Portable Diaper Changing Station: If you have had a baby and have gone on a shopping trip before, you know how a blowout can ruin your day. There is nothing worse than having baby poop everywhere and not all the proper equipment!
The way to save it—have a portable diaper changing station!
That’s why I wanted to talk to you about making a portable diaper changing station. If you are adequately prepared, you can handle any disasters that come your way…and I promise you will have a few!
Save yourself the dilemma of going into a dirty public bathroom that doesn’t have a changing table. Take a look at these helpful tips to get you started.
Portable Diaper Changing Station
Did you know that most babies will go through over 2,500 dirty diapers a year?! It’s crazy to think about, but once your baby is born, they pretty much start pooping and peeing immediately! I know firsthand how stressful it can be not to have access to everything I need to change a diaper in public or on a road trip. Many of us have been there running out of baby wipes and resorting to toilet paper or paper towels. Let me give you a hint…it doesn’t work too well!
Before I get into the details on how to make a portable diaper changing station, I want to point out you can use this around the house too. This works great if you have a two-story home, and the changing table is upstairs. Or if you just don’t feel like making to the changing table. This will save your carpet from getting messy too!
How to Make a Portable Diaper Caddy
Carrying Case
Okay, this may seem like a no brainer, but you will need something to carry all your items in. If you are traveling, I recommend a bookbag or diaper bag. If you are making something to use at home, you can use a foldable fabric cube, basket, or anything else you want. It’s best to pick something that is sturdy but not too heavy. You don’t want to lug around something that weighs a lot because you will be carrying your baby also.
Items To Put In Your Portable Diaper Changing Station
You need to put several things besides just diapers in your changing station. Inevitably, if you leave something out, that will be what you actually need! Don’t forget these items when you are packing:
- Diapers – These are the best natural ones I’ve found that perform the best–I’ve even done tests on them! If you don’t care about them being natural, then these are the best choice and have the best blowout protection!
- Baby Wipes – If you are a new mom, you may not realize you can use baby wipes for EVERYTHING! So, keep them loaded up because you will want plenty on hand. These are the thickest and are natural. These are slightly thinner but also all-natural!
- Diaper Creams – Any type of diaper cream or ointment that you use should be in each diaper changing location. I recommend one in your diaper bag, at the regular changing table and your portable changing station. These are the thickest and are natural (switch to max strength with bad diaper rashes!)
- Extra Clothes – Babies will pretty much always get poop everywhere or spit up when it’s the most awkward time. It’s totally normal, and it’s easy to laugh it off when you are prepared with an extra outfit. Honestly, I would have 2 or 3 outfits handy just in case.
- Plastic Bags – You are going to want to be able to store the diapers in something that helps keep the odor inside. If you are traveling, there is nothing worse than a soiled diaper in the hot sun–Keeping it in a plastic bag until you can toss it in a trashcan–this is easy to keep in your diaper bag. This is the easiest and most compact way to always have mini plastic bags on hand!
- Changing Pad – Get something with a waterproof protective cover. This will help keep baby safe from germs when traveling and keep poop off your carpet. We have several of these around We have several toppers around our house, we keep one on the diaper changer in the nursery, one in my diaper bag, and one in our portable diaper station!
- Sanitizer – If you aren’t able to wash your hands immediately, it’s at least nice to have some sanitizer. It doesn’t kill all of the germs, but it at least helps some!
Optional Items
- Toys & Pacifiers – Some babies pretty much despise getting their diapers changed. Give them something to grab their attention like a toy or pacifier. Use plastic or washable toys–you never know when it will need to be sanitized! This is my kids’ favorite for their diaper station and you can put it in the dishwasher!
- First-Aid Kit – You never know when someone is going to get hurt. I am a believer in having bandaids and a few other basic supplies on hand.
- Fingernail Clippers – Keeping your baby’s nails clean and clipped will prevent scratches. When you are changing a diaper it’s a perfect time to clip those nails too. We’ve tried four different brands and this is the best fingernail clippers for tiny nails!
No matter what, even if your baby ends up with poop everywhere and you don’t have a portable diaper changing station, I promise it will all be okay. It’s not something that’s required by any means, but whether you are at home or traveling, you will find it’s a HUGE lifesaver.
