SUNSCREEN: Mothering is unpredictable; sometimes what starts off as a quick trip to the grocery store with my two boys ends up turning into an afternoon at the park. Stow a small bottle of sunscreen or a package of sunscreen wipes in your bag to ensure that a change of plans won’t sacrifice your child’s sun protection.
DISTRACTION: Balls, books, rattles, or play dough – anything that will buy me a few extra minutes in the last aisle at the grocery story or that can coax a smile while we wait for the bill to come during a Saturday morning breakfast downtown. I like to keep these toys solely for the diaper bag so my boys feel like it’s a special treat when they get to play with them.
Mommy Must-Haves
LIP SAVER: Whether it’s balm, lipstick, or gloss (my pick), I always make sure to have something that prevents chapped lips and gives me a little pick-me-up when we’re out and about. I may have spit-up down the arm, yogurt on my skirt, and crayon on my shoe, but a swipe of gloss will still make me feel like I have it all together.
HAIR HELP: Find a tie, headband, or barrette that is both practical and pretty. I always keep a few clips in my bag to get my hair out of my eyes if a run-in with a friend turns into a lunch date, or a leisurely beach walk turns into a mini-marathon.
THE BIG THREE: I never leave home without having the big three with me: some cash, my cell phone, and my keys. Choose a secure but easy-access pocket or compartment in your diaper bag where you always stash these to eliminate digging.
Motherhood can be stressful enough without searching for a fresh diaper or a ringing phone in an overstuffed diaper bag. Find sanity – and that bottle of sunscreen when you need it – by keeping your diaper bag organized and clutter-free.
About The AuthorEducated at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Fine Art minor, DeNai brought her passion for creativity to Petunia
Pickle Bottom. As a child, DeNai's favorite pastime was to while away the hours with a pile of fabrics, paper, glue, and scissors. Creativity is innate, and it was when she set out to find a gift for her friend that she recognized a hole in the market for fashionable and functional diaper bags. With her natural fashion sense and fine art talents, she developed the first Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag. With the help of her husband, Braden Jones, and close friend Korie
Conant, DeNai introduced Petunia Pickle Bottom products to stores across the globe.
Today, she has seen Petunia Pickle Bottom grow from three to 20 employees, and drawing inspiration from her first born, she focuses on new product innovation, textile development and design - while finding that delicate balance motherhood requires.
