Mommy's Little Bag of Tricks: Diaper Bag Essential At All Ages {+ Baby & Toddler Snacks from Beech-Nut}

**Product received for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

When you become a mom, a few things in your life will inevitably change.

Your body will be forever changed... not in a bad way, just different than before.
You will never be allowed to pee again without an audience or little fingers peeking under a door.
You'll likely never have a meal to yourself.
You'll continuously know the themes to shows like 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse'...and may even find yourself watching after the kids have gone to sleep.
You will have have to carry a mom bag... with lots of room for EVERYTHING.

Let's talk about those bags, shall we? When our little ones are babies, we rightfully call it a diaper bag... but the reality is, as our children grow out of diapers, we STILL find our bags being taken over by the little ones. Forget a diaper bag--- it should be called 'Mommy's Bag of Tricks'!

But how do you pack the perfect mom bag? What's inside?

Today, I'm sharing my tips for packing a diaper bag/mommy bag- no matter your child's age!

Traditional Diaper Bag (Infants)

What's inside?

Diapers and wipes- cloth or disposable. As many as you think you'll need, plus a few extra. Trust me, you'll appreciate those extra.
Wet Bag for Cloth Diapers.
Change of Clothes. Or two.
Bottles + Formula and/or nursing cover- if desired.
Baby carrier.
Your child's favorite Beech-Nut baby food.
A small toy, if desired.
Mom essentials- wallet, phone and lipgloss.

To be honest, I sometimes feel like my kiddos require less at this age... I keep it pretty simple. Diapers and a change of clothes plus something to eat are truly all you need! My children are breastfed so we don't have to worry about bottles which is a plus! I don't even always carry a toy at this stage, as my kids aren't typically all that interested yet.

The 'Little Big Kid' Diaper Bag (Potty Training-Preschool)

What's Inside?

Diapers and/or training pants, depending on where your child is with potty training.
Change of Clothes. Especially pants and underwear!
Wet Bag in case of accidents. Whether you used cloth diapers or not, these will be a lifesaver during potty training!
Wipes. Even beyond potty training, these are handy for messy toddler hands.
A favorite toy or small book, something to keep your little one entertained.
Your child's favorite Beech-Nut toddler snacks.
Mom essentials- wallet, phone and lipgloss.

At this stage kids are starting to get busier--- so some small entertainment is a must. We usually keep a favorite book or a phone toy, etc handy just in case. The diapers may be gone, but even if your little one does well in the potty at home, personal experience has shown that its always a good idea to have back up, just in case. And snacks are a MUST! Is it just my toddlers that are always hungry? Better to go prepared than have to stop through a drive thru along the way!

The 'You're Never Getting Your Bag Back' Mommy Bag (Preschool and Beyond)

What's inside?

Mom essentials- wallet, phone and lip gloss.
Rocks.
Pinecones.
Barbie Dolls.
Cars.
Books.
More Books.
Fresh Kleenexes
Dirty Kleenexes.
'Do I even want to know what that is?' Mystery objects.
Your child's favorite Beech-Nut snacks.

This is where it gets interesting... once your kids are out of diapers and exploring on their own, you'll find things in your bag that YOU didn't put there. My daughter is a real scavemger and is always collecting rocks and pine cones and dropping them in my bag. Between that and the toys that always seem to make their way inside--- it's like a Mary Poppins bag. Never ending, and you'll never know what you might find inside.

Some of the contents of your bag might change as your child grows, but the key at all stages is to always be prepared. Keep them clothed, keep them entertained and keep them fed!

For keeping them fed, Beech-Nut has us covered! For those early days of baby food, we especially love the pouches. They fit easily into your diaper bag and can be a lot less messy for little eaters too. To be honest, my kids enjoy these well into their child and preschool years too--- the pouches are just a fun treat no matter their age. Cereal Puffs are the right size for snacking! I've not seen a kid yet who doesn't love these. For the older toddlers/kids, nothing can beat the oat bars! You might find yourself sneaking one yourself! They're the perfect size to toss into those already overflowing bags and for kids to grab on their own!

The best part about Beech-Nut? They strive to keep their products as close to homemade as possible. They use minimal ingredients so that every child can enjoy REAL food at any age. There are no artificial ingredients and they are non-GMO. Some varieties are even gluten free. These are snacks that I as a mom can feel great about feeding my kids.

Is it any wonder they're a staple in mom bags everywhere?