The Ultimate Diaper Bag Checklist: Everything You Need for a Well-Stocked Diaper Bag
Ask any parent: a kitted-out diaper bag is a thing of beauty. It's what allows you and your babe to head out the door, ready for any and everything. In addition to the must-haves and good-to-brings below, you might want to throw in a change of clothes (or two) for your child. Murphy’s Law of Parenting states that if the dreaded blowout happens while you’re away from home, it'll almost certainly happen again. You could even toss in an extra shirt for yourself, since another Irrefutable Parenting Law decrees that your little one "share" her meal with you. And one final pro tip: restock your diaper bag as soon as you get home, so you won’t be scrambling or empty-handed when you’re out and about.
Diaper Bag Essentials
Swaddle Blanket
Aden + Anais Seaport Swaddle Blanket in Blue
Definitely don’t leave home without a durable, do-everything blanket. This muslin swaddle by Aden + Anais is the perfect size and shape for swaddling. Other nifty uses? A sunshade, a cover-up for nursing moms, even a chew-thing for teething tots.
Multi-Purpose Ointment
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Protect your little one’s derriere with a healthy smear of soothing ointment—we swear by foolproof Aquaphor. Squirt a dollop on your hands too (after washing them first, of course) to prevent chapping and dryness.
Hand Sanitizer
Babyganics Fragrance-Free Alcohol-Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer
Filed under "duh"—make sure your hands are clean before interacting with your wee babe. And yet: many hand sanitizers have a heavy or cloying scent that takes ages to dissipate. Not so with this fragrance-free sanitizer by Babyganics, which dries quickly (without drying out your hands) and without odor.
Burp Clothes
Extra Absorbent Organic Baby Neutral Burp Cloths Set of 5
You know your tiny baby is capable of producing an astounding array of messes, so you’ll always want to have a few burp cloths around. The patterns on this set of five by Burt’s Bees Baby are super cute and busy enough to hide stubborn stains.
Baby Wipes
Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes
If you have a baby, you need wipes. It’s a simple as that. Huggies' wipes are wetter and softer than others we've tried, and they don’t easily tear or tangle. Up to you whether you want to buy a travel pack, or stick a bunch in a zip-top baggie.
Portable Bags
Oh Baby Bags
Presenting a sophisticated—and scented—solution for what to do with dirty diapers or other soiled baby gear. This bag-and-dispenser kit comes with two bag dispensers plus six rolls of fresh-smelling recycled plastic bags. Take out a bag, stuff in the mess, and tie it up—if it's a diaper, toss it when you get a chance. If it's dirty clothes, a post-pool swimsuit, or something else you'll want to keep, the bag will prevent the smell, mess, or wetness from infiltrating your bag.
Extra Diapers
Pampers Pure Protection Diapers
A diaper bag without diapers is like macaroni without cheese—theoretically possible, sure, but kinda weird. Our pick for best diapers is Pampers Pure, which are free of bleach, dyes, fragrances, and other things you probably don't want touching your baby's soft, sweet skin. A good rule to follow is one diaper for every hour you’ll be out.
Pacifier
Philips Avent Soothie Pacifiers
Buy these BAPA-free bad boys by the dozen, then stash them anywhere and everywhere, including multiple places in your diaper bag. Philips Avent Soothie's have a little hole that's perfectly sized for your finger, so you can keep baby quietly sucking for longer.
Changing Station
Skip Hop Pronto Changing Station
We can’t say enough good things about Skip Hop's diaper-changing apparatus, which magically transforms any surface into a comfortable, padded, and sanitary changing area. It holds four diapers plus a small packet of wipes, and you should absolutely get one.
Diaper Bag Extras
Silicone Placemat
Chewbeads Silicone Roll Up Placemat
In a pinch, of course, you can wipe down a table or counter with a baby wipe. But bringing along a rubber placemat—we like this waterproof roll-up placemat available at bright colors—means you don’t ever have to wonder if you’ve really cleaned off the remnants of the last eater’s meal.
Portable Charger
Anker PowerCore 20100
Make sure you always have enough battery for the day's dozens of photos and videos by stashing an ultra-fast portable charger in your diaper bag. The Anker PowerCore 20100's two ports let you charge two devices at once.
Activity Toy
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Attachable Activity Caterpillar
Good for kids up to 18 months, this interactive caterpillar boasts a range of things to touch, pull, push, shake, crinkle, rub, and operate. In other words, it’s an ideal toy to shove into your diaper bag for long waits.
First Aid Kit
PreparaKit Travel and Baby First Aid Kit
The lightweight PreparaKit has everything you need if you or your baby gets a boo-boo while on the go, from pint-sized bandages to antiseptic ointment. It even comes with stickers to help distract or reward the wounded.
Portable Food Scissors
Tiny Bites Food Shears
Your kid will get a kick out of watching you snip his or her food into tiny pieces (and/or cute shapes!) with these colorful scissors. Along with being fun to use, they’re much more precise than the regular old fork-and-knife technique, which so often leads to shredding and scraps.
Spill-Proof Cup
Tommee Tippee Easiflow 360 Cups
A durable, leak-proof cup that helps the transition from straw to cup, Tommee Tippee allows your tot to sip or slurp anywhere around the rim. Removable handles act like training wheels, and can be snapped off once your child has the hang of holding the cup.
Personalized Water Bottle
You Name It Water Bottle
This water bottle can be personalized with your family or given name, a nickname, or even just Mom. You’ll stay hydrated and help your child start to learn names.
Our Favorite Diaper Bags
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