There is nothing worse than finally getting everyone loaded into the car, pulling into the parking lot, and realizing you forgot the one thing you actually needed. I have absolutely been that mom standing outside the zoo digging through my bag only to discoverā¦ no bottle. Or arriving at a fall festival with a baby who clearly needed a diaper change and realizing I was out. It happens, and it is not fun.
At the same time, I also know what it is like to carry a diaper bag that feels like it weighs 100 pounds because I packed everything I owned ājust in case.ā There is a sweet spot, and it took me a while to find it.
I am a mom of three, and I have packed diaper bags through newborn days, toddler chaos, and everything in between. What I have learned is that you do not need a perfectly stocked bag. You need a realistic one. This is not about perfection or preparing for every possible scenario. It is about having the items that actually make your life easier when you are out and about.
Think of this as a flexible checklist, not a rigid rule book. Your baby, your routine, and your comfort level will shape what goes in your bag. My goal here is simply to help you feel prepared, not overwhelmed, so you can leave the house with confidence instead of crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.
This baby essentials list is just meant to guide you, not stress you out! Add the items that you feel work well for you and leave out the ones you don’t use. Some of these items live in my diaper bag (while others get taken out when I know I won’t be needing them.
Ok, let’s start out with the obvious ā diapers! No, you don’t need a whole pack, but you will need at least a couple!
As your baby gets bigger you won’t be changing them as often so the recommended time frame of 1 diaper for every 2 hours you’re out can be pushed back a bit. For example: I bring 1 diaper for every 3 hours I’m out for my 1-year-old. But newborns pee and poop a LOT, and you don’t want to be caught empty-handed.
This is a bit of a personal opinion about whether you want a travel-size pack of baby wipes or a full-size. Personally what I do is this: when one of the full-size packs of wipes that I use at home is about half gone, I put that in the diaper bag!
That way I’m not going through a ton of extra waste with the small travel-size pack, and I’m not short on wipes in the case of an extreme blowout. I also have three kids, so the likelihood of needing extra wipes for dirty hands, messy faces or spills is very likely so having more than 10 wipes in my bag is a good idea.
(I do, however, keep a travel pack of baby wipes and a few extra diapers in my “emergency bag” in my car. More on that in my mom hacks post!)
There’s nothing worse than changing your baby’s diaper only to realize they are extremely fussy because of a bad diaper rash! Diaper rashes can come on suddenly, so don’t be caught empty-handed.
Keeping diaper rash ointment in your diaper bag will ward off any painful butts, uncomfortable babies and stressed out parents!
Most diaper bags come with a changing pad, however getting a portable baby changing pad like this one from Amazon was the best investment for me. I stock it full of my diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream and throw it in my diaper bag.
That way when I need to change a diaper out in public, I don’t always have to bring the entire diaper bag with me! I just need the changing pad pack. This is also one of my husband’s favorite so he’s not lugging a backpack to the bathroom with him when he changes a diaper. š
My personal favorite are the burp cloths that double as a bib so you only need to bring one thing with! I only keep one burp cloth in my bag unless my baby spits up a ton or I know I’ll be gone for multiple feedings. In that case I’ll add in an extra one.
My daughter would go through one burp cloth each feeding and soak it with spit-up, while both my sons barely needed one. So depending on your baby, bring 1-2 burp cloths with you!
Funny story. When our third baby was born, I brought him to his first pediatrician appointment with just a diaper and a swaddle blanket in my bag. My husband had taken our older two kids to the state fair and brought the well-stocked diaper bag with him. Since I was only going to be gone for a short time and then meeting up with him, I assumed I didn’t need much.
I was wrong.
My son ended up peeing mid-diaper change and got pee ALL over his clothes AND the one spare diaper. I ended up having to ask for a fresh diaper from the nurse and put him in his carseat with no clothes on, just his swaddle blanket around him and his hat on him!
Lesson learned.
Even if you’re going to be gone for just a short time, it’s a very good idea to bring a change of clothes. Most often I just throw in a pair of pajamas or onesie since it’s just one article of clothing rather than extra pants and an extra shirt. Keep things as easy as possible!
I guarantee there will be at least one time in your parenting experience that a child will soil their clothes, whether it’s a pee accident, a blowout, or some other experience that will result in wet clothes.
A bag that’s waterproof that can hold wet clothes or soiled clothes so the rest of your diaper bag items won’t get ruined is one of the best diaper bag essentials ever.
I always put my spare change of clothes inside the waterproof bag so it keeps everything together. Then when I need it, I can just pull out the bag with the extra clothes and do what needs to be done! š
If you use pacifiers for your kids, you definitely don’t want to forget them at home! You’ll want at least one extra pacifier in your bag at all times.
With our second baby, I found these handy bags that not only keep them clean but easy to find! Nothing is worse than being at church or a restaurant and frantically trying to find that elusive pacifier. This bag helped so much!
9. Bottle and Formula or Breast Milk (If Using Them)
If you are bottle feeding your baby, don’t forget a bottle! I’ve found it easiest to actually buy an extra bottle and just keep it in the bag.
If you’re formula feeding, you need one of these formula dispensers! Keep it full so your baby stays happy (and full haha!).
A nursing cover is useful even if you’re not nursing! I love the Milksnob nursing covers, because they double as a carseat cover.
On days that it’s windy, rainy or super sunny, simply wrap the nursing cover over your carseat to keep your baby protected from the elements but still allow them to have a little window to see out of!
It also can be used as a lightweight blanket on days that get a little chilly as well.
11. Snacks (For Baby and You)
This one’s for you AND your baby! If you’re breastfeeding (or just a busy mom), you’ll want some healthy high-protein snacks to keep the hangries away. š
Carrying a water bottle for yourself is the easiest self-care you can do. You’ll feel better if you stay well hydrated, have something to wash down your snack, and don’t have to drink out of your baby’s sippy cup!
Once your baby starts eating, you’ll want to make sure you have age-appropriate snacks. Put in some fruit or veggie pouches, puffs or other easy-to-transport snacks that won’t ruin an appetite! Don’t forget the snack cups or other utensils you’ll need to make it easy to eat on the go.
12. Toys
Now please, don’t fill your bag with your baby’s 10 favorite toys. And also don’t leave the same two toys in there all day every day!
Pick out a couple toys that are small (things like our kids’ favorite suction toys that are silicone and perfect for eating out, this crinkle paper or teethers), and rotate them in and out of your diaper bag!
This will help keep your baby occupied and happy when you’re out and about.
Don’t get caught with a stinky dirty diaper and nowhere to contain the stink when you throw it away! You can use these plastic poop bags for baby diapers or what we do is actually use dog poop plastic bags (double duty if you have a dog!)! Either one will do the trick at containing the smell when needed.
You only need a couple of these in your bag at all times, and they’re so small they won’t take up much space!
Throw in a small travel-size container or sunscreen stick for those spontaneous stops at the park or when you find yourself at a farmers market with no shade for you and baby! This is something that’s helpful for both you and your little one ā after they’re 6 months old, of course.
If you live in a place with gnats or mosquitos like I do, throwing in a small bug spray is a good idea too! You don’t want to ruin a picnic because you can’t get the bugs to leave you alone!
Another thing for you and kids (if you have toddlers!) is hand sanitizer. Use this before feeding your baby or after changing them if you’re somewhere where there’s no sink to wash your hands.
Or use this before snack time! Kids love to get their hands dirty and touch pretty much everything possible, so you’ll want to keep a small hand sanitizer close by!
Whether you’re covering up a scraped knee from a toddler taking a tumble or covering a blister from a pair of new shoes you decided to wear, having a few bandaids is among my diaper bag essentials!
Bonus: They’re small, so they won’t take up much extra space! Another tip is ot leave them in your wallet that way you’ll always have them!
17. Parent Essentials
You can’t forget about you! Don’t leave home without your wallet, phone or car keys!
I like to keep a clutch with my essentials (wallet, phone, lip balm, etc.) inside it. That way I can easily transfer it from my purse to my diaper bag and know everything I’m going to need is inside!
What to Look for in a Diaper Bag
I’ve gone through quite a few diaper bags over the last 9+ years, and I’ve learned a few things!
First you want to have one that’s easy for you to carry. Some people perter a tote while others prefer a backpack. I found that having a backpack diaper bag was the best option for me, especially with two rounds of 2 kids under 2.
Also, having a diaper bag with good pockets is crucial! With so many diaper bag essentials you need to have on hand for your baby, it’s necessary to have good quality pockets.
Packing a diaper bag well depends on being able to find what you need when you need it. So even if you use a regular bag as a diaper bag, it’s worth investing in a diaper bag insert or zippered bags to give you the organization you need.
And look for something that’s cute! You’ll be carrying this bag every day for years so it’s worth spending a little extra money on ā especially if that means your spouse will take turns carrying it!
That’s it! I hope this diaper bag essentials and diaper bag checklist helps take the guess work out of what to include in your bag and prevents any moments of panic because you find yourself stranded with no diaper!
How to Pack Without Overstuffing
The most annoying thing you can do is over fill your diaper bag, especially when you’ll be carrying it all day! A few tips to remember to not overfill your bag:
Group items together – keeping like with like will help you know exactly what you have so you don’t over pack
Use zippered pouches – an unorganized bag can quickly become an overpacked bag
Repack your bag at home – do this especially when you’ll be out all day! Take out what’s not essential and put in what is.
Diaper Bag FAQ
What should go in a diaper caddy vs. a diaper bag?
A diaper caddy should include the essentials for changing diapers at home (diapers, wipes, creams) while a diaper bag should have all that PLUS snacks, bottles, etc to keep you and your baby happy while away from home.
Do you really need more than one diaper bag?
Definitely not! Some families find it helpful to have a smaller bag for shorter outings and a larger one for full day outings but having only one bag can definitely work.
What should be included in a diaper bag first aid kit?
Don’t overfill this! I keep a few bandaids and antibiotic ointment, infant fever reducer and a nail clipper in my diaper bag. I do keep a full first aid kit in my car for emergencies that’s full of everything I need.
A Note From One Mom to Another
While this post is meant to help you out and take the guess work out of what to put in your bag, always remember you’re human and not perfect! There’s been plenty of times that I’ve been out only to discover I didn’t have a diaper or nursing cover or wipes and I’ve been the recipient of other moms who were strangers letting me use one of their baby’s diapers or a few wipes. We’re all in this together and never feel bad or discouraged if a day doesn’t go as planned and things get missed in the bag. It will be just fine!
