How to choose a Diaper Bag | Detailed Guide

| | Reviewed by: Rose Smith
Updated: April 15, 2024 | Published:

As every parent will know, it’s almost impossible to take your baby on a trip without having packed a diaper bag with all the supplies. As it’s sometimes difficult for young parents to know what to take, here is a brief checklist to help you out and make sure you are prepared for any event with your baby.

“Diaper backward spells repaid. Think about it.” – Marshall McLuhan

Best Backpack diaper bag

They have a lot of different sections in them that let you store a variety of items securely and hygienicallyThis checklist should help you pack the essential elements but no single child is the same. Be sure to adapt your nappy bag for your child after you’ve had some experience using it. Here we’ll discuss some pointers that you should keep in mind to find out the best diaper bags.

Firstly, you’ll need to work out just how many diapers you are likely to need on your trip. Young babies need their diapers changed approximately once an hour so you should pack slightly more for the duration of your outing.

Changing Mat

changing mat will help keep your baby happy where they are being changed. Most fold up neatly to fit in your maternity bag which makes it suitable to pack!

Large capacity diaper bag with changing mat

To avoid being caught out you should take along a few medicines like pain relief and flu medicines. You should also carry plenty of wipes which serve several functions when it comes to cleaning your baby on the move. You can also get hold of anti-bacterial wipes if you are concerned about getting infections from poor hygiene areas you might be traveling in.

It is also important to pack some non-essential diapering elements. This include things like extra clothes, toys books, and pacifiers. You will want to stow these in separate sections of your nappy bag. If you are carrying food, you can buy maternity bag accessories to store these in zipped bags for extra security and to prevent accidental spillages. If you’re carrying milk then consider an insulated baby bottle for the milk to stay warm longer.

Read: Baby Formula 101

You might be interested in these large capacity portable changing stations which makes it really easy to change your baby’s diaper and other stuff.

Diaper Bag with Portable Changing Station

With all these basic items checked off, you’ll be ready to plan your journey with peace of mind and won’t get caught out by baby troubles on your travels. Remember to modify these elements based on your outings and changing your child on the go!

For twins

Having twins is one of life’s little miracles. However, if you have twins, you will quickly realize that a typical baby bag from the stores simply won’t be able to store all your baby care items for both of your children effectively. To solve this problem, the makers have come up with twin and dual-capacity bags so that you can carry enough supplies to care for both your children with ease.

Baby Twins

One such bag is the Skip Hop Double Duo. This is designed to fit double side-by-side strollers and has Velcro fastenings and can even be converted over to a messenger bag.

Otherwise, there is the Kalencom Two-in-One Bag. This is a unique bag that divides when the twins have to travel separately. It comes in a fashionable and stylish design and also comes complete with insulated bottle bags, zipped partitions. This is an ideal solution for parents of twins who want to buy and all into a package for their twins.

From the bag maker OiOi, comes the Overnight Carry-All Bag. This is a very fashionable canvas tote bag that has a strong flat base so that items are protected when you set the bag down. It’s also very spacious and will easily carry enough baby care supplies for both of your children.

Finally, there are these amazing backpack styled bags that you would even take on a hiking trip. The straps make it easy to carry. It has plenty of sections for cameras and mobiles as well as a bottle holder. With his and her colorway, these bags could prove an ideal solution to caring for your twins on the move.

Having twins is “twice the work, twice the cost, and hopefully twice the fun.” However, to ensure that you do have twice the fun you need to be prepared especially when going out. This starts with your well-packed bag, for two! Here are just a few more ideas to consider!

For traveling parents

While traveling with your baby, you will no doubt be familiar with the concept of a nappy bag. It’s a bag that has a separate part inside it to store the various baby-related items that you would need.

There are a few essential items you should always bring in your baby bag, although most depend upon the age of your children and the length of the trip. Here are the essential elements of any well-packed bag.

Traveling mom and dad

The most obvious thing to carry would be diapers. As babies need changing approximately once per hour, you would need to carry that as many diapers as you plan to be away. A good rule of thumb is to take as many as you think you might need, and then take two extra on top just in case.

When changing your baby’s diaper, there is a risk of developing a rash and so it’s important to carry cream so you can treat this straight away.

Wipes are handy for cleaning spills and of course mopping the various muck that your baby will inevitably smear around their face as they finish eating or drinking! It’s also good to carry some anti-bacterial wipes with you if you are in a public place and need to clean off some germs in an emergency.

You should have a fold-up

Changing Pad to make baby changes easier too as well as burp cloths and extra clothing in the event of spills. Some other items to remember are medicines, bibs, pacifiers, a blanket, some books or toys as well as maybe some snacks or sugar-free sweets. By choosing one that is spacious and also selecting a few bag attachments, all of these basics can be managed and used relatively easily compared to a traditional bag. 

With all of these things in your maternity bag, you’ll be ready for whatever the day or your children can throw at you!

Choosing the right one

With the vast numbers of disposable diapers produced for a single-use, more and more parents today are opting to save $$ by choosing a cloth diaper. These are simply cheaper because you can wash and reuse them again and again with no wastage. With the right bag, you can make bringing cloth diapers a simple exercise that will save you some bucks and help you to travel light.

Designer Diaper bag from AmyandRose

Typically, most moms will carry around a bag with them at all times which will be filled with disposables, and that utilize a lot of space in the sack. It is also very costly to keep buying diapers to throw away in the long term let alone saying anything about the environment! Assuming that you’ve decided to use cloth diapers for your child here are a few tips to helping you choose the nappy bag for cloth diapering

Most experienced moms recommend buying a slightly smaller maternity bag.

Most bags have a lot of partitions so you can store your other items away from the diapers. You will want to take a wet bag, a zip bag and smaller drawstring bags for the other various items.

The wet bag can be used to store the used diapers securely and prevent odors. The zip bag can store your bottles, pacifiers or food. Finally, the drawstring bag can be used to store powders, creams, and wipes as well as any other small baby items.

You may want to invest in a pouch. These are handy pouches that are used to store used bags. Most pouches are made from high quality, waterproof and washable material. This allows you to put your used diapers in this pouch and wash it after messy situations.

If you are cloth diapering your child you should really consider a bag. Not only does it provide the functionality that you need and desired but it also has tons of pockets. These pockets allow you to keep everything separated.

You wouldn’t want toys and other items stored in the same section as used diapers. Remember that it’s tempting to take along extra diapers to make sure you are not caught out in an emergency but you will find the right number through experience.

Function over style

If you are familiar with nappy bags, you will know that they are a convenient compartmentalized bag with a fashionable exterior and used by young moms to carry various baby-care items.

The best part of is their large number of pockets to hold all the accessories that you will need for your bag as a mom or dad on the go. There are several accessories you can also buy to go with your nappy bag, that extends the functionality of the bag and also makes you prepared for any situation.

Functional diaper bags

Among the items you can buy are bibs, wipes, mats, zipped packs, saddlebags, bottle bags, and pacifier holders. You can also buy containers for food storage, disposable changing pads and more.

Pacifier holders allow you to put used or dropped pacifiers away from other items in your bag to prevent contamination. It’s also easy to empty and wash the bag for re-use as well. These are highly recommended if you’re child uses a pacifier.

Bottle holders protect your baby’s bottle from spillage or leaks that could make a mess in your bag. Some are even thermal and can keep milk warm for longer than usual.

Food storage containers can keep food warm or cold and separate your dry or wet foods to prevent odors from developing in your bag. It’s also more hygienic to keep your food items securely zipped away from all the other baby items like toys, bibs, and pacifiers that could pass on the germ.

Sometimes, you might find that for a longer journey, you will have to carry more than your bag will allow. A saddlebag can be purchased that will allow you to carry extra baby items like mats and disposables, away from your main baby care items. You can also use a saddle bag to separate food items from everything else, to eliminate any risk of odors forming or cross-contamination.

There are several places to buy maternity bag accessories online and when you do purchase maternity bag accessories, remember to choose a reliable online store

Uses

If you are a parent bringing up a young child and find you have to travel a lot with your child, you will no doubt be aware of how many things you have to carry with you to make sure your baby is looked after properly. To carry milk, food, creams, wipes, and other baby paraphernalia is a tough task for many, and most parents find that a traditional bag simply slows the process down.

Diaper bag uses

It is a special kind of bag that has several partitions in it that can safely store all your various baby-related items, making them easy to find and convenient carry.

Utmost baby bags are designed to look stylish and are very durable, often being weather or waterproof. Most parents pack their bags and have it always packed and ready to go. This allows them to simply grab their child, and the bag, and off they go!

Read: Nappy Bag Convertible Backpack
Bottle holder in a nappy bag

You can check this diaper bag collection which offers discounts and great value online. Buying online can not only save you money but also saves you precious time and the hassle of traveling with your baby (without the nappy bag, of course). 

A lot of the maternity bags available today resemble fashionable bags that are disguised. Once opened these bags reveal a very functional interior. Typically, there are sections for wipes, bottles, toys as well as standard items like keys, digital cameras, mp3 players and phones. These new brands of bags are perfect for young moms who are looking after kids but still want to preserve a bit of glamour and fashion.

When you are buying bags online, you should take note of the number of different partitions that are available on your particular bag. You will also want to examine the variety of styles and color on offer as well as the material and build quality of the bag.

Remember the bag has to survive daily use for at least 1-2 years and you will usually be moving or traveling with this bag. Some bags are even made by famous designers (Kate Spade, Tommy Hilfiger) and are a hit with celebrities and many famous people too.

Further, remember that you can still buy a fashionable bag without having to buy a designer name. Non-designer but very fashionable and useful bag brands include AmyandRose, Lequeen, OiOi, Ju Ju Be, LandSunvenoSoho and Fleurville. 

When you are shopping for your bag online, it’s important to choose a trusted retailer with a secure transaction and reliable return policy.

Comparison

There are also a few things to look out for when comparing them. Put Basically, a bag is a convenient and durable bag that contains separate functional sections within it and is designed to hold all your baby-related items like the baby’s milk, the wipes, creams as well as your normal items like your cellphone, cash or your keys. A bag is designed for use during travel with your child.

Leather Baby Backpack

Today bags have been updated to the twentieth century and are a lot better than having to carry a backpack or satchel which mixes all your various items up, making items hard to find in a hurry. Parents find that when they have a screaming child, knowing exactly where everything in your bag is important. It especially helps you if you are prone to forgetting things occasionally and like to have everything at your fingertips.

Most nappy bags are available in a variety of colors and patterns and fabrics and come in a whole load of different sizes and shapes. You should check the materials to see how durable it is. Many are often weatherproof and made to withstand the often-hectic environment around babies and young children. It is worth getting something waterproof and durable as you’ll have this bag during the entire diapering time and possibly longer if you’re planning more than one child. 

They are now a trendsetting item with many celebrities and famous people seen with them, strutting their stuff. The baby bag is almost like a fashion accessory for young moms now and you can find some great deals online to bring a little style to your baby outings. When you are buying your baby bag online, make sure you choose a reputable online store and double-check the store’s return policy and credentials.

Brands

AmyandRose Bags

AmyandRose offers something for everyone. Not only are these bags built to last, but they are built to give you a small “vacation” if you will, from the norm. Many of them are designed in a fun way that will challenge your view of bags in such a way that you will probably wonder…” how did I ever put up with that boring old baby bag I used to use?”.

AmyandRose logo

Well, worry no more. They offer a line of bags that are definitely trendy. And they are also packed with everything that you have come to expect, and need, in bags. For example, you can be sure that AmyandRose bags will have all the pockets you need for bottles, pacifiers, and more.

You can also be sure that they will have enough room for diapers, wipes, extra clothes, and anything else your baby might need while on-the-go. You can also expect a high-quality changing mat with your bag. These mats are designed to help you through even the messiest of occasions… so why wait?

Get an AmyandRose bag today, and start living life in a trendy fashion.

Tommy Hilfiger Bags

Pretty much everyone is familiar with Tommy Hilfiger… in fact, many, many people wear Tommy Hilfiger clothing every single day. But like most people, you might be unaware that clothing isn’t the only thing that Tommy Hilfiger specializes in… they also make bags.

Tommy Hilfiger is truly a brand that has proven its worth. Not only do many people choose to trust Tommy Hilfiger every day for their fashion needs, but they also put their trust in this trusted clothing maker for their baby gear transportation needs. A bag is a necessary part of life when you become a mother, and you will soon realize (if you haven’t already) that having a trustworthy bag can do more to keep you in a positive mood than you might think. Digging through a bag that doesn’t have enough room can drive you crazy, cause you stress, and make it hard to do anything.

Read: Personalized and Monogrammed Bags

Tommy Hilfiger baby bags are roomy, spacious, and versatile, and have enough room for everything you need. They also embody the style that you have come to expect from your favorite clothing maker, meaning that if you choose Tommy, you will have nothing more to worry about.

Insulation

Thermos is a company that we have all come to trust with one thing… well, two things… keeping things hot, and keeping them cold. Insulation at its utmost and most dependable is, doubtless, a good way to describe what Thermos offers. And come to think of it, why should babies need anything different? They need things hot and cold, just like grownups do. So, it makes perfect sense that Thermos would get into the industry… and get into it they have!

Baby thermos bag for milk and food insulation

Thermos offers several selections for bags that you should take a look at. There is the Foogo 2 Bottle Cooler, the Foogo 4 Bottle carrier, and that Foogo Small sporty. All of these serve their functions with the professionalism and endurance that you have come to expect from Thermos, and it is no secret that Thermos knows how to make a good container!

Baby Thermos bag - Butterfly design

So, keep the milk cold, keep the mini-raviolis hot, or simply keep the dust out with one of these great bags from Thermos. If it is quality you desire, Thermos delivers in large quantities…and they can deliver it cold, hot, or any other way you want it.

Amy

About Amy Smith
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Amy, an award-winning journalist with a Master's in Journalism from Columbia University, has excelled for over twelve years, specializing in parenting, pregnancy, nursing, fashion, and health.

Her acclaimed blog, AmyandRose, demonstrates profound expertise shaped by her journey from pregnancy to nurturing a teenager and a toddler. Recognized by several parenting awards, Amy's work has been featured in top-tier health and lifestyle magazines, underscoring her authority in these fields.

Her contributions, grounded in evidence-based research and personal experience, provide invaluable, credible insights for parents navigating the complexities of modern child-rearing and personal well-being.


For Educational Purpose Only! For medical advice, consult your physician.