I’m always curious about what moms have in their bags. Have you ever thought about it like me?
I think you do!
Before giving birth to my son, it was my routine to choose which purse to bring in the morning. I only needed to fill it with my essentials, like my phone, wallet, keys, and touch-up makeup. Now, as a mom, I minimize my own belongings, but with my child’s change of clothes, tissues, a water bottle, towel, snacks, toys, and so on.
It feels like a daily workout due to the weight, which is good for me!
Would you like to take a peek inside the daily bag of a mother with a three-year-old?
Table of Contents:
Contents of the daycare pickup and drop-off bag
Now you might think that the contents of my daycare pickup and drop-off bag are very minimal. I carry only the minimum essentials in the daycare pickup and drop-off bag. The daycare items are packed separately in my child’s bag.
After daycare, we don’t head straight home; instead, we stop by the park to play. My (almost) four-year-old son has boundless energy even after daycare. He runs around the park, busy with the slides, swings, and sandbox. You can easily imagine it!
Running, falling, and getting muddy is a daily routine. Wet tissues and towels are indispensable every day.
For runny noses, we use these “Hana Celeb” tissues with the panda packaging. As the name suggests, they are incredibly soft and feel amazing on the skin. They’re highly recommended for a child’s delicate skin. How tender it is!
If you visit Japan, this is one item you should definitely look for and buy at a drugstore.
Contents of a mom’s bag for going out.
I always have wet tissues, towels, and regular tissues in my bag throughout the year. I feel uneasy if I forget them.
In Japan, there are few trash cans in the streets, so I often have trouble finding a place to throw away trash. Therefore, I also keep a plastic bag for trash in my bag.
I make sure to give my child frequent water breaks with a water bottle. It’s a slim bottle that doesn’t take up much space in the bag, which I like. To prepare for any fussiness while we’re out, I bring small snacks.
When eating out, a meal set is essential. I always carry a set of spoon and fork, a bib, and a towel for wiping mouths. Some restaurants do provide kid-friendly utensils and plates, but I feel uneasy without his own meal set.
For wet tissues, I use alcohol-free sanitizing ones. They’re convenient because they can be used to wipe hands and mouth.
Before going out, I let my child choose their toys. They love putting their favorite Tomica toys in an IKEA bag.
An extra set of clothes is an absolute must-have. Since my child still spills food on their clothes and gets all muddy playing at the park, I always carry a complete change of clothes.
A mom’s bag for an overnight trip.
We are preparing for a family trip to Hida Takayama in Gifu this weekend.
I will pack my son’s extra clothes and underwear. Since we are traveling by car, it’s okay to bring a little more, but I’ll only take what can fit into this Curious George bag to make it easier to carry. Although it’s just a one-night stay, I’ll bring plenty of his clothes.
In Japanese inns, they often provide yukata for children. However, my child finds it difficult to sleep in a yukata, so I will pack pajamas.
These are laundry nets. I pack clothes and underwear in it for the trip. After changing upon arrival, I put the dirty laundry in the net and bring it back, so it’s very convenient because I can just throw it into the washing machine directly.
Saving time is very appealing for moms, isn’t it?
80% of the luggage is for the child, and I keep my own items to a minimum.
For myself, I pack a change of clothes and toiletries into the Curious George bag as much as it can hold, and I put my wallet, camera, and other items into my going-out bag. Choosing only the essentials to take on a trip requires some practice. Recently, I’ve been living with a mindset of minimalism(danshari), so thanks to that, I no longer bring unnecessary things on trips. (Though I always pack plenty of stuff for the kids!)
