21 Must-Have Diaper Bag Essentials

Picking the perfect diaper bag for you will make your life so much easier. When picking out a diaper bag, imagine yourself grabbing it out of the car while also grabbing your baby. You don’t want something that is too big or something without a long strap. I recommend a diaper bag that has an option to wear crossbody and prefer one that can also be used as a backpack. When wearing your baby or going from one kid to two, you want to make sure your hands are free and your bag is not slipping off of your shoulder. 

Size also matters. When you have a newborn, you will need to hold a lot more than you will when your baby is 6 months or a year old. So, you want to get a diaper bag that can work with your baby as they grow and your needs change. Here are two diaper bags that we loved:

When you are changing diapers on the go, there isn’t always a nearby trash can. Having these bags on hand can help avoid that awkward situation when you have a full diaper and nowhere to put it. It will also help if you have to hold your baby to go and find a trash can so you are not potentially carrying a blowout diaper around with you and risking getting it all over everything….. ew…

Diaper rash spray is a go-to diaper bag essential. It is mess free and you don’t have to risk smearing it all over and cleaning up your hand after. 

Being a new mom, you never know where you are going to be when you need to change a diaper. Sometimes, it is the trunk of a car. Or a random chair at someone’s house. Either way, you need to be prepared. Having a portable changing pad allows you to change your baby anywhere. And it will help avoid making a mess in an unwanted place.

Having a nursing cover that is cute is a must-have diaper essential  for breastfeeding and pumping. This one that I used is very breathable and lightweight.

Diapers and wipes are totally based on your preference. I have seen rave reviews on diapers and wipes that we absolutely hated. Huggies diapers from Costco are a great cost-effective solution for diapers as well as their wipes. If you are looking for real quality in the newborn stage, I would recommend Coterie as a high-end brand.

Having a change of clothes on hand is a number one diaper bag essential. Blowouts, spitups, messes and accidents come with having babies and kids. They are definitely going to happen, so it is way better to be prepared than carrying around a baby without clothes lol. 

Having a quality and absorbent burp cloth on hand is a must. When your baby is spitting up, you want to be prepared. Otherwise, you are left with a messy baby and a ruined outfit. There are a lot of thin and non-absorbent burp cloths, so make sure you read the reviews before buying them. These are the burp cloths I would recommend the most for your diaper bag essentials.

Formula containers are a must-have if you are formula feeding or want a solution for multiple snacks for your baby. It is compact like a water bottle and perfect for on-the-go. If you are formula feeding, it is super convenient to pre-scoop for the amount of ounces you will need. And then when you are ready to make a bottle all you have to do is dump it in.

My baby was absolutely obsessed with these two teether toys and asked for them everywhere we would go. I also kept a tether for the teether and toys on the carseat/stroller at all times. He would constantly throw them on the ground or out of the carseat and want to put it right back in his mouth. So, I would definitely recommend getting something to hold it so it doesn’t drop on the ground.

Having bibs handy is definitely a diaper bag essential. I prefer wipeable ones that are easy to clean as opposed to cloth ones that you have to wash. Having your essentials in your diaper bag and being able to grab the bag and leave at a moment’s notice is so much easier than having to remember to take things out and wash them.

A wet bag is a must-have for dirty clothes, bibs, burp cloths, bottles, containers  etc that will accumulate in your diaper bag. The last thing you want to do is invest in a fancy diaper bag and completely ruin it by putting any of those items in there and staining it. Or even worse, milk rotting or a dirty diaper that causes it to have a permanent smell. Getting a wet bag can help avoid all of this.

Breastfeeding, pumping and formula feeding all require water and snacks. Whether it is for your baby or you, it’s always going to be needed. When it comes to nursing, you are always going to be so thirsty and it is never convenient to go and get a bottle of water or snacks. If you are formula feeding, you are also going to need water on hand to make the bottles. So, keeping these diaper bag essentials on hand is always a good idea.

Getting disposable nursing pads is much better than reusable ones. You don’t need one more thing to remember to put in the washer. And it is way easier to have something you can grab on-the-go. If you do end up having a leak, you can throw them in the trash and grab another pair. With the reusable ones, you have to carry around wet nursing pads in your bag all day. Nobody wants that. So, I would definitely recommend getting a big box of disposable nursing pads.

It is always so much better when you have a blanket on hand than when you don’t. So, packing this in your diaper bag is a must. You never know when you are going to be somewhere cold, need to cover up your baby, or cover yourself up. You can also use the baby blanket as a swaddle. Having a blanket on hand is definitely an essential for every diaper bag.

Having a portable sound machine makes putting your baby to bed anywhere so much easier. When we had our son, we knew we wanted him to be comfortable falling asleep anywhere and at anyones’ house. So, we put him down for naps and down for bed wherever we could. We didn’t want to be those “We can’t come unless we can leave by 6pm” parents. We wanted to be able to say yes to whatever we wanted and to be able to put our kids down wherever we were. And, having a portable sound machine makes this possible. I would definitely recommend the Hatch Portable Sound Machine. We love it!

Having a stain remover on hand is a must when you have kids. They spill everything everywhere. Especially when they are babies and toddlers and accidentally somehow knock everything over. Especially that glass of wine you were dying to take a sip of!

Living in Florida, we could not survive without multiple portable fans. But, wherever you live, your baby will get hot in the summertime or from being outside on a long day. Having a portable fan on hand is great for peace of mind and knowing your baby is not overheating.

The last thing you want in your diaper bag is a bunch of stuff that you have to rummage through in order to find anything. Having an organizer on hand for those smaller items, can help avoid this situation at all costs. And can also make the day out so much easier for mama and dad.

Diaper Bag Essentials Checklist

• Diaper Bag 
• Diaper doggie bags
• Diaper rash spray 
• Portable changing pad 
• Nursing cover 
• Diapers and Wipes 
• Change of clothes 
• Burp Cloths 
• Formula Container (doubles as a snack container) 
• Teether/Toy 
• Bibs 
• Wet bag 
• Water and Snacks
• Swaddle 
• Bottle 
• Disposable nursing pads 
• Baby Blanket 
• Portable sound machine 
• Stain remover 
• Portable fan
• Organizer for mini items