10 Essentials you NEED in Your Diaper Bag (#6 Will Surprise You!)

It’s a diaper*BAG*, not a diaper suitcase. How to pack with intention (without overdoing it).

Lugging around a huge backpack filled with everything a baby could ever need might seem like a great idea…but your back will not thank you.

About 6 months after our baby was born, we realized that we needed consistent chiropractic care to help release the tension that was building in our shoulders, and honestly, I blame our diaper bag situation!

We thrifted a $10 backpack diaper bag while pregnant and it served us well for those 6 months but it was *huge* and the sheer size made it easy to overpack. It was also not convenient.

It got messy quickly because of the zip-top design, and felt like a black hole if it didn’t get regularly organized. Not a great situation for busy new parents who have a million other things to worry about.

After a couple hours deliberating and hunting through Amazon, I found this diaper bag (only 17 bucks!) and crossed my fingers that it wouldn’t be too small.

I was sooooo excited when it came in the mail. I could see that it was well-made and the size was perfect! It was about half the size of our previous diaper bag but with intentional compartments for diapers and wipes (love that!).

Now let’s talk essentials. I know, I know. It’s tempting to throw absolutely everything in your diaper bag and haul it with you…but it sucks. Even if it works for awhile, you get tired of it. I speak from experience because my husband is an Eagle Scout and adopts a “Be Prepared” mindset. In other words, he was initially very happy to have an overpacked bag.

…until he realized that we NEVER used everything in that bag and it was back-breaking. So it was time to simplify.

1. Diapers

This one is obvious. We carry 3 diapers in our bag, but the number may increase slightly if we’re planning to spend more time away from home.

My fave diapers are Luvs. I always stock up with the biggest pack so I never run out. They’re usually about $0.16 per diaper which is a steal compared to other brands that are twice the price. The odor elimination is stellar and my baby has NEVER had a diaper rash.

2. Wipes

Cleanup for messy diapers, sticky faces, or dirty hands. Wipes are super versatile, convenient, and crucial for every diaper bag.

I love these wipes because they’re gentle on baby’s skin and don’t have any irritating fragrance. I usually buy a bulk pack, and then 2 small packs of wipes that work better for a diaper bag and car caddy. Check out my post on car caddy items that will keep you organized and prepared for (almost) everything.

3. Extra clothes

We keep 2 extra outfits in our diaper bag for baby, and change it up depending on the season. In the summer, we have 2 spare short-sleeve onesies, and in the autumn/winter/spring when the weather is cooler, we go for 2 long-sleeve onesies instead. We also add a pair of socks, little pants, and a hat.

These Carters onesies are THE BEST. Nice colors and high-quality construction so they hold up great wash after wash.

4. Bibs

If baby soaks a bib with drool or spit up, it’s a lot easier to change on-the-go than a complete outfit. This is a MUST.

My mother-in-law gifted us these bibs and they are INCREDIBLE. I’ve seen lots of little bandana bibs around lately and they’re not my favorite for catching drool and spit-up. They’re super cute but not as functional, in my opinion. In contrast, these bibs are soft and comfy for baby, large enough to catch slobber and spit, and have two snaps for adjustable sizing.

5. Receiving blankets

We keep 3 of these in our diaper bag at all times. They’re so versatile and come in really handy all the time. Our most common uses are to clean up spit-up, cover a surface before changing our baby (baby changing stations in public restrooms are DISGUSTING), or as a lightweight blanket.

Before our baby was born, we bought receiving blankets and burp cloths…and I regret buying the burp cloths. They just don’t have as many uses because of their small size. Receiving blankets are the way to go, and these are my favorite. (The prints are so cute!)

6. Plastic grocery bags

No need to keep any special doggy bags or wet bags in your diaper bag. Don’t overcomplicate it! We keep 2-3 plastic grocery bags hand for dirty diaper disposal and to keep dirty clothes and/or receiving blankets separate from the rest of the diaper bag items. I know it’s not super environmentally friendly but at the very least, it’s giving plastic grocery bags a second life so that’s a win.

7A. For the nursing mom…nipple shields

Nipple shields will help absorb any letdown while nursing baby so you don’t end up with a soaked shirtfront. Having a couple extra in your bag is a great idea, and these disposable ones are a must-have for every mom. Reusable shields are fine, too, but you need to be super vigilant about washing or you could end up with thrush, and that’s a nightmare for you and baby.

7B. For the pumping/formula mom…baby milk/formula

Babies need to eat regularly so make sure you always have plenty of milk/formula in your bag. “Overpacking” on this item is fine in case you’re out for longer than anticipated, baby is extra hungry, etc. You want to keep baby fed and happy so make sure to bring at least two servings.

I love this manual breast pump so much for on-the-go because it’s easy, convenient, and lightweight, and no lugging around an electric pump with all the attachments and hassle.

8. Snacks for mom

Bringing along an apple, tangerines, or a granola bar can go a long way in keeping Mom fueled. This is especially important if you’re a nursing mom and need to maintain your breastmilk supply.

I always have at least 2 of these granola bars on hand because they give me a boost of protein to help my milk supply.

9. Baby medicine for teething

Our baby started teething early and had 5 teeth before the 8 month mark. Because of frequent teething pain, we keep Oragel and baby Tylenol in our bag. It just gives me some extra piece of mind because the last thing I want to do is run errands with an uncomfortable, screaming baby.

10. Pacifier/Teething Toys

We tried to encourage a pacifier for awhile and kept it in our first diaper bag but it didn’t make the cut for our upgraded bag because our baby preferred thumb-sucking. However, teething toys are an absolute essential. We keep 2 small teething toys on hand at all times (one clipped to a onesie and the other in the diaper bag).

I HIGHLY recommend these teething toys. They’re cute, clip to baby’s clothes, and are very satisfying for them to chew.

***BONUS ITEMS! Awesome but not essential.***

OxiClean Stain Remover Pen

I mention OxiClean Stain Remover Pen specifically because it’s slightly larger than the Tide pen, and in my experience, works WAY BETTER at stain removal. Very handy if you need to tackle a spit-up or poo stain before it sets in.

Extra Clothing for Mom & Dad

Maybe I’m just lucky but I’ve never needed a change of clothing while on-the-go so these items don’t hang out in our diaper bag. BUT I do keep spare shirts in our car caddy just in case. Check out my post on car caddy must-haves so your car is fully stocked at all times.