Two Things I Keep In Over-Supply—For Babies

When I went to college, my first roommate asked if I happened to have a flashlight. "Big or small?" I asked her, holding up options.

I have always had a tendency to over-prepare. Who even needs a flashlight at all in a sorority house?

And yet.

The only reason I can think of now for her asking is that she was probably going camping. At THE University of Idaho, we liked to camp. Those years concluded my time as a "happy camper." Now that I know better, I do better, and I shamelessly find myself some downright glamping accommodations (aka a cabin with a shower) and some booze that isn't Keystone Light. No hate to anyone who likes to camp on the ground in a tent. I'm simply not made for the wild. Plus, SO much to haul on your person. Firm no. #outdoorsylite, remember? 

Since I'm always over-prepared, I've found that my mommyhood is much more pleasant for all involved if we live with an abundance of two things:

• PJs
• Snacks/to-go food

I stock up for ODP in his next size up of PJs before we get there because I don't want to be scrambling when he has an unplanned spurt and Target doesn't have preferable emergency PJ options for me. There is a surprising dearth of affordable-ish PJs when you are actively searching for them, as I just did for 18-24 months. We finally have a nice pile of about 7 pair that I've shoved in the back of one of his shelves for when the time is near, but as any mommy knows, advertised sizes vary a huge amount between and even within brands. Carters ALWAYS runs small, and Gap can fit either perfectly or too big. Zara is always huge. When it comes to PJs, I don't want to find myself in a literal and figurative jam, so stay stocked we do forever and ever, amen. 

As for snacks, I keep a quart-size freezer bag in my diaper bag with at least half a dozen options, from teething crackers, to breakfast bars, to pouches. Whenever I load up on any of them, I immediately grab a few to put in that bag. That way, ODP always has variety and I don't have to start stress sweating should a restaurant we chose to go to in lieu of cooking takes too long for a toddler's preferred waiting time. 

What do you keep in overstock? Any mommy hacks I'm missing?