My Theme Park Bag

I really hate those blogs that spend a month talking about a topic before getting to the good stuff, so let's crack on, shall we?

We've now been through several bag types for our Park Bag, and lately we've really loved using a clear stadium backpack, similar to this one. It gives me peace of mind knowing it is waterproof, and it helps my husband find stuff easily when he can see through the bag.

Our Park Bag Includes:

• Ponchos per Person

• Diapers

• Wipes

• Change of Clothes for those in Diapers

• Disposable Changing Pad

• Hand Sanitizer

• Formula

• Bottles

• Bottle Soap

• Sunglasses

• Toys

• Snacks

• Sunscreen

• Wrist Leashes for Our Walking Kids

• Small First Aid Kit

Most of this you already know, but to leave the house at all without Diapers, Wipes and a Change of Clothes is just asking for a horrible situation to occur. We're also looking forward to the day when we can leave the Bottles, Formula and Bottle Soap behind. Though that would mean my baby is grown up and if I think about that too much I'll start to cry. Let's move on before that happens.

Ponchos. This is an item I have honestly gone back and forth on, repeatedly. Eventually I did cave and just threw them in the bag. The reasoning? They don't take up much space and they can save the day when a summer storm pops up, or your kid wants to ride the rapids.

They say that once you have a third kid, you really start to worry less as a parent. And while I can completely say that is true, one thing I just can't seem to get over is public changing tables. I really hate putting my child on a public changing table without a covering. But the changing pads that are typically used are so big and bulky and I hate that even more when I'm trying to pack light. My solution? A puppy pee pad. We actually get ours at the Dollar Tree and it's perfect for our adventuring! They're also great to keep in the car for when that unexpected blowout gets poop all over a car seat 4 hours into a 16 hour drive (yea, that happened). They take up almost no space in the bag and at the end of the day, I just toss it!

If you aren't taking Sunglasses and Sunscreen with you, you must not be in Florida. Here you need them both, whether it's January or July. Don't be silly and skip them. Paying for them at the park will certainly cost you a pretty penny.

I know all theme parks have first aid stations, and for the longest time we didn't take a first aid kit with us in the parks, but lately our middle child has changed that. This little girl is full throttle and high speed, 24/7. She is in her "Me Do It" and "Go" phase without caution. Almost every day there is a scraped or bloody body part. It's just become part of our rhythm to always have Neosporin and Band-Aids with us, regardless of where we are. I got this kit on Amazon, and it's been quite clutch for our family!

Toys and Leashes. I get it sounds weird, but we need them both. We never go to a theme park without toys. I'm not talking about fancy expensive toys. I'm talking Elsa from the Dollar Tree and McDonald's Happy Meal toys. Toys that can (and will) get thrown, lost and forgotten. Toys that don't break the bank or a toddler's heart. Just enough of a toy to surprise and occupy an emotionally unstable tiny human, and nothing else. Like I said, we love Dollar Tree and other free/cheap toys. The leash conversation is a bit tougher. I know there are parents with strong opinions on this topic (thanks Modern Family). If this isn't your boat, just move along. We like leashes though. The ability to give a child (some) freedom, while keeping them close and safe, is the peace of mind both my husband and I love. We have used both Backpack Leashes and Wrist Leashes and have found that each has their usefulness in certain settings. For the theme parks, we really prefer the Wrist Leashes, as any type of bag results in more security and a tired two year old doesn't want to carry a backpack.

Ready to pack up and meet for a Mickey Pretzel yet? Let's do it! Drop me a comment if you think I'm forgetting something! I'm here to learn, just like you!

Hugs,

Anslee