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I’ll be honest, I spent a near-obsessive amount of time researching the best diaper bag when I was expecting my daughter. I wanted something chic and functional but didn’t want it to look like a diaper bag with animal motifs or colored hearts. I wanted to be able to wear it as a backpack most of the time but also store it in my stroller and carry it as a tote if needed. I valued compartments for storage and an easy-to-wipe surface. Lucky for you, all of this diligence paid off, and while I’m not an expert now, as a mom to an 18-month-old, I’m proud of my selection. (Psst: It’s the first one on this list!). Here, a guide to functional, investment-worthy diaper bags that take you from newborn days to toddler chaos—and even adding on a second kiddo, too.
Our top picks for best diaper bags
Best diaper bag backpack: Dagne Dover Medium Indi Diaper Backpack
When you’re looking for a splurge-worthy item, this diaper bag will check all of your boxes. Technically speaking, it’s advertised for post-nursing parents and toddler-aged kiddos, but we think it could work even for the sleepy, early newborn days. There’s so much to love about this backpack—the fabric, the compartments, the storage, the chic style, and the list goes on.
We picked the medium-sized bag in camel, and from the moment we opened the box, it felt like a gorgeous, high-end buy. The material is buttery soft with a beautiful, sturdy design—and the zipper/hardware feels well-made. As every mom knows, having a spot for everything saves on stress during parenting chaos, and the many compartments make it easy to organize.
Two zippers in the front of the bag open up to the same compartment for storage of pens and other small items. There is storage for water bottles or other small accessories like sunglasses on the two sides of the bags. Two elastic bands on one side of the bag give room for additional drink storage. There is a sleeve on the back of the bag that would be useful for a laptop or a tablet if it wasn't open at the bottom.
And that’s not it: there are two additional zipper pockets on the outside back portion of the backpack. Inside the backpack is another drink holder compartment, a magnetized inner pocket, an inner pocket with a mesh sleeve and velcro tab, and two loose zipper accessory bags. To put it simply, we had plenty of room for everything we needed.
To put it to the test, we packed up the bag to take two toddlers to the playground. We could easily store diapers, wipes, sunblock, snacks and toys. We could attach our keys on the outside of the bag where they were handy—and even attached a bike helmet to one of the outer accessory hooks. When we had everything we needed to head out the door, we still had room to store additional things.
Since it’s a backpack and back comfort is critical, we wanted to test how it felt to wear the bag. We mostly wore it on both of our shoulders, but it was easy to slip off to one shoulder and grab what we needed. The shoulder straps are well cushioned, and if we had heavier items in the bag, we could tighten the straps to offer more support/less strain on our neck.
While it’s on the pricier side of picks on our list, we do think it’s worth the investment since it’s a bag that will grow with you and your baby. (It could be repurposed as a laptop backpack later, thanks to the included 13-inch laptop sleeve.) Luxurious, lightweight, expansive, easy to clean, and offering plenty of storage (including loose accessory zipper bags!)—they’ve truly thought of everything. Shopping tip: Dagne Dover has made our lists for the best work bags for women, best travel backpacks for women, and best belt bags, due to the brand’s high quality materials and stylish designs.
Specifications:
- Materials: Premium Neoprene, Performance Air Mesh, Recycled REPREVE® Lining (made from recycled plastic bottles), Soft touch velcro, Color-plated Zinc-Alloy Hardware
- Dimensions: 11.75 inches (length) x 6.5 inches (width) x 12.75 inches (height) (medium)
- Weight: 3 pounds 8 ounces
- Colors available: Onyx, Storm, Camel, Dune, Heather Grey, Dark Moss, Microchip, Ube
- Features included: Extra zipper opening for easy access wipes; Includes mini changing mat + extra pouches; Luggage sleeve = perfect travel buddy; Laptop carrier - fits most 13” laptops and tablets; REPREVE® recycled lining + shoe bag + dust bag
- Size options: Small, medium, large
- Price at time of publish: $215
What we liked:
- Sturdy
- Plenty of storage
- High-quality material
What we would change:
- Laptop sleeve is open and could be more secure
The bottom line:
This stylish and easy-to-clean neoprene bag includes storage like a luggage sleeve and a laptop carrier, so you can repurpose it as a work or travel bag later.
Indi Diaper Backpack
Best large diaper bag: Dagne Dover Large Wade Diaper Backpack
You’re a mom—but you’re a cool mom. And you want to carry a diaper bag, but you don’t want it to look like a diaper bag. Enter this super-cool tote bag-meets-backpack disguised as a carry-all for all of your baby’s necessities, another great design from Dagne Dover. Though you may be far away from the days you can leave the house without taking everything with you, at least with this gorgeous bag, you won’t feel like you lost your chic style.
Crafted from neoprene with cool, chunky zippers, at first sight, this bag looks very trendy. And it has storage galore. There are pockets for everything a baby needs, including wipes, bottles, lovies, diapers, snacks, toys, you name it. There’s also an exterior phone pocket, an adult-sized removable bottle sleep, a side pocket for a laptop or tablet, and interior pouches for wallets, nursing supplies, and whatever else you need to take on the go.
It’s very roomy on the inside and sits flat for stability. It comes with a fold-out changing pad, a bag for dirty clothes, and a small neoprene pouch. To put it to the test, we packed it up and took it out for a day on the town. Even after sliding my phone down in the little dedicated phone pocket, we still had plenty of room to pack more.
With the many pockets along the sides of the interior, it was easy to keep our stuff organized, and accessible. Another beneficial feature for parents is the wipeable interior since babies and toddlers always seem to be in some stage of stickiness.
The bag comes with a shoulder strap so you can convert it from the loop handles, and it also comes with straps you can use to clip it to your stroller handle. For us, the backpack style is more comfortable than the tote style since it allows us to have our hands free to tend to babies. That said, the straps were relatively comfortable on our shoulders as we carried it around.
Overall, it has a thoughtful design, offers the cool-factor and is functional, all at the same time. A win-win for mom!
Specifications:
- Materials: Premium Neoprene, Performance Air Mesh, Recycled REPREVE® Lining (made from recycled plastic bottles), Soft touch velcro, Color-plated Zinc-Alloy Hardware
- Dimensions: 16.25 inches (length) x 6 inches (width) x 12 inches (height)
- Weight: 4 lbs
- Colors available: Onyx, Storm, Camel, Dune, Heather Grey, Dark Moss
- Features included: Extra zipper opening for easy access wipes; Includes mini changing mat + extra pouches; Luggage sleeve = perfect travel buddy; Laptop carrier - fits most 13” laptops; REPREVE® recycled lining + shoe bag + dust bag
- Size: Large only
- Price at time of publish: $215
What we liked:
- Trendy design
- Convertible
- Roomy
What we would change:
- Less comfortable as a tote
The bottom line:
A large capacity and extensive pockets makes this chic convertible backpack a great choice for moms of many, or overpackers.
Dagne Dover Large Wade Diaper Backpack
Best stylish diaper bag: Little Unicorn Skyline Backpack
As your baby grows, so does your confidence. You start getting more hours of sleep, and you become braver. Time is the parent’s greatest educator, and you may feel empowered to pare down what you take with you for outings once you have a toddler. For when you need a little less stuff, this super cute backpack will meet your needs. Crafted from vegan leather with thoughtful storage and gold hardware, we loved how soft and high-quality it feels right out of the box. Truly, it’s just pretty!
As expected, the main compartment has the largest storage space, including a nice vegan leather changing pad that matches the bag and a medium-sized white bag intended for messy clothes. The changing pad is a nice perk, but it could be a bit bigger to accommodate older babies and toddlers.
Even so, everything is stored inside easily! To put it to the test, we packed a change of clothes, diapers, wipes, a toddler bowl and plate, sunscreen, a portable sound machine and a sippy cup. It was easy to get things in and out and find things using the compartments, and our only gripe was the sippy cup was too wide to fit in the side pockets. As a backpack, it rests comfortably on our shoulders, even as it became heavier as we loaded in more stuff.
Specifications:
- Materials: Premium Vegan Leather
- Dimensions: 17 x 14 inches
- Weight: 2.62 pounds
- Colors available: Blush, Cognac, and Grey Umber
- Features included: 5 interior storage pockets & key leash; Soft-lined, protective tablet pocket; Two bottle pockets fit up to 32 ounces; Includes wipeable vegan leather changing pad
- Price at time of publish: $99.95
What we liked:
- Modern design
- Comfortable
- High quality
What we would change:
- Small side pockets
- Small changing pad
The bottom line:
A functional diaper bag that doesn’t look like one, thanks to its compact silhouette and convincing faux leather construction.
Little Unicorn Skyline Backpack – Diaper, Work, Travel Bag with Changing Pad - Premium Vegan Leather – Lightweight & Durable Design – 5 Interior Pockets – Easily Wipes Clean (Blush)
Best travel diaper bag: The Parent Backpack by Colugo
Is it a hiking backpack? Is it carry-on luggage? Or is it a diaper bag? It’s all of the above, and it’s our pick for the best travel diaper bag since it’s crafted of durable, machine-washable materials and expands beyond belief. And trust us: There’s always one more thing you need when you’re going on an adventure with your babe. The vast storage compartments include two adjustable and insulated cup/bottle holders, a padded laptop sleeve, mesh side pockets, three interior pockets in the main compartment, and more.
Our first impression when we opened the box was it looked just like a normal, super lightweight backpack, not at all like a traditional diaper bag. When we explored the bag, we discovered all of the places to put our baby essentials, and were excited to put it to the test.
We took it out for a day at the lake and could fit everything our family needed, with room to spare. We packed a towel, change of clothes, lunchbox, two water bottles, diapers and wipes. The big main compartment was able to fit bulky things like towels and the lunchbox easily. Even after packing everything, the backpack didn't feel huge and bulky—there was enough room to pack more if we really needed.
We particularly appreciated that we could pack our stuff with all the toddler necessities in one bag without feeling like we had a boulder on our back. The straps have a nice amount of padding and breathable fabric. During our test, we had to hike a little ways to get to the stream, and the pack was comfortable the whole way. Thanks to the adjustable straps, we never felt like it was pulling or pinching too much.
While we love the drawstring and buckles on the bag for the way they look and fit items, you will need two hands to open the main compartment. If you are holding a toddler or baby, getting to anything inside the main compartment is a struggle. It would be better if it was easier to open without using both hands.
Specifications:
- Materials: 100% polyester main fabric and lining.
- Dimensions: 12.5 inches (length) x 4.5 inches (width) x 17.5 inches (height)
- Weight: 1 pound, 9 ounces
- Colors available: Olive, Cocoa, Black, Park Icon (print)
- Features included: 2 adjustable and insulated cup/bottle holders, a padded laptop sleeve, 3 interior pockets in the main compartment with 2 in the front compartment and 1 top flap.
- Price at time of publish: $95
What we liked:
- Comfortable.
- Breathable fabric.
- Great for toddlers.
What we would change:
- Need two hands to open the bag and compartments.
- Buckles and pull strings can be difficult to open.
The bottom line:
This is a great diaper bag to throw both adult and baby/toddler things into and go on an adventure, run errands or catch a flight.
The Parent Backpack by Colugo
Best minimalist diaper bag: Ayla Diaper Bag
The smallest bag on our list doesn’t disappoint on style or functionality. Crafted from vegan leather, it might not have as much storage as others on our list, but it can serve as a multipurpose investment, since it’s ideal for work or as a purse. When we first opened this beautiful bag, we couldn’t get over how gorgeous it was—every section was carefully packed and unwrapping it made it feel very special. (Albeit, probably overkill on materials and wasteful packaging!)
There is a place for everything in this bag, including compartments and extra removable pouches, ideal for messy clothes. There is ample space for travel-sized wipes, diapers, creams, bottles, toys and a change of clothes. And they also think of the parent in the design, giving space for a wallet, keys, a laptop sleeve and an adult-sized water bottle. We also like the hiding places in the back of the bag for valuables when traveling.
We packed up the bag to take on errands with our baby, and we found that even when it’s packed full, it holds its shape and remains chic. It is too small to hold multiples of everything, so it’s probably not a good pick for families with two kids or those who need a lot of additional storage. However, since everything has its space, it was easy to know where to look for what we needed when out and about.
The straps are also configured in a beneficial way that makes it easy to take off and on. However, they aren’t the most supportive compared to others we tested out. They feel more structured with appearance over functionality, but it never felt overly heavy and was comfortable to wear because it doesn't hold too much.
Specifications:
- Materials: Vegan leather
- Dimensions: 15 inches (height) x 13 inches (width)
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Colors available: Light brown, black, green, dark blue-green, ivory gray, and pink
- Features included: A reusable snack bag; stroller straps; a vegan leather changing pad; a reusable wet bag; an insulated and removable bottle/snack pouch; and a removable and washable inner liner
- Price on publish: $209
What we liked:
- Convertible
- High-quality look and feel
- Multiple pockets and pouches for staying organized
What we would change:
- Straps could be thicker and more supportive
The bottom line:
Fashion meets function in this feature-packed compact diaper bag, which includes reusable storage bags and many pockets.
Ayla Diaper Bag
Best diaper bag for the city: Thule Changing Backpack
There are so many benefits of raising a child in a city: Culture, diversity, culinary immersion, increased exercise, and those essential social smarts. However, urban living usually means smaller living space and thus, limited storage. This means you need a diaper bag that’s multipurpose, compact, and highly versatile. Designed by a company that makes strollers made to cut city corners and navigate sidewalks, this diaper bag has everything you need without being bulky.
When we first opened Thule’s box, the diaper bag looked like a standard black backpack you’d take anywhere. Inside is where we found all of the parent-centric touches: Organized, zippered pockets, a drawstring bag for soiled clothes, a padding changing mat, a side pocket for bottles and a small removable carrying pack. To put this diaper bag to the test, we packed it up for a playground playdate with our toddler daughter. We could easily fit travel-sized wipes, a handful of diapers, snacks, a change of clothes, two toys and our wallet, keys and sunglasses.
In fact, what we loved most about this bag was the removable carrying pack. It’s meant to hold the parent’s essentials for quick access. We placed all of our belongings in this crossbody bag and then wore it while pushing the stroller or chasing around our toddler down the slide. It made it incredibly easy to have what we needed on hand without wearing our backpacks.
Though it is meant to be stored in the bottom compartment of this diaper bag, underneath a velcro closure, we couldn’t imagine placing it down there. Instead, we rested it on top of everything and pulled it out when we arrived.
Since it’s made by a stroller company, we weren’t surprised when this diaper bag attached easily to the stroller without making it too heavy to topple over. Even when fully packed, the backpack felt lightweight and sturdy, with room to spare. The shoulder straps are nothing special, with no padding, but were still fairly comfortable to wear for a short period of time. They were also easy to slip off to one shoulder to access what we needed.
Our only gripe about this diaper bag/backpack is the side pockets. While you could fit a slim bottle for a baby or for the parent, they aren’t wide enough for a toddler-sized water cup with handles or for an adult-sized, standard water bottle. We also think this pack is best suited for short daily errands and not an extended trip since it has less storage than others we tested.
Specifications:
- Materials: Polyester
- Dimensions: 19.29 inches x 13.78 inches x 5.12 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds, 4 ounces
- Colors available: Black
- Features included: Dedicated pocket for keeping smaller items organized; Includes secure zip pocket and key leash; Includes a padded changing pad with zip pocket and a soil bag for any mishaps on the go; Included removable pack ideal for carrying a couple diapers and wipes for quick changes.
- Price at time of publish: $109.99
What we liked:
- Sturdy
- Lightweight
- Roomy
What we would change:
- Straps could use more padding.
- Slender pockets for water bottles.
The bottom line:
This diaper bag is lightweight and sturdy, and can attach to your stroller to give your back a break, but is better suited for short excursions and errands.
Thule Changing Backpack - Diaper Bag Backpack - Maternity Backpack - Baby Bag with Shoulder Straps - Travel Diaper Backpack
Best diaper bag for multiple kids: Huhu Everyday Diaper Backpack
When you become a parent, life as you know it changes. And then you add another baby to your family, and you’re faced with even more challenges. Your everyday life is full of madness, mess and lots of love, and this appropriately-named diaper bag is the carry-all you need to wrangle multiple babies. We love its functionality, featuring small designs like compartments you can open with one hand, moveable dividers, removable pouches, wide cushioned backpack straps for all body types and more.
When we first opened this diaper bag, it reminded us of a laptop bag. It feels sleek and visually appealing, as well as gender-neutral. The included storage was definitely bigger than expected at first glance. We weren’t convinced we could fit everything from my usual diaper bag for two kids in it, but to our surprise it all easily fit.
This is a modular backpack since they provided several clear storage pouches to be used as desired. We found this small detail to be a big win for parents. Several of these pouches were in different sizes, all zippered and clear on one side. They had a bit of “stretch” to them and allowed us to really organize a few things that would have been floating together in a larger pouch in my standard diaper bag. We loved it!
Inside, an adjustable insert in the middle allows you to customize the storage to fit your needs, like having more storage at the top or the bottom. We found that if we wanted to add anything extra that was a bit bulkier—like a sweatshirt or large toys—it was a challenge to get everything to fit, and we had to forego some non-essential items.
That said, after a couple of weeks of use, we still found new, small storage areas inside the bag! It feels never-ending, which is a good thing for a parent with two (or more) of everything. We mostly ended up using the “parent” zipped storage accessible from the outside of the bag.
Another note is that the bag's main compartment zippers unzip to the bottom, so you pack it up almost like a suitcase. That was helpful so that everything gets noticed at the bottom of the bag. Wearing the diaper bag was very comfortable, even when quite full. There's additional padding behind the straps along the back, which is a nice touch.
We only had two complaints: The bag doesn't sit upright independently, making it hard to access, especially while holding a kid. The water bottle storage compartments on either side of the outside of the bag don't fit a water bottle with handles. This wasn't an issue for our three-year-old since he uses a more adult-style thermos bottle, but it meant that the bottle for our 1-year-old had to be put inside the bag and wasn't as easily accessible.
Specifications:
- Materials: Water-resistant recycled polyester
- Dimensions: 10 inches (length) x 6.5 inches (depth) x 18 inches (height)
- Weight: No weight listed; 24L capacity
- Colors available: Black
- Features included: 1 changing pad; 3 all-purpose packing pouches; 2 external bottle pockets; 1 external quick access pocket for essentials; 2 external side pockets for personal items; Key clip in external side pocket; 4 interior zippered mesh pockets for organization; Optional interior shelf for extra organization.
- Price on publish: $195
What we liked:
- Sleek design
- Comfortable
- Plenty of storage areas; great for organization
What we would change:
- Bag doesn't sit upright independently which can make it hard to access
- Water bottle storage compartments on either side of the outside of the bag don't fit a water bottle that has handles
The bottom line:
The modular compartments and removable dividers that come with this sleek bag let you design storage that suits your needs, though very bulky items will need to be stored separately.
Huhu Everyday Diaper Backpack
What to consider when shopping for a diaper bag
Like me, you might feel overwhelmed with the vast diaper bag options there. And as any new parent or parent-to-be can attest to, decision fatigue is a real challenge.
We chatted with Christine Hernandez, a pre- and postpartum doula, parent and child expert, and founder of Allo Saratoga, about her top shopping tips for diaper bag selection:
Account for the total load
Where do you live? Will the diaper bag be stored under a stroller or mostly in a car, or will you carry it around a lot? If you're carrying it a lot, Hernandez says to consider a lightweight backpack for easy commuting. “You want to look at the big picture and remember you'll probably have the baby with you when you have the diaper bag on hand, so you want to make your life easy and really consider the size of the bag, the type of material of the bag, and how often you'll be carrying the bag,” she adds.
Think of longevity
Will this strictly be a diaper bag, or can the bag transition into toddlerhood and beyond? You want to ensure that if you're investing money into a higher-priced diaper bag, it is a bag you can use beyond babyhood (like a travel tote). For example, Hernandez says to maybe think about the color and material of the bag: Can this bag transition while your child ages or is it very “baby” focused?
Consider your own storage needs
Having lots of space in the bag and many pockets is super important. Hernandez always reminds parents to pick out a bag with a nice big pocket for your stuff. “Maybe it's your phone, keys, and energy bar, but you'll probably be using this bag for your own stuff too, so it's important to think about how much space you need and how many pockets the bag has,” she adds.
How we selected the best diaper bags
The best way to figure out what really matters in a diaper bag is, well, putting it to the test. We asked busy moms to pack each bag with what they needed for their child or children, and then go out for errand-running or activities. Our testers ranged from moms of one to moms of two, and lived in both urban and suburban areas. After wrangling kiddos and the bag, we asked them to rate bags on the following:
- Durability
- Function
- Comfort
- Organization
- Flexibility
- Style and aesthetic
- Budget
What to pack in a diaper bag
Hernandez says what’s in your diaper bag depends on how long you’ll be out for the day and the kind of planner you are. “Some people like to wing it by leaving the house with a diaper in their purse, while others like to have everything they could possibly need,” she says. You should at least have diapers, wipes, extra clothes for the baby, and anything you’ll need for feeding, including bottles, nursing covers, pump, or snacks for a toddler.
“Depending on how newly postpartum you are, you may also bring along some pads if you’re still bleeding or things you may need. If you have a baby who spits up a lot, you might even pack an extra shirt or two for yourself,” she adds.
As a general list, this will get you started but definitely adjust for you and your baby’s needs:
- Diapers
- Changing pad
- Diaper cream
- Bags for dirty diapers (if you use cloth, you will need a cloth bag for this, too)
- Baby wipes
- Bottles and nipples
- Formula or breast milk
- An ice pack if you need to keep things cool
- Burp cloth
- Small blanket or bib for burping on the shoulder
- Extra clothing for you and the baby
- Hat, fan and sunscreen for warm weather
- A blanket or jacket for cold weather
- Teething gel and teething toys
- Stuffed toys or loveys
- Extra blanket
- Snacks for any older kids and pull-ups or extra clothes for them
- Extra pacifiers
- Hand sanitizer, your phone, phone charger, snack for parent, wallet, sunglasses and water bottle
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Do I need a diaper bag?
While Hernandez doesn’t think everyone "needs" a diaper bag, you do need to have something when you're out and about with the baby. “You don’t have to buy something that is specifically marketed as a diaper bag if you can’t find one you like,” she says. “Many moms use backpacks or totes—as long as it is functional.”
There are also changing pad covers that snap into a little pouch that you can store diapers and wipes and toss into a tote bag. Since you will be carrying this bag all the time, it should suit your style, she adds.
What is a good size for a diaper bag?
This depends on your needs, the number of children, and where you’re headed. You may find you need more than one diaper bag. Hernandez says you don't need a huge bag if you are only going out for a short time. If you are bringing your baby to daycare or out for the whole day, you'll need a bigger bag. “No matter what the size, though, you're going to look for a bag that has an easy to open top, lots of roomy space inside, and pockets. Always more pockets,” she adds.
How to organize a diaper bag
Hernandez says it’s best to organize the bag by type of item. “Ideally, you'd have the diapers, wipes, changing pad and diaper cream together in one pocket,” she explains. “And then any feeding items, bottles, nipples, formula, breastmilk, and an ice pack should be together.”
From there, keep comfy items together, like the jacket, the blanket or the toys. And, you'll want to keep pacifiers and any special toys in an easy-to-grab place, as well as anything you need, like your keys and phone.
Does a diaper bag count as a carry on?
Generally speaking, a diaper bag doesn’t count as your carry-on, but this may vary by airline, country of origin, or destination. Because of this, Hernandez always recommends checking out the airline's official website and looking for their baggage policy or carry-on allowance. Airlines usually have a section outlining what items are considered personal or carry-ons.
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