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The Best Diaper Bags We Tested to Keep Your Diapers, Wipes, and Bottles Organized on the Go

Our favorite diaper bags are comfortable, stylish, and can be used well after the diaper years.

A parent wears the lululemon New Parent Backpack 17L

Parents

If you’re anything like me, a diaper bag is your own version of a Mary Poppins bag: It may look normal, but it can hold an extraordinary number of items. When it came time to choose the best diaper bag to carry all the stuff I needed for two kids, I specifically looked for an option that would help distribute the weight across my shoulders. I also wanted a bag that didn’t look like a diaper bag so my husband would wear it, too. Ultimately, I chose The Honest Company City Backpack because it was comfortable, adjustable, stylish, and had plenty of pockets to hold everything we needed.

Sometimes, though, you want something small to grab on a quick errand. Or you might be looking for lots of compartments and pockets to help you stay organized. Keeping all these different needs and preferences in mind, the Parents team set out to find the best diaper bags in all different styles, from fanny packs to backpacks, totes, and more. For over two years now, we've filled dozens of diaper bags to the brim to evaluate their design, quality, and value, as well as those small details, pockets, and clips that make them more practical or unique. After tons of trips, playdates, and adventures, these diaper bags performed the best.

Best Diaper Bag Backpack

lululemon New Parent Backpack

lululemon New Parent Backpack 17L
PHOTO: lululemon

Why We Like It

When compared to a crossbody bag or a tote, a backpack will distribute weight more evenly across your back, neck, and shoulders. This backpack from Lululemon has soft, padded straps that are easy to adjust, which made us feel balanced and supported while we wore it. We appreciate that it gave us the flexibility to carry or help our child while wearing it, and we love that it looks stylish and has an incredible amount of storage for both baby and parent necessities. 

To test this backpack, we packed it up to accompany us to pools, parks, festivals, and amusement parks. Its multiple easy-to-access pockets helped us keep everything for our kiddo (and ourselves) organized, and we could also direct others on where to find things. Our favorite storage feature is the hidden zippered pockets on the outside of the bag, which is where we kept frequently used items like our wallet, keys, sunglasses, sunscreen, and pacifier. 

While intended for the baby years, this backpack has major potential to grow with you. Its minimalist, athletic design makes it stylish enough for a parent to use as a daily or travel bag. We even took it into work with us and loved that it easily fit our lunch and had a dedicated place for a laptop and charger. 

What Parents Say

“The full diaper backpack was pretty comfortable to wear during outings, and it’s a plus that it can double as an everyday bag. My favorite part was the outside easy-to-access pockets that made it simple to find what I needed quickly and replace items that I grabbed frequently.”—Jessica, mom of a 2.5-year-old

But Take Note

This bag doesn’t have an insulated area for bottles. Also, the metal zipper on the main pocket can get stuck easily depending on the angle when trying to close it.

The Details:

  • Dimensions: 12.2 x 7.9 x 15.7 inches
  • Weight: 3 lbs.
  • Material: 100% recycled polyester and nylon 
  • Accessories included: Changing pad 

Why We Like It

Much like a modern-day Mary Poppins bag, this cleverly designed tote held everything we could possibly need. On one occasion, we efficiently stored more than 35 items on the inside alone! It can be carried with one hand or over your shoulder like a large purse and is equipped with all the pockets you need to bring along your baby’s essentials. It even has a few features for parents, too, including a phone pocket, key leash, and laptop compartment. 

In terms of design, this tote has several features that stood out to us. We love that it comes with a foldable changing pad (which we used often), insulated water bottle holder, and a built-in luggage sleeve and stroller clips, which helped us keep the tote close while on the go. We were especially impressed that it’s made from neoprene, since it kept our items dry during a trip to the splash pad. And despite filling it to the brim, this bag was lightweight and a breeze to carry around, even under the hot Texas sun. 

What Parents Say

"I worried this tote would be a bottomless pit, but with all the various pockets and zippers, I was able to efficiently organize everything so my items were accessible and I felt prepared."—Carrie, mom of an 8-month-old

But Take Note

While it has the potential to carry everything and then some, it can be challenging to zip closed if every pocket is filled with items. We recommend keeping some wiggle room when packing up your tote for the day. 

The Details:

  • Dimensions: 16.25 x 6 x 12 inches
  • Weight: 4 lbs.
  • Material: Neoprene and recycled polyester 
  • Accessories included: Detachable crossbody strap, zipper bag, stroller clips, water bottle holder, zip pouch, changing pad

Why We Like It

This large backpack has a capacity of about 6.5 gallons. That’s about 2 gallons more than the Lululemon New Parent Backpack above, which is why we think this one is best for parents with two kids. It holds a ton of stuff and is equipped with lots of dedicated pockets to keep parents organized. We also loved using the removable fanny pack and liked that the backpack contains a large fold-out pad that makes diaper changes a one-stop shop. 

This bag is packed with bells and whistles. In addition to insulated bottle pockets, it has a place to store wipes and a pacifier pouch. We also like that it has features designed just for parents, including a laptop compartment, key leash, phone pocket, and padded shoulder straps. 

What Parents Say

“Whoever made this bag must be a parent. The compartments are genius! The worst thing ever is when your baby…has a blowout and the wipes are nowhere to be found. This bag makes it so easy to find things quickly.”—Patricia, mom of a toddler

But Take Note

Because of its large capacity, this bag inevitably feels quite heavy when packed to the brim. 

The Details:

  • Dimensions: 12.6 x 8.66 x 15.75 inches
  • Weight: 4.54 lbs.
  • Material: Nylon and polyester 
  • Accessories included: Changing pad, key leash, fanny pack, water-resistant stink bag, pacifier pouch, stroller straps 

Why We Like It

Since an athletic brand makes this bag, it doesn’t scream “diaper bag.” We love that it gives parents the option to use it as a tote or a backpack and has plenty of storage pockets, both inside and out. We also like that it has a modern, unisex design that any parent would feel comfortable wearing, and we could see ourselves using it as a gym or work bag, too. 

The Nike Convertible Diaper Bag was a great companion for outings with a baby in tow. Its capacity is 6.5 gallons and it has all the compartments we needed, including an insulated bottle pouch, a circular container for pacifiers, and a soft, padded cell phone pocket. We were able to fit all of our essentials in it and could access them with ease because of its variety of dedicated pockets. Even when this bag was fully loaded, it was comfortable and easy to carry while we went to the park, walked the streets of Manhattan, and traveled internationally. 

What Parents Say

"This bag made me feel very organized. It has a ton of organizational pockets that are thoughtfully designed and made up of different shapes, sizes, and linings. This eliminated the need to use extra organizational cases to carry my essentials."—Niusha, mom of a 2-month-old

But Take Note

While the various pockets were helpful, they also prevented us from using the main storage compartment when they were full. 

The Details:

  • Dimensions: 6 x 10.5 x 16.5 inches
  • Weight: Not specified 
  • Material: Nylon and polyester 
  • Accessories included: Pacifier pouch, laptop sleeve, insulated bottle and snack pockets 

Why We Like It

When traveling with your baby, it’s not always guaranteed that you’ll have a spot to change their diaper. The Skip Hop Pronto Changing Station solves that problem, making it a favorite travel essential of ours. It’s compact and portable, so it slips right into our main diaper bag or luggage, and has a convenient strap that can be worn around your wrist or strapped to your stroller. 

Aside from being a spot to change your baby, this changing pad has ample storage. In addition to a pouch that holds up to four diapers, it has a translucent wipes case (so you can see when it’s time to refill) and a small zippered pocket to house diaper cream, hand sanitizer, and other necessities. Plus, this changing pad is easy to open with just one hand and cleans up in seconds with a sanitizing wipe. 

But Take Note

Since this changing pad isn’t meant to double as a diaper bag, there’s not enough space to carry anything more than what you need to change your baby. 

The Details:

  • Dimensions: ‎36 x 21.5 x 0.25 inches
  • Weight: 12 ounces
  • Material: Polyester and polyurethane foam
  • Accessories included: Wipes case, carrying strap, diaper pouch 

Best Crossbody Diaper Bag

Huggies Diaper Crossbody Bag

Huggies Diaper Crossbody Bag
PHOTO: Amazon

Why We Like It

Once your baby is a bit older and you can get through an outing with just a few essentials, you can graduate to a smaller crossbody bag like this Huggies version. Although it’s more compact, it can hold up to five diapers, which is more than enough for running errands or a playdate at the park, and comes with a built-in changing pad that folds up neatly into the front pocket. 

In addition to diapers, the main compartment has enough room to fit a few small items, such as a travel container of wipes, hand sanitizer, and a snack. There’s also space for a cell phone and a small wallet, and you can hang your keys on the exterior keyring. We also love that this bag has gold accents and a stylish nylon exterior, which makes it durable and water-resistant, too! 

But Take Note

This bag doesn’t have enough room to carry a bottle or extra clothes, so we don’t recommend it for parents with younger babies. 

The Details:

  • Dimensions: 4 x 11 x 6 inches
  • Weight: 1 lb.
  • Material: Nylon 
  • Accessories included: Changing pad, keyring 

Best Fanny Pack Diaper Bag

Tushbaby Pack Diaper Bag

Tushbaby Pack Diaper Bag
PHOTO: Target

Why We Like It

Fanny packs have made a comeback, and this one from Tushbaby is stylish and quite functional. It has a variety of pockets and is spacious enough to carry all of your essentials, including a few diapers, a travel container of wipes, hand sanitizer, and a foldable changing pad. There’s also a small front pocket that is ideal for holding a cell phone, keys, card wallet, and some lip balm. 

This bag is larger than a traditional fanny pack, and its strap extends up to 60 inches, so you can make whatever adjustments you need to feel comfortable. We also like that it has a mesh bottle holder on the side that tucks into a side pocket when not in use.

But Take Note

Keep in mind that this is a fanny pack and isn’t meant to help you carry your baby like the well-known Tushbaby Hip Carrier.

The Details:

  • Dimensions: 11.5 x 4.5 x 9 inches
  • Weight: 1 lb.
  • Material: Polyester 
  • Accessories included: Changing pad, bottle holder 

Why Trust Us

As an active mom of two who lives in Southern California, I spend most of my time outdoors. I needed a durable diaper bag that was comfortable and fit all of our essentials so we could embark on our daily adventures, from exploring local playgrounds and kid-friendly hikes to collecting shells at the beach. As a writer for Parents, I leaned on my ability to research the best baby items to help me choose the diaper bag that worked best for my family. I applied both my personal and professional experience when writing this article.

Over the course of two years, the Parents team has tested over 40 diaper bags in our New York City Lab and with our own families in different parts of the country. We've filled the diaper bags with all the typical supplies a caregiver would need on an outing—diapers, extra clothes, bottles, snacks, toys—and a few atypical ones—two bottles of Dreft cleaner, an exploded glitter jelly bear, our lunch, work computers. We adjusted all the straps, zipped and unzipped them hundreds of times, we weighed them, and exposed them to the wear and tear of our daily lives with babies and toddlers. All the while, we evaluated the diaper bags' durability, design, features, comfort, storage capacity, and practicality.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Diaper Bag

  • Type of Bag: Diaper bags come in different forms, including backpacks, cross-body bags, totes, and fanny packs. The type you choose depends not only on the amount of items you plan to carry around, but also what works best for your body. For example, if you want to have your hands free and distribute the weight more evenly across your shoulders, a backpack diaper bag might be a great fit. 
  • Comfort: A diaper bag should be comfortable to wear and not cause pain in your back, shoulders, or arms. You’ll also want to look for a bag that’s made with lightweight material, like nylon or soft canvas, and has adjustable, padded straps to help distribute the weight. 
  • Capacity: The capacity of your bag ultimately depends on your baby’s age or the number of children you have. Younger babies typically require more care items, such as diapers, bottles, a changing pad, and extra clothes, so a larger bag would be most helpful in that case. If you have a toddler, you could probably get away with a fanny pack to carry a diaper or two, a small pack of wipes, and a snack, along with your cell phone and keys.
  • Organization: So that you’re not sifting through a bottomless pit of baby stuff, a diaper bag with lots of pockets will help you stay on track while you’re out and about. With dedicated pockets for all your baby essentials, you can easily reach in and grab what you need while feeding or changing your baby. 
  • Ease of Access: A diaper bag shouldn’t be complicated or difficult to access. A fanny pack is probably the easiest bag to access. Bags with magnetic closures can be opened with one hand while holding your baby. 
  • Style: Nowadays, most diaper bags aren’t blatantly obvious that they’re carrying baby items. Instead, they combine style with function, and many can still be used as a gym or work bag once your baby transitions out of diapers. Choose a bag that you’ll enjoy carrying, too, since you’ll likely bring it with you on a regular basis. 

Who We Are

Laura Lu, MS, is a mom of two living in Newport Beach, California. As a health and parenting writer, she enjoys helping other parents make informed decisions about how to care for their child. When her kids were babies, she brought The Honest Company City Backpack along on life’s adventures because it was comfortable, stylish, and had plenty of room for the necessities of two children.

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