As a frequent traveler and a mother who’s constantly asked
if I have a toy/snack/diaper I have come to think of packing as an art form
that must be practiced and refined. Here’s what I’ve found to be my most used
essentials and emergency items in my “mom bag”.
Since I
am often pushing a stroller I’ve discovered the ergonomic gains of having a little
backpack instead of a purse. I’ve had this bag for almost a year and I am
really impressed with the design and how well it is holding up. It is made of ribbed
nylon with leather trimmings and while it’s obtained a broken-in feeling over
time, the materials show no wear. I did modify it slightly to add ponytail
holders to secure the excess straps from flapping. At 4 liters, or designed to
hold just a 10” ipad, the size feels just right for my 5’1” frame. It also has
a unique ID number to theoretically return it to the owner if found. I’d be
curious to know how often that’s actually happened. Here’s my essentials I cram
into it like Tetris game:
Pouch with emergency items:
a)
Tampon
b)
Bug spray wipe
c)
Panty liners
e)
Dog poop bag
f)
Bandaids
g)
Sunscreen (love that I found a small container
to refill)
h)
Suture (really hope this never gets used but it takes
no space and it feels responsible to have it living in a developing country at
civil war)
i)
Sewing Kit
j)
Screen cleaning wipe
k)
Antiseptic wipe
l)
Alcohol gel
m)
Orange Tic Tacs (AKA Sad Candies…Potent medicine
able to treat most problems a 3 year old will have)
n)
Medicines: Chewable kid’s Benedryl, Dramamine,
Muscle Relaxer, Ibuprofen, Pepto Bismol
o)
Charging cords and Battery
p)
Hair tie
q)
Vaseline (for lips, lotion, and foot blister
prevention)
For my Daughter
r)
Tiny toy
s)
Baby Wipes
t)
Diaper (even though she is potty trained it
becomes an emergency potty and is used for nighttime).
u)
Spare Clothes
v)
Windbreaker (she almost never uses this but I
feel obligated to carry it as I get wagging tongues from people about my
daughter’s lack of weather appropriate dress all the time)
For me
y)
Matador Hip Pack (most of the time I wear it
with wallet, keys, and phone when I’m by myself and don’t require the whole kit
and caboodle).
z)
Rab Windveil Windbreaker
aa)
Pen
dd) Wallet
made out of the baggie for a nylon grocery bag which holds chapstick, change,
and a few “sad candies” too).
ff)
Matador mini pocket blanket, I often carry the
full sized version as well but the yoga mat would have to stay home.
gg)
Lemfo wireless headphones (these are the first
comfortable earbuds for my small ears because they are smaller for the Asian market)
ii)
Snacks
jj)
Notebook
ll)
Travel yoga mat I cut into two pieces, carrying
the smaller one which just fits me in tabletop pose on my hands and knees.
mmSewing clip no shown (often used as money clip)
nn) Phone
not shown
