I feel like being a mother is all about anticipation. First, you anticipate becoming pregnant, then you start anticipating giving birth, and then? You start to anticipate things like when your baby will next need a diaper change or a feeding. And I’m sure as my kids grow older I will start to feel anticipation about other things like their future, where they’ll go to college, if they’ll make the right decisions, if I’ve taught them all I needed to in order for them to succeed in life, etc. Whew.

But I’m not there yet. Right now I’m still anticipating the little things, like when my kids will next be hungry, and how many diapers they’ll go through in the next month. And for me, anticipating leads to preparation. I thrive on being prepared. And today I thought I’d share with you my top 3 ways to be a prepared mom. I hope they help you!

Buy in bulk.

This can really refer to anything and everything, but today I’m specifically talking about diapers. When Abe was first born, I used to buy small packs of diapers each time I went to the store. And man, was that a dumb idea. I was constantly running out and constantly worried about having to run to the store to make sure I had more. Buying them in bulk means you’re prepared for a good long while. This is especially useful to me as I have 2 in diapers!

Pack your bag the night before.

I have to keep my bags neat and clean and organized. I like to clean out my bag as soon as I can after I get home, and re-pack it for the next time we need to go out. Whether or not your as anal as I am about this (haha) it’s still a great idea to make sure you have diapers and wipes, at the very least, packed the night before. Mornings can be a bit hectic with the breakfasting and the dressing and the general craziness, so knowing that your bag at least is prepared will give you one less thing to worry about. And when you pack your bag when you’re not stressing about anything else (like getting out the door on time) you’ll be less likely to forget something.

Keep an emergency stock in the car.

In case you forgot to follow the previous tip, this one will be your saving grace 😉 I love to keep an extra diaper bag in the trunk of my car, just in case my regular diaper bag ever fails me. I don’t keep much in it, just a few diapers, wipes, and an extra blanket and change of clothes, but it’s definitely come in handy a few times!

But y’all, seriously, I love membership clubs like Sam’s Club. Buying in bulk is literally one of my favorite things. Yes, it can be a bit of an up-front expense, but the peace of mind you get from knowing you won’t run out for a long time is more than worth it. And it really does end up saving you money in the long run. Buying diapers (and wipes! and paper towels! and toilet paper! and…!) has literally changed my life.

Right now Sam’s Club is offering the biggest pack ever of Huggies® Little Movers in a 2 month supply (312 diapers). Only size 4 are available in this pack, but they’re the size babies are in the longest, generally speaking. And like I said, buying in bulk brings me so much peace of mind, knowing that I’ll be prepared for whatever life throws at me. Buying in bulk isn’t the only benefit of being a Sam’s Club member, though! You can find out how else being a member can benefit you here, and you can find your nearest Sam’s Club here.

I hope my little tips today help you out! Let me know if you have any other tips and tricks below!