13th June 2010 , Posted by Edmund Tay
Diaper Bag Essentials
We just had a family dinner last night and we got to see my 2-month old nephew. He was a good looking cutie and certainly got everyone’s attention when he woke up from his nap!
But it was the huge diaper bag that my brother was lugging around that triggered some lost memories! Haha! Looking at the bag, it was clear they have been following some Things to Bring list! These included:
- Diapers
- Change of clothes
- More change of clothes
- Face towels
- Milk power
- Expressed milk
- Hot water
- Regular temperature water
- Tissue
- Baby wipes
That’s when I realised, I’ve gone through this, and have *expert* and *localised* tips! This may raise a few eyebrows, but it would definitely lighten the load: DON’T BRING THE HOT WATER FLASK!
Yes, here in Singapore, parents do not have to bring the Hot Water flask. After having 3 kids, and bringing them out regularly, we realised that Hot Water is in ABUNDANCE in any place that sells food! All you need is a milk bottle with a semi-flustered look, and you can get good boiling hot water!
Fast food places, Coffee shops, Food courts, Drink Stalls ALL have Hot Water to facilitate their food/drinks preparation! So if you don’t want to lug a Hot Water Flask around, don’t bring it!
As an aside, if you need to warm up your expressed milk, bring a round disposable container. Ask the stall owner/waiter to fill it with hot water, and you can put your milk bottle in it nicely to warm up. From experience, it is not easy to find a container deep enough to heat a bottle. So this is a great asset!
Having said that, ROOM TEMPERATURE water is absolutely essential. This is a rarity. Everyone has Hot water, some have Ice cold water, but very very few have regular temperature water. So, when you leave your home, pack 2-3 milk bottles with Hot Water. Ensure that your timing is such that when baby needs milk, it has cooled down enough, and you just need to top up with Hot Water!
Each time baby finishes with a bottle, wash it, and fill it with HOT WATER in preparation for the next feed
So ta-da! No need for Hot Water flask, no need for regular water flask too! That’s a good discount off the weight!
Posted on : June 13, 2010
Filed under : New Mums & Dads
4 Comments
Celine Yeo
June 16th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Don’t remember having to lug so much stuff in the bag or has my memory failed me, now that the youngest in already 10?! Re the flask: since daddy is already carrying so much, what’s another item?!
Carol Lim
June 17th, 2010 at 4:53 am
Breastfeed! Then no need to bring hot water, milk powder, room temperature water, bottles, container for warming EBM, etc. Now, that’s a real (en)lightening! ;p
Edmund Tay
June 21st, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Ya…Breat feeding is always a great option!
Edmund Tay
June 21st, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Actually it depends on the Parent
Some people like to bring a spare shirt, a spare on top of a spare diaper….It’s just wat you are comfortable with. When you want to be mobile, the natural man will definitely think of ways to lighten the load! :0
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