What's in My Diaper Bag?

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The diaper bag is a wonderful invention. It’s basically like a regular tote or backpack but with a million compartments to store every little item you need for baby and to be able to find them quickly (because when you need something for your child, you need it NOW). And some come with a few extras, like a portable changing pad, an insulated section for a bottle, or even a pocket to dispense wipes easily.

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There are now SO many different diaper bags on the market that you can go for exactly what you’re looking for – whether it’s something small for one kid, something ginormous for two kids, or something very chic so you can look like a mom who’s just out on the town for the day and who happens to have a baby in tow. My favorite is the JuJuBe B.F.F. because it looks nice, has great organization, is very durable, is machine washable, can be used as a shoulder bag or backpack, and opens wide so you can see everything you’re looking for and don’t lose important items into a diaper bag black hole.

When I first started heading out with my baby, I felt like I would be in a sudden frenzy at the time I’d need to leave, reinventing the wheel and collecting everything from scratch each time. So I put together a checklist for myself in my phone to make sure I kept all the essentials in my diaper bag at all times and could easily grab whatever else I needed. Here are my must-brings for babies or toddlers…

Diaper Bag Checklist

Baby

  • Diapers (duh – but trust me, everyone has forgotten them at one time or another)

  • Wipes (I don’t think I’ll ever travel without these again, even after my kids are grown)

  • Changing pad (most come with a small one)

  • Aquaphor

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Poop bags – very handy for dirty diapers or soiled clothes

  • Extra outfit (or two if your baby spits up a lot or has frequent blowouts – in which case, you may need an extra shirt for yourself too)

  • Pacifier (this isn’t really in mine since neither of my kids ever took one, but they would be if they did)

  • Teether – my favorites are the banana toothbrush, Chewbeads bracelet and Sophie La Girafe (the teether, not the squeaky one that can get mold inside)

  • Pacifier wipes (which can also be used for teethers or toys that are dropped on the ground) – I like the NUK Individually Wrapped Pacifier Wipes since I don’t use that that frequently and can just put in a few at a time to save space

  • Small toy or two – a few portable favorites are Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy, Eric Carle The Very Hungry Caterpillar crinkle book, Manhattan Toy Baby Whoozit, Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Soft Activity Toy and Mini Size Buster Square Buckle Toy

  • Small book – the Indestructibles are great and lightweight to carry, or the First 100 Words board book seems to hold my baby’s attention for a long time

  • Nursing cover – this one is my favorite and comes with a pouch / Or whatever you’d need for a bottle/formula on-the-go

  • Muslin blanket (which can double as a burp cloth) – aden + anais are good, but any will do

  • Bandana bib if you have a drooler or they’ll be having a bottle on-the-go

  • Portable white noise machine for on-the-go naps

  • Baby hat (sunhat for the summer or warm hat for the winter)

  • Snacks – teething crackers, Bambas, puffs and/or pouches are good ones to always keep in the diaper bag (and don’t forget a granola bar for yourself!)

  • Meds – if your baby is going through teeting, keeping some Infant Tylenol or Motrin in the diaper bag may be a good idea; and I also carry around Children’s Benadryl during the starting-solids phase in case your baby encounters any new foods while out and has a reaction; Pediatric Associates has a helpful dosage chart by weight for babies under 2 years

Toddler

  • Wipes – still and always!

  • Aquaphor – I normally just have a small chaptstick size tube, which is good for any on-the-go boo-boos

  • A few children’s Band-Aids (these Frozen ones are the go-to in our household)

  • Extra outfit (including underwear and socks if they’re potty trained)

  • Portable potty for when you’re going through potty training and some period of time afterward – I like the OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty for Travel (+ refill bags); or if you think you’ll be able to make it to where there will be a public toilet, this Folding Portable Reusable Toilet Seat Cover works great

  • Barf bags if you have a puker and will be traveling by car

  • Sunblock in the summer – my favorites are Blue Lizard and Thinkbaby

  • Snacks – applesauce pouches, small granola bars, and Goldfish, Cheddar Bunnies or Cheerios in the SkipHop snack cup with a lid

  • Water bottle – the kids’ Thermos ones have recently emerged as my favorite

  • Milk cup – this OXO cup is my favorite for toddlers

  • If you’ll be eating out, these disposable placemats, travel utensils, and Bumpkin bibs are great

  • Coloring supplies – either loose paper and a few crayons or one of these Play Packs are easy

  • Stickers – so many stickers! I just buy this value pack now, since even at 3.5 years old my daughter will take every sticker off and methodically stick them on a sheet of paper until they’re done

  • Paperback books – you can find my favorites here

  • Tablet for long car or stroller rides, unexpected delays, and emergencies (make sure it’s charged and that you’ve downloaded any favorite movies or shows ahead of time – I made the mistake once of thinking a movie I’d purchased on Amazon would just be available on the airplane, and much to my, my toddler’s and the entire airplane’s dismay, it was not!)

Did I forget any essentials?? Even after 3+ years of putting together a diaper bag, I still sometimes have D’OH moments, like realizing I took the wipes out to use at home without replacing them and hoping no one poops while we’re out. If I’m missing anything that you can’t live without in your diaper bag, comment below!

Mom Crew has put together a printable Diaper Bag Checklist that you can keep handy where you store your diaper bag to make sure you never leave home without the essentials.