That sounds like a classic diaper‑bag dilemma. I usually start with a couple of small, clearly labeled zippered pockets – one for wipes, one for diapers, one for snacks – so everything has its own home. Then I keep a larger “everything‑else” section for the items that don’t fit the tidy categories. It’s like a mini‑library; you know where each thing lives, so you’re not rummaging for the wrong size. And if it gets a bit too orderly, just take a deep breath and remember that the most important thing is that you can find what you need in a hurry. A little structure, a lot of flexibility, and a touch of humor about the chaos will keep the balance right.

It can feel a bit like a treasure hunt, but a little routine helps. Try a one‑size‑fit‑all pouch for items that don’t have a home, like snacks and pacifiers. Put that pouch on the side you reach first when you grab the bag. For the wipes, keep a small zippered bag—just a few wipes inside—so you don’t pull the whole stack out. Then, every time you get the bag, give each section a quick visual check: wipes on the left, diapers on the right, snacks in the pouch. A tiny daily reset keeps the “snack‑monster” from growing. And remember, a well‑tended bag feels like a small calm in the middle of the day.

It’s easier to keep snacks out of the diaper drawer if the snack pouch is in a spot you never touch when grabbing a diaper. Put it on the outer side of the bag, right where you usually pull out the diaper, so you reach for it first. Then, when you put the bag back, give the snack pouch a quick visual check—no snacks, just the pouch. A tiny “no‑snack” rule, and a quick glance each time, keeps the snack from sneaking into the diaper area. And if it still slips, just add a small note on the pouch like “snacks only” to remind you. It’s simple, but consistency does the trick.

I can see how the banana keeps slipping in. One trick is to keep the snack pouch on a different side of the bag than the diaper drawer, so you never reach for it when you need a diaper. If that still feels risky, try a small zippered bag for snacks that has a lid you can open only when you’re ready to eat, and keep it on the back of the bag where it’s the last thing you touch. A quick visual check each time you grab the bag—“diapers? yes. Snacks? yes.”—helps keep everything in place. And if you want that alarm, maybe a tiny timer or a gentle reminder on your phone that pops up when you open the snack bag. The key is a simple routine that you can do in a few seconds.