This past weekend, we decided to take the Sprout on a little road trip out
for lunch in Bucks County, which is a little over an hour away. We got out
our diaper bag, and proceeded to pack it with all of the essentials – three
bottles of formula, a bottle of water, a stack of diapers, and wipes.
Everything was neatly stowed and easily accessible, and we loaded the baby into the car seat, and loaded baby + car seat into the car and set off.
You can pretty much predict what happened next. As we accelerated onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike, around the halfway point of our trip, we realized that the diaper bag was still sitting on the kitchen table.
Lesson Number One: A well packed diaper bag is essential, but even more
critical is remembering to take it with you.
We ended up stopping at a supermarket and creating an ad hoc setup consisting of a plastic grocery bag full of purchased formula, bottles, and diapers. Everything that we needed, or so we thought.
Lesson Number Two is actually a corollary to Lesson Number One. After
lunch, we decided that it would be a good idea to put the Sprout into a
fresh diaper before hitting the road. Bear in mind that we were using a
brand of diapers other than that which we had grown accustomed – so it was
a shock and surprise when we discovered that the Sprout’s newly purchased diaper had leaked all over the ONE outfit that we had with us. And since we were in Bucks County, where townhomes typically cost over a million dollars, the nearest children’s clothing shop was very happy and willing to sell us a onesie, for $35.
Lesson Number Two: Pack a change of clothing. In fact, pack a couple of
changes.
Other than these two things, we haven’t had many other hiccups. Things are
going well, and we are very fortunate that the Sprout is not fussy, other
than those times when she needs feeding, a diaper change, or that
once-a-day early evening discontent that lasts for about a half hour.
Given the stories I’ve heard, I’m thankful for what we have.
