The Best Diaper Bags of 2023
New parents (and babies!) need a lot of stuff to make trips out of the house go smoothly—kiss running out with just your keys and phone goodbye. A great diaper bag makes it easy to tote all those kiddo necessities and keep them organized while you’re on-the-go.
Do You Need a Diaper Bag?
A good diaper bag really can make getting out of the house with little ones that much easier: they’re designed with parents in mind, and have unique features—like insulated bottle pockets and separate compartments for soiled clothing—you won’t find in a typical tote or backpack. They also have tons of pockets to keep your essentials organized, so you’ll know exactly how to find your wipes or diaper balm quickly.
If you’d rather use your own bag, consider buying a diaper bag clutch to keep your little one’s stuff gathered in a single easy-to-find spot.
Types of Diaper Bags
Diaper bags comes in all shapes and sizes, so there’s a wide variety of options to choose from once you start shopping:
- Diaper bag totes resemble an everyday tote, with two long straps that can be worn over the shoulder, like a traditional purse.
- Diaper bag backpacks are backpacks with organizational features designed specifically to help you manage childcare essentials. Bonus: they free up your hands to play with your kiddo or push a stroller.
- Messenger diaper bags have a long strap (that’s usually padded for added comfort) and can be worn across the body or on the shoulder.
- Diaper bag clutches are small, are designed to carry essentials only (think diapers, wipes, and your phone), and don’t typically have straps. They’re best suited for shorter trips out of the house, or for toddler parents that no longer need to bring along bottles or pumping necessities.
- Diaper bag fanny packs are exactly that: fanny packs for diapering essentials, similar to diaper bag clutches.
- Convertible diaper bags are multi-purpose diaper bags that can be used as totes, messenger bags, or backpacks, depending on how you use or arrange the straps.
The best diaper bag fit for your family really depends on your family’s size (will the bag be used for an only child or for siblings?), your children’s ages (older babies and toddlers generally require less stuff), and how it will be used (during travel, on long trips out of the house, or for daily errand running?).
Shopping Tips for Diaper Bags
There are a few diaper bag features that make parenting on-the-run easier to keep in mind while shopping, too:
- Size: bigger bags are great for infants and parents with more than one child, but that also means they’ll be heavier, bulkier, and harder to fit in your stroller’s storage basket.
- Pockets: honestly, you can’t have too many (and insulated pockets are ideal when you’re still in the bottle feeding stage). If you’re managing a fussy hungry newborn or a toddler with a diaper blowout, you’ll appreciate every essential having its place and not having to dig through a bag with one hand to find what you need.
- Stroller straps: some diaper bags can be quickly attached to your stroller with an included accessory—a super convenient option that frees up your hands (and storage space).
- Changing pad: there won’t always be a clean and hygienic spot to change your little one’s diaper, so if the bag you have your heart set on doesn’t include one, we’d recommend buying one separately.
- Easily cleaned materials: if there’s an absolute parenting truth, it’s that everything will get messy. Diaper bags that can be easily wiped down or machine washed = one less thing to worry about.
How Long Will You Use a Diaper Bag?
Your diaper bag will be in it for the long haul—babies, toddlers, and young children require a lot of stuff when getting out of the house for everyday adventures (not to mention, your kiddo probably won’t be potty trained until around the age of 3-4). Think about what styles, designs, and colors feel timeless and are well suited to your wardrobe and lifestyle.
Albee Baby Diaper Bag Picks
Our diaper bag picks feature tried-and-true parent favorites that are the perfect combo of form and function, because there’s no need to sacrifice one to have the other.
Best Luxury Diaper Bag
Fawn Design The Ultimate Motherhood Bundle
If your vibe is uptown girl, the Fawn Design Original Bag might be the bag for you. Made from vegan leather, this stylish backpack is a diaper bag in disguise, really: it resembles a chic everyday bag or tote more than a carry-all for wet bags and extra binkies. The Fawn has 12 pockets for organizing diapering and feeding essentials, and the bundle includes a changing clutch and mat, paci case, bottle bag, and stroller clips. Plus, the shoulder strap can be removed so you can wear the bag messenger style.
Best Fanny Pack Diaper Bag
It’s a fanny pack Renaissance and at Albee Baby, we are loving every minute of it. The Lorimer from State Bags is a timeless fanny pack option—it’s lightweight, sporty, and available in a range of outfit-friendly neutrals. The extendable strap allows you to wear the bag across your body or around your waist, and two generously sized pockets will hold diapers, wipes, phones, keys, and credit cards.
Best Diaper Bag Backpack
Skip Hop MainFrame Backpack Diaper Bag
This lightweight but structured diaper bag from Skip Hop has a unique feature we’re obsessed with: an oversized top opening that stays put when needed, giving a clear view of its contents (say so long to frustrated rummaging). Two insulated bottle pockets keep things warm or cool, and it includes practical conveniences like a diaper changing pad and built-in stroller straps.
Best Tote Diaper Bag
Momkindness CarryAll Tote Trio
Momkindness was founded by 2 moms who believe in meaningful give-back to the mom community and paying it forward. Momkindness donates a portion of proceeds from every bag purchased to Every Mother Counts, an organization whose mission is to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for every mom around the world. (Plus, shopping a mom-owned brand just feels good, right?) The CarryAll Tote Trio is a versatile multi-tasker that’s three bags in one: the tote has 8 pockets and a padded laptop pocket, and can be worn on your shoulder, as a backpack, or messenger style; the organizer insert has 7 more pockets and makes for easy organization; the clutch includes a changing mat and is perfect for short trips out of the house. This trio works almost as hard as you do, mama.
Best Diaper Bag Clutch
Fawn Design’s Changing Clutch is cute enough to use as an actual clutch, but makes everyday adventures with your little one a breeze, too. Designed with premium vegan leather, this clutch includes a matching changing mat and has plenty of room for diapering essentials. Slip it on your wrist for a sleek and stylish clutch that’s great for travel, date night, or girl’s night out.
Best Vegan Diaper Bag
Freshly Picked Classic Diaper Bag
The Classic Diaper Bag from Freshly Picked combines beauty and functionality in a timeless bag made from premium vegan leather (that wipes clean!). The bag stands upright, perched on metal feet—so the bottom never touches germy surfaces—and has 10 pockets, including an interior mom compartment for phones, wallets, or Chapstick. And it’s wearable as a backpack, shoulder tote, or messenger bag.
Best Diaper Bag for Twins
TWELVElittle Companion Backpack Diaper Bag 2.0
Two babies = so much stuff! TWELVElittle’s Companion Diaper Bag is really roomy, but still super lightweight (crucial when packing on-the-go essentials for 2). The zipper unzips ¾ of the way down the bag, so finding loose odds-and-ends at the bottom is easy, and a built-in “wet bag” makes storing soiled items simple. There are 10 pockets, including 2 insulated bottle pockets, and it comes with a changing mat and stroller straps. The soft padded fabric is stain-resistant, but if you end up with a real mess, you can toss the whole bag in the washing machine.
Best Diaper Changing Mat
The Sprout Changing Mat from Herschel folds compactly, but unfolds into an extra large changing pad, perfect for hygienic diaper changes, even if you’ve got a wiggler on your hands. The wings on the pad have mesh pockets for storing small extras like socks or pacis, and it includes a refillable wet wipes case.
Best Unisex Diaper Bag
Thule’s Changing Backpack is a perfectly gender-neutral diaper bag that makes it easy to bring all your essential accessories on a day out with your baby. An internal divider creates compartments for quick organizing, and the padded straps make long-wear comfortable. It comes with a lot of accessories that make traveling with kiddos easy: a changing mat, wet bag, and “pod” that’s a roomy diaper clutch.
Best Easy-to-Clean Diaper Bag
The Ju-Ju-Be B.F.F. makes staying organized easy peasy, with 9 pockets—including 2 Thinsulate-lined bottle pockets and a padded mom pocket—plus an ingenious plastic compartment that keeps wet and soiled items separated from the rest of your goodies. It’s lined with an antimicrobial fabric that prevents mold and mildew, and the whole bag can be machine washed when those inevitable messy mishaps happen. The B.F.F. comes with a cushy memory foam changing pad, and it can be worn as a backpack, tote, or messenger style.
Finding What’s Right for You
Albee Baby is the oldest family-owned specialty baby shop in the US, and we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best assortment of baby products anywhere, at fair prices, always. We’re committed to being an inclusive resource for parents, and hope you’re feeling empowered to find the right car seat for your family. Still have questions? Feel free to contact our baby gear experts at 877.692.5233 or by email at [email protected].