What do you actually need to pack in your diaper bag? Here’s the list
Here are some must-haves for the holy grail that is the diaper bag.
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We’ve all been there—You’re standing in the cramped corner of a public bathroom with a naked, wailing infant on the changing table, rummaging around your stylish diaper bag for a wipe and a clean diaper. Your fingers move past the toys, extra shirts, and baggies, only to come up with… nothing.
Knowing how to pack your diaper bag for optimum performance in a crisis situation is key because let’s face it, every moment in motherhood is basically a crisis situation. As moms, we have to anticipate every possible scenario our little ones might possibly throw at us, and that can mean bringing a lot (like A LOT) of stuff with us when we leave the house. So as you work through this diaper bag list and figure out what you and your baby definitely need, don’t forget to read our tricks and tips on how to pack diaper bags so you can make your life easier. (Diaper changing hacks like packing certain items together in small bags and having an emergency changing kit made that you can grab in a pinch are game-changers!)
Related: How to change a diaper: A step-by-step guide
So what do I need in my diaper bag?
The key is to think about what items you actually use on any given day to meet your child’s needs. Now imagine how you’ll pack all of those items in one bag without bringing too much extra stuff. For example, are three different winter hats for one toddler necessary? Probably not. A backup onesie for your newborn? Yes, always. Also, consider the age of your child—a diaper bag for a potty-training toddler vs. a breastfeeding infant will look quite different, as any veteran mom will tell you.
And, the season and climate you’re in will dictate what types of items you should include. A mom who lives in southern California doesn’t need nearly as much warm winter gear as one in northern Michigan. The mom in SoCal will probably need sunscreen and a sun hat for baby, whereas the northern mom is more likely to toss an extra winter hat and gloves into her bag.
One trick to packing your diaper bag with all of your essentials is to think about your child’s typical day. Must-haves? Diapers, wipes, a portable changing pad. Extra clothes for newborns who love those diaper blow-outs—always a necessity. But also, extra clothes for toddlers who love saying “uh-oh, Mommy” when they don’t make it in time are just as important. For both cases? Plastic bags to wrap up stinky diapers or bring home dirty clothes in!
Related: ‘Divide and conquer’ works for us—and this unisex diaper bag makes it easy
Wondering “What do I need in my diaper bag?” Here are 15 important items for your diaper bag list.
1. A good diaper bag, of course!
There are endless choices out there—from high-end to low cost, from simple styles to bags with a sea of pockets, zippers and adjustable straps. This one really comes down to personal preference, budget, and the lifestyle you live. Talk to your friends who are in the same stage of life as you, ask them if the love/hate their diaper bag, what they look for when picking one out. Read some reviews, do a little research, and pick a bag that seems like it fits your mom style.
Related: This beautiful handbag is actually a diaper bag
2. Diapers
For a baby 0-3 months, pack 2 diapers for every hour you’ll be out. For 3-12 months, 1 diaper for every hour. (A good rule of thumb: anticipate how many you *think* you’ll need, then cram in a couple more. You’ll thank yourself later for being over-prepared.) Also, if you’re heading to the beach or pool, don’t forget swim diapers!
3. Wipes
You need two kinds—one for cleaning baby’s tender skin and another for sanitizing surfaces that baby will touch and wiping down the portable changing pad. (Pro tip: store these in separate compartments so you don’t grab cleaning wipes in a rush and accidentally wipe your baby’s tender skin with a disinfectant!)
4. Hand sanitizer
Whether its cold / flu / RSV / season or not, it’s always good to sanitize your hands before and after changing baby (and likely having touched all sorts of germy surfaces while out in public). Plus, you’ll want hand sanitizer to be accessible for cleaning your hands (and baby’s hands) before snack time as well.
5. A portable changing pad
Leaving the house means it’s very likely you will have to lay your child down on some sort of surface—whether that’s the ground, floor, a park bench, or a bathroom changing table—and you’ll feel 1000x better about doing so if you can provide a thick, waterproof layer between your precious bundle and whatever hard surface is beneath them. Make sure your changing pad is easy to wipe clean and, for your convenience, tuck a diaper and a few wipes into the pad’s pockets so when you unfold it, the items you need are right there at your disposal.
6. Deodorized bags
Your kids are going to get stinky—that’s just the reality of parenthood. So it’s crucial that you pack some small deodorized bags so you can wrap up stinky diapers and contain the smell until you can find a trash can. These bags are also essential for dirty clothes after a diaper blow-out or potty-training accident. (If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll take approximately 11 eons to master the art of “getting there in time” so you might need this diaper bag essential for years to come. Godspeed.
7. Extra clothes
Again, this one depends on the age of your kids and the season you’re in. As a first-time mom, I can remember learning the hard way how vital it is to have backup clothes for a newborn when my baby blew through his cute “birthday party outfit” AT GRANDMA’S PARTY and had to be carried home in a towel. By the time that same baby was potty-training a few years later, you can be sure I was well prepared with backup undies and pants!
8. Extra layers and winter gear
Particularly for those tricky in-between days or if you’re going to be out of the house from morning until night, tossing in an extra sweatshirt or a warmer zip-up pajama set for later is never a bad idea in case temps drop. Also, make sure you have an extra winter hat and gloves for when your hangry toddler rips theirs off and throws it on the ground into a puddle of mud.
9. A blanket
For warmth, or for simply providing baby a safe place to lie down, crawl, or roll around and stretch their legs, having a baby blanket with you is a must. You never know when you’ll need it—and trust us, you’ll need it.
10. Burp cloths
Spit-up is another part of motherhood that no one loves, but pretty much no one can avoid. Especially for those early months with baby, make sure you have one or two soft burp rags to toss over your shoulder because baby’s going to eat, and then… well, you know what comes next.
11. Bibs
Depending on how long you’ll be out, there’s a good chance your baby will enjoy a meal. And meals mean mess, so don’t forget a bib! (Plus, lots of drooling babies benefit from wearing a bib that can catch the drool and keep it off their cute outfit.)
12. Drinks and snacks
Whether it’s bottles and formula or sippy cups and juice, don’t forget the drinks and snacks! Leaving the house with a little one means being prepared for empty tummies, so make sure you have some animal crackers or apple sauce pouches on hand to hold them over until lunch, or even for just a distraction when you desperately need their cooperation in the stroller.
13. Toys and books
Stick a favorite toy or two and a couple baby books into your diaper bag’s side pocket. This will help when you need to distract them so you can change their diaper, or when you need to keep them from grabbing Aunt Lydia’s breakable figurines next time a holiday rolls around and you’re having dinner at her very non-toddler friendly house. There are lots of reasons you might need baby’s little hands and mind to be busy, so don’t forget to bring a fun activity or two.
14. Pacifiers, loveys, favorite soother
When packing your diaper bag, think about the chances that your baby could nap while you’re out of the house and what you’ll need to have with you to make that happen. (Because that means you might get to have a hot cup of coffee and some adult conversation!) Do you need a couple pacifiers? Baby’s favorite snuggie or stuffed elephant? Teething rings? Toss those in there too.
15. Children’s medication
Obviously if your child needs a prescription that you carry with you, the diaper bag is a sensible place to store it. But also, packing some children’s Tylenol with a syringe or medicine cup is a smart idea as you never know when a fever could hit or baby could bump their head, struggle with teething pain or get a gas bubble.
A version of this article was published May 9, 2017. It has been updated.
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