25+ Mom Purse Essentials All Moms Need In Their Bags

As I prepped for our Christmastime trip to my hometown, Pittsburgh, PA, I found myself revisiting one of my favorite parts of packing: my self-care kit.

This little kit isn’t just a bag of “stuff”—it’s my emotional support system, my secret weapon for staying prepared so I can be fully present, whether I’m traveling or just out running errands.

Mom Purse Essentials

As I checked off "Audit my self-care kit," I realized how much this little kit helps me feel prepared so I can be present.

Whether on a trip or at the playground, I’m that friend who has the thing you need when you need it.

• Hair ties? Got em.
• Advil? Here you go.
• Bandaid, safety pin, tampon? Yep, yep, yep.

How dooooooo I do it?

I keep a “self-care kit” stocked at all times. Or, at least I try to. When I travel, I call it my “onboard self-care kit.” Either way, it’s my personal Ready Set Moms version of “every day carry” (EDC).

EDC is defined as “a collection of useful items that are consistently carried on person every day. The main reasons for having EDC are utility (usefulness), self-sufficiency, and preparedness: to help individuals improve simple everyday problem solving, from the mundane (opening packages, minor repairs) to possible emergency situations such as first aid or self-defense.”

EDC is usually considered a dude thing, or a prepper thing, but is there anything more prepared than a mom’s diaper bag?

What to carry YOUR personal items in

This self-care kit is just as prepared, but it’s about YOU, not the baby with spit-up and blow-outs. For moms who may still be in the diaper bag stage but want a separate stash of purse essentials for themselves, curating the perfect daily use items is a great way to stay prepared. Here are my recommendations.

This compact “beauty bag” is PERFECT for this purpose. This makeup bag is the perfect size for all your things.

I carry it around every day in this sling bag (I don't do fancy), and I transfer it to my big backpack for travel days. My big backpack doesn’t take up that much room - it’s a great size, too.

Whether you prefer a canvas tote, stylish handbag, or a practical lululemon belt bag, the best bags combine functionality with versatility. Do what works for you!

Pro tip: Include a zippered pouch or bag organizer for easy access to small items like lip gloss, feminine products, nail clippers, or dental floss.

What's in my EDC self-care kit (and what you might want in yours!)

Illness/injury

• Motion sickness bands (Even if it’s just placebo, they cue me to breathe and slow down, which can help me keep motion sickness at bay. To find the pressure point location, measure three fingers down on the wrist. Another pressure point on the palm works well for me, too.)
• Bandaids
• Antiseptic wipes or baby wipes
• Ibuprofen packets (need to restock)

Skin

• Sunscreen (Trader Joe’s makes a Super Goop dupe)
• Hand sanitizer (Trader Joe’s lavender spray or EO lavender gel)
• Small tube of hand cream in a lovely light scent
• Dr Bronner’s unscented Magic Balm “for hands, face, and body” (I use it for hands, cuticles, and lips.)

Mouth

• Dental floss
• Tooth picky thing
• Mints, gum, or both

Miscellaneous

• Safety pins
• Hair tie
• Nail file
• Tampons
• Ear plugs (they save me in loud play spaces)
• Ayr saline gel (great for airplanes and visiting places that are dryer than you’re used to)

What else I regularly carry

In a back pocket of my sling bag I carry my Leatherman Multi-tool with me every day, and I use it a few times a week. Opening packages, removing tags, cutting threads, trimming or filing nails, pulling out splinters, prying things open, separating stubborn Legos, cutting apples. THIS should be the gift we give women at wedding showers, baby showers, house warmings, graduations, whatever.

Also in my sling bag:

• Handkerchief
• Pen
• Lipstick / lip balm / lip gloss
• Compact wallet
• Granola bar

Other things to consider adding to your mom bag

Here are some ideas of other items and objects you might want to carry in your mom bag:

• Small first aid kit
• Change of clothes
• Reusable water bottle
• Small tool kit
• Feminine products
• Nail clipper

Packing purse essentials thoughtfully ensures you’re always ready for what life throws your way without taking up much room. Next time you grab your regular bag, you’ll thank yourself for being so prepared!

What about you? What is your favorite mom purse essential? What do you always have on hand, whether for everyday use or when you travel? Let me know! Make me even more prepared and amazing.

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