As a parent, your diaper bag is your lifeline when you're out and about with your little one. Whether you’re heading to the grocery store, the playground, visiting family, or embarking on a long road trip, having a well-packed diaper bag makes a huge difference. But what exactly should you pack? Here’s our ultimate diaper bag checklist to ensure you have everything you need for stress-free outings.
Essentials for Every Diaper Bag
These are the non-negotiable must haves that every parent should carry, no matter the length of the outing:
- Diapers – For smaller babies, pack at least one for every two hours you'll be out, plus an extra or two just in case. Older babies may need a change every 3+ hours, it really depends. The numbers are generally the same between cloth diapers and disposables.
Tip: If you use cloth diapers, don’t forget your wet bag for the soiled ones! If you use disposables, perhaps you’ll pack some of those tiny plastic trash bags or just throw away as you go.
- Wipes – No matter how old your kids are, it is never a mistake to toss in a travel pack of baby wipes for diaper changes, sticky hands, and unexpected messes.
- Changing Pad – Some diaper bags come with one, but if not, invest in a portable changing pad for clean diaper changes anywhere. We offer a compact, ultra soft roll version here! It’s important to save as much space as possible in your bag, that’s why we created a super packable version!
- Diaper Cream – A classic diapering staple, it’s always good to have a small one on hand. We recommend something that’s ‘cloth diaper safe’ (meaning it won’t damage your diapers and cause repelling) such as a basic coconut oil or french diapering cream.
- Hand Sanitizer – A must-have for keeping your hands clean before and after diaper changes. You could opt for a gel, spray, or wipes- whatever you prefer. We recommend one that can be used safely on tiny hands as well!
- Wet Bag or Plastic Bags – Perfect for storing soiled diapers or messy clothes. We of course lean towards the wet bags for reusable, eco-friendly reasons! Pro tip: pack your clean clothes inside of a bag so when you need them, you can simply swap them out with the soiled ones. Did you know our diaper bags have a zip on & off wet bag pocket you can just toss in the wash?
- Extra Outfit – Accidents happen! Pack an extra set of clothes, including socks. Make sure to keep track of what size it is, I once had a onesie too small in my diaper bag because my baby grew faster than I could re-pack my bag! Pro tip: organize outfits in one of our mesh packing cubes!
- Burp Cloths or Bibs – Useful for feeding times and spit-ups. If you’re looking for a full sleeved smock style bib, we offer those in two sizes!
-Pacifier (if used) – Bring an extra in a clean case or pouch, we make a micro sized wet bag that’s perfect for this!
Feeding Essentials
Depending on whether you're breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or your baby is eating solids, here’s some suggestions on what to pack.
- Bottles with Formula or Breast Milk – Pack as many as you think you need for the outing, plus one extra.
- Breastfeeding Cover (if needed/preferred) – For moms who prefer extra privacy. Our swaddle blankets can work for this in a pinch!
- Snacks for Older Babies/Toddlers – Pack non-messy, easy-to-eat snacks like crackers, fruit pouches, or cereal/puffs. You can use one of our smaller sized wet bag pouches for snack storage!
- Sippy Cup or Water Bottle – Keep your little one hydrated. Our diaper bags have two large bottle pockets on the sides, and the Pack has 3 bottle pockets inside of the large front parent pocket!
- Baby Spoon – If your baby is eating solids on the go and needs a smaller sized spoon.
Comfort & Entertainment
- Favorite Toy or Teether – keeps a fussy or bored baby occupied!
- Soft Blanket – Useful for warmth, shade, cover for breastfeeding, emergency towel, or even impromptu tummy time. We love our muslin swaddles for this!
- Board Book or Small Toy – For keeping baby entertained during longer outings. I have found that books with high contrast pictures are great for newborns and smaller babies, or some of those books with crinkly pages and shiny things like little mirrors inside!
First Aid & Safety
- Baby-Safe Sunscreen – If you'll be outside, even if it doesn’t seem like the sun will be out and bright, sometimes it’s unexpected! Better to keep a small one in the bag in case than end up with a sunburned baby. Toss in a sun hat too!
- Baby-Safe Bug Spray – Essential for outdoor adventures. This is just as important as sunscreen! Bugs can pop out of nowhere and surprise us sometimes, it’s best to be prepared.
- Band-Aids & Small First Aid Kit – For unexpected scrapes and cuts. This can be used for parents too, so even when a newborn who doesn’t move around is your outing buddy, it’s still worth keeping a couple things in the bag for this! A few bandaids, sanitizing wipes, neosporin, nail clipper or tweezer.. Toss it in! We like to use a small pouch for this like the Mini wet bags we mentioned above for pacifiers.
- Infant Pain Reliever (if needed) – Always check with your pediatrician first, but this can be important to have!
Bonus Items for Longer Outings or Travel
- Extra Diapers & Wipes – More than you think you’ll need. It’s always better to have extra you won’t use than not enough and be in a bind!
- Swaddle or Sleep Sack – If baby might nap while you're out, or sleep in a new place that might be a little unfamiliar, a swaddle or sleep sack can help with that.
- Portable Sound Machine – Helps baby sleep and stay asleep on the go. A mini one that does white noise sounds or peaceful music is always a good choice!
- Extra Snacks & Water – For both you and baby or toddler! I am a firm believer in always packing a “just in case” snack, there have been MANY times it’s come in handy!
Final Tips for Packing Your Diaper Bag
- Choose a well-organized bag – Multiple compartments make it easy to find things quickly. We take great pride in our uber organized diaper bag, The Pack! With customizable options like a removable shelf divider, interchangeable printed wet bag pockets, and mix and match accessories, there’s something for everyone!
- Restock after each outing – Avoid the stress of forgetting essentials by replenishing your supplies when you get home. Especially diapers, refilling clean ones and removing and washing any dirty ones! Don’t forget the wipes too. Oh, and pull out any bottles or snacks that’ll get yucky if you forget about them!
- Adjust based on age – Newborns require different items than toddlers, for example, so update your bag as your baby grows. This isn’t very difficult at all! Just taking a little bit of what they’re using at home into your bag. Don’t overthink it!
By keeping these essentials in your diaper bag, you’ll be prepared for anything your day may surprise you with! Be sure to check back soon for more helpful posts like this one.