10 Must-have Items for your Nanny Nappy Bag
When you first start out as a nanny one of things you will need to purchase is a daily Nanny Nappy Bag that you can use for not only your own things but also the children that you look afters belonging.
Remember to customise the contents of your nanny bag based on the age and specific needs of the child you’re caring for.
Not sure how to become a Nanny? Read our post How to get a Job as a Nanny
What type of bag should I get?
Start by getting yourself a reliable and sturdy bag, this is the most important thing as you will be carrying this bag with you on a daily basis. Depending on the age of the children you are looking after will also change the type of bag that you will need. If you are looking after smaller children you may want a bag that has space for nappies and a change mat however older children may be able to carry their own bags so you will not need as much space.
If you are working with smaller children and babies then you will need to get a backpack that is more of a nappy bag. The RUVALINO Nappy Changing Backpack is an insulated bag with a changing mat inside. It has lots of functional pockets and compartments to keep all your belongings organised while having enough space for essentials. If you want a nappy bag that would also be practical for you on the weekends as well then try the KROSER Laptop Backpack.
Aimee has a Pacsafe Women’s Citysafe bag which she has been using for the last 5 years as her daily bag not only as a Nanny bag but also a travel bag too.
Sam recommends the 50L Maxtop Packable Rucksack if you want a small collapsible bag that can be left at work and used when you need a backpack.
Nanny Bag Contents:
*Disclosure: We only recommend products we would use ourselves and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links, that at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission.
First aid kit
This is the most important item in your nanny bag. You never know when accidents can happen on a daily basis and it always pays off to be prepared. Make sure to always carry with you a small pocket sized first aid kit that contains things such as plasters, burn and bug cream as well as hygienic cleaning wipes.
If you need to you can also carry Calpol for children however please make sure that this is in a hard to reach or locked part of your bag. For babies they have Calpol Sachets and for older children over the age of 6 there are Calpol Melts, please always make sure to get the parents permission before administering Paracetamol.
Another life saver that is always an essential part of a Nanny bag is Paw Paw Cream. This Australian product comes in a small tube that can be used for everything from cracked and dry skin, to nappy rash and insect bites.
Reusable Pouches
There are so many different using for Reusable Pouches. These are great for bringing different snacks on outing with your as well as when you are out and the child doesn’t finish all their food and wants to bring it with you.
Reusable pouches are also great for different treasures that the children may find out on their adventures allowing them to have somewhere safe to be able to keep their treasures. We recommend the Moonmoon Reusable Silicone Pouches or for baby puree try Reusable Baby Food Pouches.
Entertainment
Depending on the age of the child it will depend which sorts of entertainment you keep in your nanny bag however remember the smaller and more compact the better as you will be carrying it around all day.
For babies:
- Rattle: A Baby Rattle or other pram toys area always great to keep handy when working with small babies and young toddlers.
- Black and White Contrast Book: These Black and White Sensory Books help babies aged 0-6 months help brain development and stimulate the visual nervous system. They’re a great durable product that can usually be attached to a pram or other carrier when in use.
- Teething Toys: There are so many different teething toys on the market however make sure to look for ones that are BPA free as well as toys that allow the child to learn to hold onto the toy.
For toddlers:
- Water Note Pad: Water Magic Colouring Pad are a great mess-free and reusable solution to colouring books for toddlers.
- Busy Board: These Montessori Busy Board help toddlers development fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and helps colour recognition.
- Doodler Scribbler Pad: A Writing Tablets can be used for a range of educational activities while also enjoying some mess free drawing at the same time.
For school aged children:
- Note Pad & Pen: In your nanny bag it is great to always carry one of these for each of the school aged children you are looking after. Allowing the children to choose their own note pad as well as a 10-in-1 multi colour pen as these have all the colours without taking up the space in your bag.
- Card Games: If you know you are heading somewhere where there might be time to sit and play a game such as on a train ride or whilst having a picnic a card game such as uno or board game like bananagrams is a great thing to keep in your nanny bag.
- Books: It is always a great idea to keep some books in your bag that either the children are able to read to themselves or books that you can read to them during your days out and about.
Wet wipes & tissues
As a Nanny you never know when a spillage or mess is going to happen so it is best to be prepared! It may be a lot to be carrying around, both Wet Wipes and Pocket Tissues however if you have the space it is absolutely worth it no matter the age of the children you are looking after. However if you need to compromise on space then make sure to opt to carry the wet wipes as they come in handy for so many different situations.
Change of clothes
During the year depending on the seasons you will need to remember to rotate the types of clothes that you keep in your day bag. It is important that you not only have a change of clothes for the children but also a change of clothes for yourself as you may become dirty or wet at any point in your day.
In the summer you will need to remember to bring sun hats and swimming costumes as well as long protective clothing to that will keep you cool but out of the sun.
For the winter you will need to bring hats and gloves as well as during this time it is very important to have a change of clothes as being wet from a sudden shower is very possible.
Sunscreen
The summers are getting hotter and longer so for those hotter months it is essential that you carry with you some child friendly sunscreen. If you are wanting to purchase larger bottle of sunscreen and don’t want to carry them around with you try a Solar Buddy these sunscreen applicators are great for allowing children to be able to apply their own sunscreen as well as being compact enough to fit into your bag.
Water Bottle
This will need to be a water bottle for yourself and the children.
For the children make sure to either have pockets in the side of your bag to help with the easy access as well as making sure that water doesn’t leak. When choosing a bottle for the children look for age appropriate water bottles that they can use independently but also ones that won’t spill.
For babies: You can use the B.Box BPA Sippy cup or the Munchkin Miracle Sippy Cup with handles.
For toddlers: A Munchkin Miracle Sippy Cup is a great choice as it doesn’t leak and allows the child to feel independent as they develop the skills to move from a bottle to a cup.
For school aged children: Try the Sistema Twist and Squeeze Waterbottle as they come in 480ml and 620ml bottles. They are also lightweight so it isn’t adding any extra weight for children who may be carrying their own bottle.
For you: Make sure to bring a large enough bottle for yourself as you may be spending long periods of time outside without access to drinking water. We use the large Brita Water Bottle if you are looking for something to filter your water or a Box stainless steal bottle for a larger sized bottle.
In the winter you may also want to bring a thermos with you during your extended time outside. We recommend the Kinto Travel tumbler as it will stay warm for long hours on end without spilling.
Snacks
When youre spending most of your days outside or on the go between activities it is a great idea to always carry nutritious food with you for yourself and the children in your care.
If you are spending the whole day out then prepacking a YumBox Bento Lunchbox allows you to have a selection of food for you while you are on the go. However if you are only out for shorter periods of time then carrying a few different snacks in the Moonmoon Reusable Silicone Pouches is always great.
Umbrella
As you never know how the weather is going to go from one moment to the next it is always worth keeping a packable umbrella inside your bag. Since you will also be spending large amounts of time outside as well you should always carry a packable raincoat which is a great extra layer to have one hand or to get you through those unexpected showers.
Portable Charger
As you are responsible for the children in your care it is safety measure that you must be able to be contactable at all times. Having a portable charger with you will allow you that peace of mind as you may be using your phone a lot during the day for directions or taking photos and videos of the children. We recommend the Anker Powerbank as it is small however very powerful.
