How to Pack an “Oh Sh!t” Baby Kit for the Car

If you’re looking for a unique baby shower gift, or just prepping your life with a newborn, consider putting together a do-it-yourself baby kit for the car. These emergency supply bags can get tossed in the trunk – or left at grandma’s house – for those unforeseen vomit/poosplosion moments that take you by surprise when you’re out of the house with a baby.

Supplies for an “Oh Sh!t!” Baby Kit:

1. Bag: Something easy to toss in the trunk and forget about until the shit hits the fan (possibly literally). We used our "Oh Shit" canvas bag in our store but you could also use these packing cubes from Amazon – anything you can tuck an emergency stash in works.
2. Diapers: Personally, I would go larger (4 or 5) because I feel like it’s better to have a diaper that’s too big – a newborn could *technically* wear a size 5.
3. Disposable change pad: You could always just put a regular change pad in there and wipe any horror down afterward, but sometimes it’s nice to ditch the whole disaster when you’re not at home with a disposable change pad.
4. Disposable diaper bags: These are nice and small and can contain poop, barf and all the things that ail you. I got both the change pad and diaper bags from Baby Works on Amazon but any brand is fine.
5. Travel wipes: Anything that seals really well. Nothing worse than a dried out wipe. Anything in a travel size.
6. Travel hand sanitizer or gloves: Sometimes wipes just aren’t enough. Ew. Also, check out these super compact Eco Gloves. They come individually wrapped and are compostable.
7. Ziploc bags: We put each bag together in a Ziploc because they are light and inexpensive, but you could also spring for wet bags. You want something that not only holds the emergency stuff but something that can hold the stuff you want to wash when you get home.

Other considerations:

Most of these items would be knocking around in a diaper bag, but if get caught out without it, think of what things HAVE to be at the ready.

• Spare baby clothes: Pop in a spare onesie or sleeper.
• Spare socks: Two pairs of 6-12 month socks. These are fairly universal and most kids can make it in something bigger or smaller in a pinch. (They can also double as mittens.)
• Spare pacifiers: They are the hair ties of the baby world – you can never have too many.
• Water Bottle Topper: Green Sprouts make a great sippy topper for water bottles that can turn any water bottle into a sippy cup. (Amazon sells them too.)
• Receiving blanket: Can be used for a burp cloth, change pad, swaddle, makeshift sack to hold gold coins so you can pay a bridge troll to take your howling baby.
• Snacks: If you have an older child you could go this route. Hell, anyone could probably use some sweet potato puffs on a bad day.
• Diaper cream: Not a must-have, but travel sizes are easy enough to tuck in there.
• Small toy: Never a bad idea if they are in the crocodile rolling stage of diaper changes.
• T-Shirt: Chances are, if it got on the baby, it also got on you. T-shirts are fairly compact and nice to have if you find yourself with a level 10 vomit streak across your chest.
• Mittens: Depending on where you live.
• Sunscreen: Again, depending on where you live. Keep an eye on the expiry.
• Laundry Detergent Sheets: these water-activated strips are great for a sink rinse or added to a ziploc full of dirty clothes for a pre-soak. Miracle Made makes nice ones.

Emergency car baby kits are a good idea all around.

Whether you’re giving it as an awesome baby shower gift, or just packing an emergency baby kit for your car to save your own sanity down the road, it’s a great thing to have on hand. Is there anything else you think we should add?

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