It took me years and many sticky situations to determine what items truly were diaper bag must haves. I slowly learned what things I was missing and what things were just adding extra unnecessary weight to carry.
This post is all about the diaper bag must haves that will save your sanity and a FREE diaper bag checklist so you won’t forget a thing!
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Diaper Bag Must Haves
What Diaper Bag Should You Choose?
The most important of all the diaper bag essentials is well…the diaper bag itself. So, you’ll first have to decide what is most important to you. Here are a few things to consider.
What to Look For in a Diaper Bag:
- Price
- Size/Weight
- The Number of Pockets/Ease of Organization
- Comfortable Straps/Stroller Straps
- What Other Accessories it Comes With: Does it come with a pacifier holder and/or changing pad.
- Insulated Pockets
- Style
The Diaper Bags I’ve Owned:
Since becoming a mom, I’ve owned a total of three different diaper bags which range from budget to luxury. Here are my thoughts on each of them.
LAND Diaper Bag
This was my very first diaper bag. My LAND Diaper Bag was affordable, cute, and comfortable to lug around. I loved the fact that I could open up the top and see everything all at once without anything falling out like it does with the full open front. It also has a zipper on the back that will allow you to quickly access things on the bottom of the bag without taking everything out. But, I am a big organizer and like to have a lot of pockets to organize my stuff in and this one was lacking in the compartments department.
It does have stroller straps and comes with a changing pad and insulated bottle pockets as well. It does not, however, come with a pacifier holder. So, if you are looking for a more minimalist or medium sized diaper bag that looks super cute, this would be a winner.
BabbleRoo Diaper Bag Backpack
The next diaper bag I purchased was the BabbleRoo Diaper Bag Backpack, which I owned and loved for almost three years before it started to get stained and needed to be replaced.
This bag itself is very lightweight and has two main compartments and an INSANE amount of pockets/compartments. It was a DREAM to organize! I actually had friends joke with me about it being a magic bag because I literally had everything at all times. The compartments made it super easy to know where everything was so I wasn’t constantly digging through my bag each time I had to find something.
It’s got padded shoulder straps and build in stroller straps as well as a pacifier holder and changing pad. Although, I will say the changing pad is pretty bare bones. It also does have three insulated pockets in the front compartment.
So, if you tend to be overly prepared, this bag might be exactly what you need. And luckily it has padded straps and built- in stroller clips that make it still comfortable to carry even when you pack it full. I just recommend you get a darker color. I purchased a tan one and had a hard time getting stains out of it.
If you want more info on this bag, I have a whole article on the BabbleRoo Diaper Bag Backpack. It definitely was a good bag, especially for the price!
Itzy Ritzy Boss Plus
The Itzy Ritzy Boss Plus Diaper Bag is my current diaper bag and I have found it very different from my other two.
To be honest, it is a bit heavy all on it’s own. I’ve noticed it being a bit heavier than my other bags were even when I intentionally pack on the lighter side. It does have a decent amount of pockets to organize in, but everything is in one large compartment that has a top to bottom zipper. It’s nice to not go searching in multiple compartments when you are looking for something but can make organizing it a little more difficult.
It does come with stroller straps and the straps themselves are very comfortable. It also has a really nice changing pad that is coordinating to match whatever style bag you purchase and also has “head” and “toes” labels on the pad. I really liked this for the fact of knowing my baby wasn’t putting their head right where they had just had a blow out previously.
It does not have a pacifier holder but they do sell them separately if you want to get a cute one to match your bag. And as far as insulated pockets, the two side pockets on the outside are insulated which I’ve found super nice for my toddlers’ water bottles.
So, if your primary goal is a cute bag and you aren’t an overpacker, you will absolutely love this bag. It’s an absolute winner on stylerand has tons of colors to choose from. It is super duper cute and comfy to carry but I’ve definitely had bags with a lot more storage.
What Makes These Things Diaper Bag Must Haves?
Being a mom of two toddlers with a baby joining us very soon, I’ve learned what is worth carrying and what isn’t. I also learned the hard way the things that I was missing at first as a new mom. So, learn from my mistakes and use this diaper bag checklist. When you’re trying to decide what to put in your diaper bag everything in your bag has to have a purpose.
A Small Wet Bag
I always have one of these small wet bags in my diaper bag. They are great if my toddler has an accident, my baby has a blow out, or one of my kids decides to get all muddy at the park. They also have a buttoned loop on the outside which makes it easy to attach to the outside of my bag if I need to.
Bags for Poopy Diapers
I don’t know how I went so long without keeping plastic bags in my diaper bag for diapers. These dog poop bags have a clip to attach to your bag and you won’t have to worry about constantly adding a Walmart bag into your bag before you head out. Plus, they cost half of what the disposable diaper bags.
Life Vac
While it may seem like overkill, my Life Vac is something that I keep in my diaper bag at all times. You never know when something can happen and having the peace of mind that I can help my kids (or someone else) in a choking situation is worth giving up the space in my diaper bag. Plus, it is extremely light and adds hardly any weight to my bag.
Foldable Potty Seat
This Frida foldable potty seat has saved us more than once in a public restroom. It keeps them off the dirty toilet seat and also has little hands for their hands so they aren’t holding onto a dirty toilet. It adds a tiny bit of weight to my bag but it folds up nice and small and leaves me plenty of space for whatever else I need to pack for the day.
Extra Clothes
I keep an extra set of clothes for both my two littlest in my diaper bag at all times. Not only is this helpful for potty accidents or blow outs, but it also means we can be spontaneous if there is a fun puddle to jump in.
However, if you want to keep your diaper bag more minimalist and a bit lighter, you can also keep extra clothes in your car. I like to add a set for each of my kids organized in a diaper caddy in the car. And if you still have a little baby, I highly recommend a T-shirt in there for you as well for when they inevitably throw up all over you.
Hand Sanitizer
Within an hour of leaving the house, both my kids end up begging for snacks. But, after being at the park or grocery store, their little hands are pretty gross and dragging two toddlers into a public bathroom probably won’t end with clean hands either. So, I like to keep this Honest Hand Sanitizer in my bag for our on the go snack times.
Stackable Snack Cups
I use the Whiskware stackable snack cups almost every single time we go out. It is literally the perfect thing to keep snacks for both my kids and have an extra compartment to put the dropped pieces into. It slides perfectly into the side pockets in my diaper bag and takes up way less space than multiple snack cups.
Kids' Water Bottles
If you take a toddler on an outing, they will ask for a snack. If they eat a snack, they will ask for water. And if they take yours, you will never be able to drink out of it again due to the backwash. So, play it safe and bring along water bottles.
An Extra Pacifier
Never underestimate the power of an extra pacifier. Inevitably one will fall on the ground or get lost and having an extra might just save the day or allow for that must needed car nap. And I highly recommend a pacifier holder to make it easy to find it and to save more space inside your bag.
A Sprayable Diaper Cream
To avoid carrying around a diaper cream spatula or having diaper cream covered hands, I can’t recommend a sprayable diaper cream enough. It makes diaper changes out of the house so much easier.
A Bib
I always keep one of these silicone bibs in my car or diaper bag at all times. So, if we decide to stop for an impromptu ice cream cone or lunch, we don’t ruin their entire outfit.
A Few Quiet Toys
I learned pretty quickly into being a mom that you literally never know what will happen, especially when you are out and about with toddlers. Whether it be an unexpected trip to the car shop, a super long line at the store, getting stuck in standstill traffic, etc. having a few quiet toys can help make the long waits in public a whole lot easier (without bothering everyone around you).
Our absolute favorite toys to keep on hand are water wow books, reusable sticker books, and pop fidget toys.
Changing mat
A changing mat is a must have for every diaper change out of the house. They are great to put on the germy bathroom changing tables and perfect for the moments you end up changing your baby in a less than ideal spot. Many diaper bags come with one but if you decide on one that doesn’t, it is definitely worth the investment to buy one separately.
Diapers & Wipes
I typically like to keep 2-3 diapers of each size in my diaper bag alongside the wipes. But, I also recommend keeping both diapers and wipes in your car. You’ll be surprised at how many times they will come in handy. Because sooner or later you’ll forget to load up the diaper bag before leaving the house.
Diaper Bag Must Haves for Nursing Moms...
If you are still nursing your baby, you’ll want to bring a few more things along on the go.
Burp Cloths
I like to have two burp cloths in my bag at all times because my babies tend to spit up enough to cover the first one completely. I am utterly obsessed with the Burt’s Bees burp cloths and they are almost indestructible. My four year old still carries one around as a blanket and it has yet to get a hole!
Reusable Nursing Pads
There is nothing worse than being out in public and looking down to realize you’re leaking through your shirt. It’s a nightmare. I’ve definitely been there before buying these reusable nursing pads. They are super comfortable and you will hardly even notice they’re there. And while you’ll really only need to add an extra set of these to your bag if you plan to be out a long time, this might be another thing to consider keeping in your car bag.
Hair Tie or Claw Clip
Breastfeeding while your hair goes everywhere is annoying to begin with and even more so once your baby gets older and starts pulling on it. So, a hair tie or a claw clip stashed in your bag can be a life saver.
A Nursing Cover
If your baby is still little, they are probably eating very frequently and will leave you no choice but to nurse in a few highly inconvenient locations. I take my WeeSprout 360 Nursing Cover everywhere with me. It’s the only one that my babies don’t push off to the side while nursing and it is super light for summer time nursing.
How to Reduce the Weight of Your Diaper Bag?
Looking at this list, you’re probably worried about how heavy your diaper bag might get. So, I highly recommend you make a kid bag to keep in your car. This is the absolute best way to lighten up your diaper bag and still be prepared for anything.
What to Include In Your Car bag:
- Diapers & Wipes- If you have diapers and wipes in your car, you can carry only a diaper or two and a few wipes in a ziploc bag without stressing.
- Extra Clothes- Keeping an extra set of clothes for everyone in the car means you have the extra back up without the extra weight in your diaper bag. (And don’t forget about an extra shirt for you if you are nursing!)
- Burp Cloths- If you are still nursing, a few extra burp cloths will definitely come in handy.
- Some Small Toys- Keeping a few small toys in your car means you can add them to your bag as needed and your kids will also have entertainment on long car rides too.
- Extra Snacks- You can never have too many extra snacks on hand with toddlers.
- Extra Pacifier- Because no matter how many you have, it will never be enough.
This post was all about the diaper bag must haves you’ll want to pack in your bag to be prepared for anything. If you love this list and want a copy of my FREE Diaper Bag Checklist, head over to my FREE Printables for New Moms and grab one!
-Beautifully Busy Mom
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Meet the Author
This post was written by Monica, a former teacher turned stay at home mom. After feeling very lonely at the beginning of her motherhood journey, she started this blog in hopes that other moms wouldn’t feel the way she felt. So, this blog is filled with free resources and fun activities so that you can enjoy the beautiful chaos that is motherhood. Let’s be friends 🙂
