Diaper Bag Essentials: What to Pack in a Diaper Bag

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A diaper bag is more than just a bag — it’s convenience, freedom and peace of mind all rolled into one.

Keeping your diaper bag stocked and ready to go at all times means you won't have to worry about whether you have everything you need for a (hopefully) stress-free outing with baby. But figuring out exactly what you’ll need to pack can be challenging, especially if you’re a first-time parent. Fortunately, plenty of other moms and dads have helpful tips for what you’ll need to successfully hit the road with your baby.

What to pack in a diaper bag

When deciding what to pack in your diaper bag, think of possible scenarios you'll encounter (or problems you'll need to solve) and work backwards from there. Of course, you’ll need diapers and wipes, but what about an extra onesie in the event of an accident? An extra toy for baby in case you need extra entertainment while on-the-go? A water bottle to keep you hydrated during afternoons at the park?

• Diapers and wipes
• A portable changing pad
• Poop bags
• Diaper cream
• A spare onesie or set of clothes
• A soft blanket, swaddle or burp cloth
• A spare teether or pacifier
• Extra toys for baby
• Snacks for baby (if old enough)
• Sun hat and sunscreen (for warm weather)
• Winter hat, mittens and gloves (for cold weather)
• Anything you need to breastfeed or pump in public (i.e. a nursing cover, nursing pads, portable breast pump)
• Products for parents (i.e. hand sanitizer, lip balm, headphones, something to read)
• First aid kit

Also important to pack: Your own must-haves. Many diaper bags come with pockets for your own essentials — think: your phone, credit cards, keys and sunglasses — so you can leave your handbag at home and lighten your load. If you do choose to go this route, remember your other nice-to-haves, such as lip balm and a water bottle. If you’re nursing, throw in an extra top for yourself in case you experience any leaking.

If you don’t have some of these diaper bag essentials, fear not: We’ve shared the favorites that other parents recommend below, plus a few other items our editors said they couldn’t live without.

Diaper bag packing tips

• Clean out your diaper bag and restock it as soon as you get home. Yes, you might be tired when you get back from an outing, but you’re in a better position to remember what you just used. And trust us, you don’t want to find a dirty diaper or clothes that had been spit up on the next day. Restock it, too, so the next time you’re ready to leave the house — likely in a hurry — you won’t forget anything at the last minute.
• Keep spare items in the car. That way if you do run out of something while you’re not at home, you’re not in a bind. “We are on the go a lot so I actually keep a small pack of dipes in the car just so I don’t end up with none,” shared one What to Expect community parent, for instance.
• Update your spare items seasonally. That might look like adding mittens in the winter or a wide-brimmed hat in the summer. “Basically you will need different things based on the weather and situation,” says another What to Expect community parent.
• Come up with a helpful code for the essentials. You might already run through a quick checklist in your head for your own items before leaving the house (like keys, wallet, phone). A similar mantra can be just as helpful for baby gear. “To help me remember I refer to them as the 5 Bs: bottle, binky, bib/burp cloth, blanket, bite (teething toy/entertaining toy),” suggests another parent.
• Triple check the diapers. It can be easy to forget the most basic diaper bag must-have: diapers. What to Expect community parents recommend checking your bag each time you’re about to leave the house to make sure you’ve got plenty

How we made our list of diaper bag essentials

To make our list of diaper bag essentials, we asked our team of editors who are parents themselves about which items they find necessary when they're out and about with their little ones. Because every family is different, we also searched the What to Expect community to find what products most moms say are essential to pack in a diaper bag. We combed through tons of discussion threads on the subject and narrowed down our list to the gear parents recommended to one another the most.

Below, check out the best diaper bag essentials to have on hand.

Why Trust Us?

What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.