Australian summers and babies don’t combine easily. It’s hot, everything gets sticky, and the nappy bag turns into a portable survival kit.
We’ve been doing this for a while now. Here’s what actually makes it into the bag on a summer outing — not the marketing version, the real one.
The essentials
1. Nappies × 5 — Rule of thumb: however many hours you’re out, add one. Summer = nappy rash territory. Change often.
2. Baby wipes — Unscented. We’ve tried fancy ones. Baby’s skin always prefers the boring ones.
3. Handkerchiefs × 5 — This is our thing. Korean baby handkerchiefs in a ziplock bag. They do everything wipes can’t: drying the face after a drink, catching a dribble, wrapping a dropped toy, or just dabbing baby’s forehead when they’re overheating. They’re smaller than a muslin and softer than a tissue.
4. A light muslin cloth — For pram shade or the car seat cover. Too hot for swaddling in summer.
5. SPF 50+ baby sunscreen — Mineral-based. Zinc sits on the skin rather than absorbing. Better for under-six-months too.
6. A change of clothes — One outfit. Summer means fewer layers, which means less bag space. Win.
7. Water bottle (for baby and parent) — If the baby is on solids, a sippy cup. If still feeding, a bottle. Hydration is everything in January.
8. Hand sanitiser — For us, not them.
What goes in summer but stays out in winter
- Cooling gel pad — Stick it in the pram when baby’s back is getting sweaty
- A mini spray bottle — Fill with water, mist baby’s legs in the heat
- Extra handkerchiefs — Summer means more mess, more sweat, more everything. We go from 5 to 8 in the rotation.
What we stopped carrying
- Powder. Nobody needs talcum powder in a 40-degree car park.
- Three changes of clothes. Two was always the actual number. Three was anxiety packing.
- The ‘just in case’ blanket. In summer, a blanket is a heat risk. The muslin does the job.
The bag
We use a simple canvas tote with internal pockets. Nothing tactical, nothing branded. Looks like a regular bag, functions like an operations centre.
The handkerchiefs stay in the outer pocket so they’re always accessible. You don’t want to be digging for a clean cloth when baby’s just discovered finger painting at a café.
Packs of 5 and 10 Korean handkerchiefs. Find us on Amazon.