What’s In Your Diaper Bag?
I love bags and have a slight obsession with them. One particular bag that I have always enjoyed packing is the diaper bag. It has always been really fun for me to organize and prepare.
When Anna was a baby, we had way too many diaper bags to list, but my favorite was my Vera Bradley book bag, and we used it until it fell apart! I loved to restock the diaper bag, ensuring that we were always prepared for our next adventure. I would carefully check that we had all the essentials, from diapers and wipes to snacks and toys, making sure everything was in its designated spot.
This process of packing the diaper bag not only made our outings smoother but also became a creative outlet for me. I love showcasing fun and innovative products that can make life easier for parents and caregivers. Through this journey, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of being organized and prepared, and I enjoy sharing my favorite finds with others.
I personally think a good product is durable, long-lasting, and, if possible, multi-functioning. Like a bottle that can be used as a sippy cup, that is a product that will last years. That cuts down on needing to purchase additional products in the future.
This is just for fun and as I always say, do your own research before you buy anything. Other’s advice is nice but only you know your child and situation so always research before buying a product!
Sleep Over Edition
Perfect for a day out at a friend’s or a slumber party with grandparents.
Tobiq - The cutest little duffle bag for kids. With individual compartments.
WubbaNub - This adorable pacifier doubles as a lovey, and if a lovey is more your style, they have those too, pacifier-free!
Hanna Anderson - I love these pajamas, and the zipper goes both ways. You always want spares!
Tomee Tippee - I love the little formula containers that go into the bottles. Perfect for preparing enough bottles for your whole adventure!
LectroFan - The best travel sound machine!
Tubby Todd - I love their lotion and soap, and the rosemary and lavender smell is perfect for bedtime.
Pampers - These are my favorite overnight diapers. They are soft and keep your little one dry for the whole night*.
*When worn properly. Check that your diaper is not too big or too small. I see this frequently. Some diapers now have a section on the front that says if the tabs go over this line, size up. I wish all diapers had that. You want the diaper to go high up the baby’s back and folded in about an inch if you can; you want to be able to put two/three fingers in the band at the tops and around each leg. You also want to pull the fringe out by the leg holes and ensure the diaper is on properly. This all ensures you will not have leaks!
Tomee Tippee - These travel black-out curtains with suction cups are perfect for short little travel trips. I love that they can go up and down easily and leave no marks.
Newborn Edition
For those first doctor appointments or to grab some lunch with friends.
Jansport - I love a bookbag as a diaper bag. You can use it for so much longer than intended as it becomes an overnight bag, a library bag, a picnic at the park bag, and then, if it hasn’t broken, it can be used as a simple bookbag one day. You can’t go wrong with a bookbag diaper bag, and the best part is HANDSFREE!
Water Wipes - Great product, next to a plain ole washrag.
Honest Hand Sanitizer Spray - You have to sanitize before touching the baby.
Gerber Burp Rags - These are cute and inexpensive.
Mushie Wet Bag - You will have blow-outs; you will need these. Throw everything in here (minus that dirty diaper, unless it’s reusable; in that case, throw it in), and then shake it all into the laundry at home, and it let soak. Bag and all. They can get clean, and then the clean wet bag goes back into the diaper bag for next time.
Spectra Portable Pump - I do like this pump for traveling. I like the Medela best, but this is great for traveling.
Primary - I love primary clothes, and I love that any kid can wear them. Once you buy baby clothes from primary, you are set as until they rip, they can be used by all future kids. Great products! I love primary.
Pampers - I have used a ton of diapers; the diapers I recommend for newborns are simply the Pampers Swaddlers. They are incredibly soft, they have a spot for the umbilical cord, and they stop leaks the best when fitted properly.
PEHR Changing Pad - I love a fluffy changing pad, and this one is adorable!
Toddler Edition
Must be tiny for when they want to “do it” also known as carrying their own diaper bag.
Itzy Ritzy - These little bags are so cute and perfect for when your little one wants to “help you” by carrying the bag.
Moodie - You will need somewhere to put those dirty diapers and sometimes a messy sucker.
Gobe - The cutest snack container, perfect for grabbing a toddler’s attention.
Time To Brush - I love this book, and it can easily take 15 or 20 minutes to read if you play with each page. There are a couple of versions as well. We have a bandage one!
Burt’s Bees Baby - Messy hands and faces come with a toddler.
Re-Play - I love these water bottles; they are not expensive for when they inevitably get lost, and they do not spill. The colors are so cute, too!
Grownsy - You might need to sanitize a bink or two; you could also sanitize bottle nipples if needed.
SnoofyBee - This product is truly amazing. If you’ve ever changed a toddler’s diaper, you know that their hands always seem to end up in the mess. This product helps prevent that issue and makes diaper changes so much easier. I also have a helpful tip for dealing with those squirmy toddlers. When changing a diaper, I always place my hand on the chest/stomach. If they start to squirm, I don’t even begin to change the diaper. Instead, I tell them, "If you want to be done, you can’t roll." I wait until they’re still, keeping my hand on their chest/stomach. I’ve used this technique for over 15 years, and it has consistently worked well. Once they understand the routine, the process goes much faster and is cleaner. Cleaning poop off a toddler's hands is no fun—nobody wants to deal with that!
Environmentally Friendly Edition
To me, environmentally friendly means that it is long-lasting, and when you are done with it, it will leave the smallest impact on Earth.
PEHR - I love this diaper bag. Normally, I do not recommend an over-the-shoulder bag, but I love how cute and fluffy this one is. I feel like after it was a diaper bag, it would be a cute weekend bag or laptop bag.
PEHR - I love that if you needed to, you could grab this for a quick trip out. This is also fluffy and looks comfortable.
Bambino Mio - Wet bags are great and will be used until they break. Once they are not needed for soiled clothes, they quickly turn into gym bags or wet bags for a water park day. They are so versatile.
Elemental Joy - I love reusable diapers, and I love it when they are affordable. You can buy reusable diapers for baby number 1 and use them through all of your babies and then hand them off to a friend. Elemental Joy has a diaper pail-started set that is so perfect I wish all families were gifted one at birth. Wouldn’t that be great?
Stasher - These bags are a game changer. I mean, what can’t you put in them? I bought a set 5 years ago that I still use, and I find they are great not only for snacks but they make a wonderful wet bag for your phone on a day out at the waterpark! I have bought a couple more to add to my collection through the years but truly love these bags.
Tubby Todd - I can’t say enough good things about this lotion. It just works, and they are a great company.
Dr. Browns - Glass bottles are amazing, and I personally used these bottles, but the baby list has a great set to try out four glass bottles to choose which one your little one likes. Babylist.
Burt’s Bees - These clothes are so cozy and soft. They are also durable, and in my hand-me-down sets, I always came across Burt’s Bee in perfect condition, and I, too, handed down plenty in excellent condition—a wonderful company.
High-Tech Edition
I live in Seattle, and we love our techy products, like a bottle that warms up on its own and maintains the desired heat or a little device that kills 99% of germs in seconds.
Ember - I love my Ember mug and thought, wow, this would make a great baby bottle. Well, a couple of years later, and they have that product! It warms the water up and maintains the desired heat. This is the perfect travel baby bottle.
Lulyboo - This is not electronic or anything, but I love how organized this diaper bag is. It also has a detachable stroller caddy. If you’re type A and like everything to have a home, this diaper bag is perfect for that.
Aden + Anais - This is a burp rag for when your child is smaller, and then it turns into a bib. The best bib too, it covers a lot of area and when you have a fresh eater that is a good thing. We had one of these when my daughter was smaller, and I do not know if there was a more used product. We loved that monkey bib! Very efficient.
Magnetic Me - I love these pajamas, they can be pricey and for that reason I reccomend them for more nighttime pajamas, in the middle of the night if you have to change a diaper the last thing you want to do is mess with zippers or snaps in the dark, this product is amazing as it simply just clips together with magnets. Another bonus of this product is that if you have a family member who has arthritis and will be helping you a lot, buttons and zippers might not be accessible, whereas this is more accessible.
Munchkin - I think these binky sanitizers are so nice; you could also put a teether or a bottle nipple in there if needed!
Elvie - These are pricey, but I remember dragging around a giant bag to hold my pump. If you have school pickups or a lot of car runs, this product is great to wear on the go.
Dyper - These charcoal-enhanced diapers are meant to help with odor control, and they are made with plant-based material. Best of all they have an automated delivery service. Having diapers show up on the porch without any thought on your end is going to save so much time, and they have a lot of other products as well!
Minimalist Edition
Sometimes, it is nice to travel light. I like products that can be multifunctional, like a burp rag that clips into a bib but is big enough to function as a towel if needed. Or magic balm that can be used for multiple areas, eliminating the need for lotion and diaper cream.
Tush Baby - This innovative product serves as a toddler seat, diaper bag, and feeding support, making it an indispensable companion for outings. With this fantastic all-in-one solution, you can minimize the number of items you need to carry while ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience. It's truly a magical product that simplifies parenting tasks.
Dr Bronner’s - Organic Magic Balm, I love that it is not in a tube and that it is slim. It makes it smaller and more compact while still being very efficient.
Ubbiworld - These are great for diapers, but also, when your child hands you a dirty sucker stick, you no longer have to stuff that into your pocket until you can find the nearest trash can, I use these like little trash bags! They are a wonderful multifunctional product!
Lifefactory - Glass baby bottles with interchangeable tops, so they can be used as a bottle, a sippy cup, or a regular water bottle. Therefore, they are usable from birth to 99, as they say.
aden + anais - I love these burp rags, I talk about them often but I had one of them, just one, and I used that more than any bib or burp rag I had, and still to this day it is in the towel drawer in the kitchen and the kids use it for small table spills.
Coterier - A simple but effective plain white diaper. While it might seem silly to stress over a plain white diaper, the reality is that finding one among all of the fun patterns can be quite challenging. They also have subscription plans, and there is nothing simpler than diapers appearing on your doorstep.
Primary - If you are minimalistic and looking for children’s clothing, Primary is your one-stop shop. My favorite part is that the clothes can be worn by all of your children, as there are no girl/boy sections. It is just clothes, and they can all be mixed and matched, and the quality of the clothes is unmatched. I have started buying clothes from here! I love primary!
