I took Little Man to the library for story time today, and we did a trip to “the big city” with Granma on Wednesday. I always have to giggle a little on the inside when we go out, because I always get the question from the grandparents (if they are with us) “Do you have everything you need?” Yup! I always do.

For quick local trips, I have a tiny backpack that I use. Now, I originally bought this backpack to use for working downtown Chicago. When it arrived, I was shocked to see how tiny it is. I am terrible with sizes, and truly thought it was going to be bigger. Oh well; it has been a great go-to travel bag; it holds my water bottle, change purse, knife, bandana, first aid kit, and inhaler. For Little Man, it fits a few diapers, wipes, burp cloth, and outfit in the main compartment. In the very front, I toss my change purse, and the middle compartment holds 2 tiny books and a small wooden toy. I can fit a bottle in, as well as a food pouch, if we are going to be a while. On the rare occasion we go out to eat, I will also toss in his travel fork and spoon set. This little bag is all I need for him. I do have a small basket in the car that has additional diapers, wipes, butt cream, 2 outfits, a blankie, 2 small toys, and a burp cloth. When we go shopping, I don’t even take the bag – if he needs a clean butt, I’ll change him in the car.

Little Man’s real diaper bag is actually a big thing – we registered for a 3-day backpack on Amazon. Squatch has one as well, and while they are both black, they have different patches on them to more easily tell whose is whose. I LOVE this bag – when we would go to Nanny & Papa’s lake house, I would throw my things AND Little Man’s things in it. Packing cubes have become my best friend. I have three sets of these – blue for Little Man, tan for Squatch, and teal for myself. I always keep a tiny cube in the backpack with a change of clothes for myself, along with extra undies and 2 pairs of socks, and a spare bandana. Little Man’s cube has 2 onesies, jammies, 2 pairs of socks, a pair of pants, and a burp cloth. These both go on the bottom of the bag. I put a layer of diapers next, followed by a muslin blanket, then toys. I have a changing pad and flannel receiving blanket in the middle pocket. The very front pocket holds a pen, sharpie, knife, phone charger, and his travel spoon/fork set. Wipes go in one side pocket, and a mason jar of milk goes in the other. I put an empty bottle in the middle compartment, along with 2 jars of food and 2 pouches. My water bottle will fit in the main compartment, and I will toss in a baggie of sliced apples or some cheese for myself as well.

If I’m taking the big bag, I use the little bag as a first aid kit. Yes, we have a trauma kit we transfer to whichever car we are all in, and we have first aid kits in each car as well, but I like having a first aid kit with me at all times. The little bag also holds my flashlight (I use the molle hooks on the side and finagle the cord to hold onto the D ring and then clip it to the molle hooks) on one side and a roll of poop bags on the other (connected to the D ring). We have car kits, which we review twice per year. These are in a smaller backpack, and are full of things we would need in the car if we are in an accident and cannot leave.

I like keeping things ready to go. If I use something out of a bag, I replace it when I get home; same for the diaper basket that is kept in the car. I don’t want to be caught without diapers, or spare clothes. By having the bags ready, it also make it easier, should there be an emergency, to just grab it and run. If something were to happen and we have to go to the hospital for a few days, I am good to go for several days just with the backpack. Now, I don’t currently have a toiletry kit in there, but if I can get home and run in to grab it, that kit is already put together in the bathroom (thank the lord for those packing cubes!), and I can grab it out of the drawer and toss it in. Having a bag ready to go means that if you are unable to make it home, but someone else can get there, you can tell them where your bag is, and they don’t have to worry about pulling things together for you.

What do you do to keep things simple? For me, having such things prepared makes life easy, and one less thing I need to worry about. I also don’t see the need to bring everything plus the kitchen sink when I go somewhere. Yes, when we went to the city the other day, I used the big bag. Well, I knew we would be several hours, and that the little bag would not work for what I needed to bring with me. Using the big bag, I can easily roll up the Ergo carrier and toss it in; one less thing I have to carry to and from the car.