” and always looking for excuse to buy me or anyone else around a banana or two.
It’s so true–I don’t know what I’ll do when there isn’t a CVS around the corner (and we literally live ABOVE a Duane Reade)! Really couldn’t be more convenient. The tylenol is a holdover from teething last month, so in truth I could take it out. Same with the formula because I’m nursing him and use the bottle for primarily for water. I will say I like knowing it’s all on hand. The bulkiest thing is really the diaper changer. Last week I just brought a diaper and wipes and then regretted it when the restaurant didn’t have a changing table!
Looking forward to banana shopping with him one day! Sounds like such a cute scene.
Hi Ashley! Thank you for writing this
I am the one who requested this..
Yay! Glad you’re still reading!
what size of bag do you use for that travel bag with bibs/etc in it?
It’s a makeup toiletries bag–maybe 5×9?
i think we stole you car!! i feel awful haha! i’ll have to remember to bring it the next time i see it. my kids are usually the last ones at the playground and score big time.
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