What you Really Need to Put in a Diaper Bag

You’ve had the baby, and even brought them home from the hospital. But now it’s time to take that first trip in the car with baby. Then then it dawns on you: “What the heck do I put in the diaper bag!?” Aside from packing everything baby product you possibly own because “You just never know,” I’m here to help show you what to put in a diaper bag, (what you really need ) so packing will be much simpler.

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Questions New Parents find themselves asking:

Do I even need a diaper bag?
What is the best diaper bag to buy?
What do I put in the diaper bag?

While some parents opt for an oversized purse instead of an actual diaper bag, I do think diaper bags are useful because they offer specific compartments, pouches and materials made to be functional for having kids. Instead of hunting through a bag with everything thrown in together, you can grab things quicker when they are more easily accessible.

The type of diaper bag you purchase depends on your preference and style. There are endless brands, styles, colors, and materials to choose from. There are tote bags, messenger bags, and backpack style bags, to name a few.

Some things to consider when choosing a diaper bag:

Do you have several children already? Need your hands free a lot? Then a backpack diaper bag could be for you, or one with a lot of storage and pockets
Where do you live? City living or traveling on a subway could mean you need a compact style and easy to tote around
Will you be transporting milk or formula frequently? You may want to look at bags with more insulation
Easy to Clean
Comfortable to carry

When researching diaper bags I looked in this book to see what different bags were rated and how they compared. I used these recommendations to select my diaper bag (along with many other baby products). My diaper bag is almost 5 years old and still going strong!

What to put in a diaper bag:

For baby/newborns:

Few diapers
Pack of wipes
Diaper Cream
Pacifier
Spare onesie
Bib/burp cloth
Toy or two
Bottle/formula/breastmilk
Swaddle blanket

For Baby and toddler

Few diapers
Pack of wipes
Spare onesie
Two bibs
Swaddle blanket
Bottle/formula/breastmilk
Change of clothes (toddler)
Cup for toddler
Toddler utensils
Jar/pack of baby food
Ziplock bag of snacks
Toy or two

Packing for Two toddlers

Few diapers
Pack of wipes
Spare outfit for each child
Toy or two
2 cups
2 bibs
Toddler utensils
Ziplock bag of snacks

Items for Mom

See Also:

Extra Items for the bag:

These extra add-on items vary depending on:

Length of trip: quick car ride vs. longer outing

Season: will you need to be bundled up/going to the pool/ outside at night with bugs around

Activity: indoor/outdoor

Examples of Extra Add-on Items to pack:

Diaper Bag Checklist

I created an Ultimate Diaper Bag Checklist to help make your life easier when it comes to figuring out what to put in your diaper bag.

The checklist includes:

Essentials for baby/newborns
Baby and toddler essentials (especially helpful if you’re transitioning from one to two kids)
Items for two (or more) toddlers
Important items for mom