Diaper bag essentials: What to pack?

So, are you ready for your first outing with the baby? Make this exciting trip memorable, but for the right reasons. If you’re not adequately prepared, you may end up having a nightmare. Some essentials that you must carry to ensure a smooth day-out experience:

• Diapering needs – carry enough diapers, factor in unexpected poops. Make sure you have wipes, disposable bags, diaper changing mats, rash cream etc. if you’re visiting a mall etc., look out for baby rooms – changing and feeding babies there is much easier. 
• Breastfeeding aides – if you breastfeed, carry a cloak to cover up if you’re required to feed in public. If you express, make sure you carry pumped milk in clean containers in an icebox to maintain its shelf life. 
• Formula needs – if your baby is formula fed, ensure you carry enough boiled and cooled water, formula and sterilised bottles. If you’re carrying fewer bottles than you might need, ensure you have means to sterilise them if required to re-use. Else buy disposable inserts. 
• Clothes etc. – carry an extra change of clothes, or two. Carry extra napkins, bibs, burp cloths, and a blanket or wrap to cover or swaddle the baby with, if required. . A cosy baby is a happy baby. 
• Toiletries and medication – you may want to carry baby sunscreen/moisturiser or mosquito repellent cream if going out. A few emergency medications, like nasal drops, crocin, colicaid, etc. can come in handy, and so can anti-bacterial/fungal ointments and thermometers. It may be highly improbable your child will need all this but better be prepared. 
• Food – if your baby has started having solids, you can carry some easy to feed finger foods like carrot sticks, rotis or sandwiches, homemade cookies etc. You may also consider ready-to-eat baby food jars or cereal if there are no other alternatives. Ensure the food is packed hygienically in airtight/clean bags/boxes and leftovers are discarded immediately. For older babies remember to carry a sippy cup (if they have started using one) to keep them hydrated. 
• Miscellaneous - It helps to carry some toy or rattle as a form of entertainment or distraction for the babies, especially when they’re ready to throw a fit. You may also want to stash a sling in there as an option if there’s space – carrying a baby in that is easier than holding him. Mommies can also store their wallets/phones or maybe a snack or two in the spacious pockets. 

It might take a few tries but soon enough you will be a pro at packing the perfect diaper bag for you and your baby!

(image courtesy www.freeimages.co.uk)

Tiger Mom Vs Dino Mom : Where do you stand?

A friend of mine recently shared this interesting post by a fellow blogger -

Tiger mom - to be or not to be | Blog Post by Tanu Shree Singh | two boys and a mad mum | mycity4kids

Reading the post made me smile. I've read the famous "Battle hymn of the tiger mom" book. Its a fun read and talks about one perspective of parenting. But when it comes to parenting, it's hard to say what is right and what is wrong. Parenting is highly subjective.

 




My parents were never strict with us as far as academics/sports/extra curriculars were concerned. Frankly they did not care as long as they were not getting any complaints. They did not push us unnecessarily. Our cable connection was not disconnected during exams, our parents did not make us burn the midnight oil, or push us to attend 1000 classes like sports and performing arts and tuitions.

But I guess I did not need pushing. I was a good student (never came first but was always top 5), very active in extra curriculars, the teacher's pet and popular at school. Out of my own choice I took judo, swimming, theater, dance, cooking, language and singing classes. Never really excelled in anything to make it a career, but was happy to dabble and enjoy.

I feel good that I wasn't forced to only study or pushed hard for sports etc. But I do wish, a little, that my parents pushed me harder to try to come first, to learn to play a music instrument, to hone some skill/art, and definitely be interested in sports (I'm zero in sports). I was always a chilled out girl who was more of a smart worker than a hard worker. And since I always did well at school, no one complained or bothered. I was content and so were my parents so things stayed status quo. But I feel a little pressure from them would have gone a long way into getting me to get out of my comfort zone and try harder, and God knows what I could have, would have, achieved.

I know it's not fair to blame everything on them. It sounds like it but I don't mean that. We and only we are responsible for the choices we make in life. And I never bothered to have a serious passion, which I regret very much today, but it's all my fault for being so casual and lazy.

Bottom line is.. I want to go one step ahead of my parents and encourage my children to be passionate about something and work hard on it. I would like to expose them to all options in skills/sports/academics etc, and let them choose what catches their fancy. And then be after them to not get lazy about their chosen passion. I know it sounds nasty, but at the cost of being labelled a strict/bad/dominating/hitler mom by my peers or family, this is one thing that I have decided I will do.

Apart from of course. . My house my rules.. for 18 years my kids HAVE to live by my rules. Which means I decide schedules and permissions and possessions etc. If its acceptable well and good, if not you are free to leave. My mom was a strict mom who didn't coochie coo us at all. While I may be a little more affectionate towards my kids, I'm gonna be a strict disciplinarian for sure, the bad cop. And I don't mind. I think it's required. One has limited control over children, especially these days. You have only a few years to mould them into responsible, disciplined individuals. Once they grow up they're on their own, forever.

So I guess I'm neither a proper Tiger mom nor a Dino mom, but somewhere in the middle, maybe leaning towards Dino mom :-)