What is in my diaper bag? (Week days)

I am always a fan of 'What's in your bag?' posts, and I can spend hours and hours just browsing on internet for that peeking Tom habits - I have done one when I first started to blog here.  This habit soon becomes a search for 'What's in your diaper bag?' after being a mum, and I thought I'd share mine too.  

What goes in a diaper bag during week days really depends on the circumstances around the childcare arrangement, such as baby's age (and his/her daily needs), the distance and time between the childcare set-up and work/home and the pick-up/drop-off times (in relation to baby's routine).   

In our case, Baby D goes to a nursery near my work and the travel time is just less than an hour each way by car; double the time by public transport (bus and train).  He is in nursery full time, being dropped off around 9am and picked up by 5ish pm (occasionally, nearly 6pm) - we are lucky that our working hours are flexible most days. 

 

Bag: CiPU mini CT diaper bag (Taiwanese brand)
Stroller: Recaro Easylife (bought recently)

So, what's in my diaper bag (for an 18 months old)??

Nappies and Changing mat  - hardly used, but packed for emergency

Water mug

Wet wipes - a must have.

Snacks - at least two fruit punches, baby biscuits, and fruits ie banana or grapes in a container. On those days we travel in/back by train and bus, I will pack more snacks or/and fruit in the bag. Baby D doesn't always go happy on his car seat, especially at going home time and when it's getting dark. Fruit punch is a good distraction. I also think he doesn't drink enough water normally, so I'd like to top him up with these organic juice punches.

Gloves for winter

What's missing is his favourite toy, which I don't think he has got one at the moment.  But in future, a toy car/train might also appear in the bag too.


I am more relaxed about giving him biscuits these days (in comparison to how I used to be), although I still think it is unhealthy and not a good habit to snack on biscuits for children - I don't really eat biscuits and crisps myself.  Sometimes, in winter snowy days, I would even pack more food/drink too.

But, snacks are great for travel/commuting in reality. Hence, by the time we get home we only have about less an hour for dinner before Baby D's bedtime, and babies don't eat well when they are tired.... So I am giving in during week days and more careful with healthy diet on weekends.

This diaper bag is not the nursery bag though, which always has a spare clothes and is left in the nursery most of the time.


How do you keep your little entertain in the car/bus/train?  
What's in your diaper bag? 


AA xxx

Working weekend holiday in the Lakes

top: Dorethy Perkins white knitted top & stripes long sleeves cotton top (bought in Taiwan)

blue jeggings: George at ASDA

shoes: Dune (2013 f/w)

bag: CiPU B-bag

My husband organizes a student development weekend away training in the Lakes District, and we decide to come along and stay in a nearby B&B while he stays with the group in a hostel. 

As I am on my own with the pram (and the baby) some of the time, it's more mobile to wear diaper bag on my back. And a warm, good walking boots and rain coat is a must. 

First picture was taken at home before we set off to the Lakes District.  Second picture was taken when Baby D is having a short nap in B&B after breakfast on Sun.

We came to do the tree-top tracking in Ambleside two years ago with a different student group and it was really good fun. We came again this time, and discovered it is also great for little human too! We will probably come here a lot in near future.

AA xxx

blouse, jeggings, flat, trench coat, Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo bag, CiPUmini city

same outfit, but wearing Hush Puppies flat today.

Another day of taking baby D home on train and bus after a long working day and having a two-bags system, and unfortunately I will have to commute home with baby D on our own in the next two weeks!

First time this CiPU baby blue stripes diaper bag made its appearance on the blog. This is the smallest diaper bag I own, and from the CiPU city line. This bag has been 'stolen' by my husband for his everyday work bag (he alternates between this stripy bag and the CiPU pink stripy bag) until very recently I bought him his own manly work bag.  As Baby D would have a light tea in the nursery at 4ish before I pick him up, I don't need to carry a lot in my diaper bag, only a spare nappy, changing mat, Baby D's water jug, wet wipe, some snack and a coat.

AA xxx

family day out in Yorkshire Dales

top: pink knitted short sleeves top - not shown in the picture

blue jeggings: F&F @ASDA (July 2014)

trench coat: Uniqlo 

shoes: Hush Puppies 

scarf: ASOS owl print (Aug 2014)

bag: CiPU B-bag in pink/black stripes

Had a fab day out in the Forbidden Corner in Yorkshire Dales today.  So much fun that we decided to have this trip every September from now on, until Baby D is bored by it!! 

my real mum style is fixed to the formula of 'jeggings + trench coat + flat/boots" at the moment.  

AA xxx

Balenciaga City travels with the pram, animal print and blue chino

How do you travel home from work when you have to pick up your little one from the nursery? I mean, what bags arrangement/solutions do you come up with? 

Today is the second day of the week that I have to travel with the baby, a pram and two bags. The commute time is around 1.5 hours: 30 mins on the train, 10 mins on bus and waiting time before/after train and bus. (Baby D's nursery is near my office). 

And because it's a long journey home, I'd like to have some essentials with me just in case, so nibbles, toys, nappy, water etc all go in..

Depending on the weather (forecast) and how my day plays out, I come up with these solutions: I alter between Balenciaga city and Salad bag for work; CiPU bag and Longchamp bag (small size) for baby. 

About this Salad bag, although it has been used a lot recently (not always in the #OOTD pictures), I don't like it as much as any of my Balenciaga collections (city, part-time and work). The reason it gets plenty of use is because it is my only cross body bag I own, plus the fact that I don't like it that much so it can be dumped on the floor, if must, without me frowning. So, it becomes the default IT bag for a raining day, either with or without traveling with the pram. I will want to find a replacement, which is smaller and lighter though - I am torn between a Marc Jacob bag or from a high street shop.

Are you in a similar situation? Do you pick up children from work and then travel home by public transport? What is your bags solution??

top: Oasis animal print

trousers: Next chino in blue colour

cardi: Linea waterfall cardi

shoes: Hush Puppies
bag: Balenciaga city in violet colour; Salad bag; CiPU diaper bag. 

Last worn: animal print top, chino trousers, Balenciaga city, CiPU bag

AA xxx

Blue top, green skirt, airport style

[outfit]

top: bought in a charity shop

skirt: bought in Taiwan

shoes: Hush Puppies flat

bag: CiPU Jumbo CT diaper bag (not in the picture)

[three things]

1. a very sad day - last day of my mother's 1-month stay. #OOTD photos were taken in the airport when Baby D and grandma had their last cuddles. (it is even more sad when you don't know when you will be seeing each other next time, and I had a little cry in the car on the way home.)

2. this green skirt is bought in Taiwan few months ago as a newly discovered style that suits me. but I have totally let myself down since the purchase as I don't know how to put it together!!! 

3. still a hot, humid summer day, we are very lucky this year. As British summer isn't always this nice, I ran out of things to wear that is comfortable, summery, functional and motherly! 

[a special note]
I am following the same format from Dash Dot Dotty. I have been following her blog for a while now, I adore her styles!!!  She is one of the many blogs that influence me to start documenting/sharing my outfit in the blog world. Having three things to write about gives me a structure to focus on, rather than just rumbling about fashion, style (and mostly criticism of myself), and I wonder if this structure would serve me better in the long term. 


last worn: shoes, CiPU bag

AA xxx

Maxi dress, Real Mum Style

dress: Primark

bag: CiPU Jumbo CT Bag (similar)

shoes: Dorothy Perkins

parka: (bought on eBay)

Today is Baby D's first birthday! Happy Birthday my little baby! 

'Real Mum Style' for me is something super functional, and I would normally go for a oversize tee with a pair of jeggings. Since the discovery of maxi dress on Friday, I knew it would be a good choice to wear on Baby D's birthday party. And I wish I had tried on some maxi dress a lot earlier during my maternity leave as they would have been great for a trying-to-look stylish, or decent, staying home mum.

In case you didn't notice, we three are wearing black-white matching style..... 

Anyway, I think I would probably keep this maxi dress for casual wear than for work in the future. 

AA xxx