The 7 Best Diaper Bags, Tested and Approved by Parents
PureWow Editors select every item that appears on this page,, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story You can learn more about that process here. Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
Read the original article on Purewow.
At first glance, buying a diaper bag seems simple: You need something that isn’t totally hideous that can carry diapers, wipes and a bottle, right? Oh, and it shouldn’t be too bulky, since you’ll also be toting said bebé. But it can’t be so small that you’re constantly leaving things behind. And then your parent friends all have extreme opinions on the right styles and brands (don’t even get them started on baby carriers). Suddenly, that simple add-to-registry got way more complicated than you ever thought possible. Well, we’re here to help.
We put seven of the most popular diaper bags to the test, getting honest reviews from parents in order to compile a curated list of the best diaper bags, no matter what your needs are.
Want to know which buzzy products are *really* worth buying? Sign up for our shopping newsletter to uncover our favorite finds.
The Best Diaper Bags at a Glance
Meet the Experts
How We Choose the Best Diaper Bags
When selecting the best diaper bags, we first reached out to our experts to determine what exactly to look for in a bag. The most important tip? Opt for something “lightweight and ergonomical,” says Vlahakis. And the closer to the body the diaper bag is able to sit the better, advises Moore. “The diaper bag should fit snug to the waist or back,” she tells us. After getting specific criteria from our physical therapists and doula (all of whom are parents themselves), we spent hours researching top sellers (and their reviews) to compile a comprehensive list of the best diaper bags, taking budgets and changing needs into consideration. We then put these bags to the test, taking them out on daily outings, car rides, trips to grandma's house and even air travel. The end result is a list of diaper bags you can tote with you just about anywhere, whether you’re an expecting parent or an experienced caretaker.
1. Béis Backpack Diaper Bag
From the celeb-approved travel brand, comes this undeniably chic diaper bag. Let's talk style first and foremost. PureWow’s VP of Editorial and mom-of-two Candace Davison reports: “‘You'd never notice it's a diaper bag!’” is basically the marketing equivalent of a bride telling you, ‘you can totally wear my bridesmaid dress again and again!’ I'm usually like, ‘OK, suuuure.’ But in this case, I want to keep using this bag after my butt-wiping days are over. The bag is a little slouchy, offering a casual cool vibe that's only complemented by its matte combo of black vegan leather pockets on a black nylon base. I'm...not a regular mom, right?!”
And this beauty is no slouch in the storage department either. With a staggering 14 pockets (!), there's no shortage of room or organization from this diaper bag. “It's the Mary Poppins of bags,” says Davison. “I'm amazed at how much I can pop in this bag without feeling like I'm wearing a hiking backpack. Here's what I keep in it for my day to day: six diapers, a pack of wipes, two changes of clothes, an extra bib and burp cloth, diaper cream, my wallet, my phone, a pacifier, keys, a teether (which came with the bag), a changing pad, a book, my planner and pens, earpods, a snack, three bottles and a formula refill container.” That’s... a lot.
The exterior pockets in particular deserve a shout out, since they can hold wide bottles, like Tommee Tippee—something Davison couldn't do with the Kibou, Huhu or Amazon bags she tried. “I was surprised at how many other bags were designed for tall, narrow bottles (like Dr. Brown's) only.”
We also love all the included accessories, like the aforementioned tether inside (“soft enough for a kid to actually want to gum on it”), a sleek black pacifier holder that clips onto the bag (or can be removed), the removable, odor-proof clutch that can hold blowout/spitup clothes and the changing pad with a pocket for holding a spare diaper (“standard, but it's thick and large enough to actually be used; some are more like a glorified foam napkin”).
2. Huhu Everyday Diaper Backpack
A PureWow Happy Kid Award winner, this bag is ideal for parents of twins or multiple kids close in age, because it can hold half a nursery inside. Seriously—it took our reviewer a second to get used to all of the dividers and organizers, but once she did, she realized you can hold a day's worth of bottles and sippy cups, diapers and wipes, changes of clothes, toys, snacks and her stuff, all in one bag. Davison raves: “There's a stiff divider inside that lets you compartmentalize the bag, and I literally can keep three bottles, a 20-ounce jar of formula, 10 diapers, a full pack of wipes, a baby thermometer, Desitin, two changes of clothes, burp cloths, a swaddle, pacifier, snacks, my keys/wallet/phone/travel docs and a baby toy inside!”
The magnetic closure makes it easy to open one-handed too, because let's be honest: In that first year, are you ever not holding a baby while rummaging through your diaper bag? The Huhu comes with a changing pad, two storage pouches (with clear sides so you can see what the heck you threw in there) and an optional bottom compartment to separate wet from dry. Another bonus: The bright blue interior makes spotting items much easier than with a black interior.
“This bag is like a sleek hiking backpack or travel bag,” Davison adds. “Guys seem to like how minimalist and unadorned it is, though TSA loves it the most—seriously. I've gotten multiple compliments from TSA agents who raved about how easy it is to check bottles/formula and see everything in the backpack without getting things disheveled. And it slides neatly under airplane seats. The 100 percent recycled water resistant PFAS-free polyester fabric exterior has been awesome for wiping off stains...including one that got dried on for DAYS and I swore would never come off. A little scrub with a baby wipe and boom! Gone.”
3. Kibou Belt Bag
There comes a point—typically once your baby hits the one-year mark—when roominess isn’t as crucial to you as portability. You need to get out the door, quickly, and you don’t need to haul a replica of your kid’s nursery on your back anymore. This bag, another Happy Kid Award winner, is for that phase: It features a fold-out changing pad, a wet pouch for storing 20 wipes, a separate compartment for your cell, wallet and keys, and a main section that can hold diapers, a snack, hand sanitizer and bandages (because you never know when you’ll be taking care of a boo-boo). And it’s surprisingly chic, too. “The minimalist belt bag design feels high-end—and nothing like a diaper bag. The vegan leather is thick with a slight sheen, and it doesn't scuff easily. You'd think it's any other trendy belt bag at first glance...then a full changing pad rolls out,” says Davison.
In terms of storage, this one obviously isn’t going to fit as much as the other picks on our list, though Davison notes that it’s actually pretty spacious for a belt bag (just not so much for a diaper bag). “This is great for toddlers and babies over a year old, when you have a little less to travel with (more like diapers, sippy cup and snacks instead of the whole swaddles, bottles and formula jars rigamarole). I could hold a slim pack of wipes, three to four diapers, a travel-size Desitin, a snack, my cell and keys. (It has a pacifier hook and a detachable changing pad that pops out of the back.) On road trips, I'd need to refill it when we stopped to go in a restaurant or something with extra diapers/wipes in the car. It had just enough for such a small-sized bag.”
Davison also loves how easy this one is to wipe clean. The one con? At 11 inches wide, there’s no way you’re fitting a bottle or sippy cup in there, so that’s something to keep in mind as you’re on the go.
4. Petunia Pickle Bottom Meta Backpack
This sleek and spacious bag features nine pockets, including two interior mesh pockets, a front zippered pocket with antimicrobial lining for snacks, a felt-lined back pocket for small items like a phone, and a hidden insulated bottle pocket. The backpack straps are padded and it comes with changing mat. Extra cool feature: The main compartment zipper extends all the way to the bottom of the bag, making is easy to pack and grab items. There's also a magnetic closure.
PureWow’s Senior Food Editor Katherine Gillen was a big fan: “The bag is very sleek. The material looks like leather but is a coated canvas—nice for cleanups but I worry about the durability long-term. It's nice enough that think it could pass as a work backpack, which is great if that's your style! This bag looks small but actually holds quite a bit. There's an outer insulated pocket that would hold one bottle (maybe two smaller ones if you stacked them), an inside laptop sleeve that fit my 13-inch Macbook, and an outer pocket for a phone. I was able to fit a few diapers, a small pack of wipes, an extra onesie and adult T-shirt emergency outfit changes, hand sanitizer and three pacis. (I never go out with less than three!) There's a small changing pad inside too, but it's not really large enough when your baby decides diaper time is also rolling time.”
5. Freshly Picked Diaper Bag
This stylish vegan leather bag with gold accents boasts wipeable surfaces and 10 pockets (including a tech sleeve and an insulated pocket), plus a large main compartment. But what our reviewer Liana, mom to a 7-month-old baby boy in New Jersey, really loved about it was how versatile it is—it can be worn over the shoulder, as a crossbody bag or as a backpack. “I think the coolest thing about this diaper bag is that it can be worn in three different stylish ways!" she raves, adding that it’s very comfortable to wear. “As someone who is known to slouch, I feel like it even helped my posture when I wore it as a backpack—I really appreciated the padded adjustable straps. I also loved using it as a cross-body bag for a more stylish look.”
The bag also comes with a changing pad as well as a top handle so you can hang it from a stroller. In terms of storage, it can fit pretty much all of your daily needs. “The bag is very spacious for every day usage. It easily fits toys, several bottles, a can of formula, bibs, diapers, butt cream, wipes, an extra outfit! However, I did need to pack an extra bag when going somewhere overnight in order to fit extra necessities such as a sound machine, sleep sack, etc.” Liana also noted that while the bag and enough space and pockets to fit everything she needed for her son, it didn't quite allow any extra room for her own items. “I do wish the front pocket was a bit more spacious. It was not easy to fit items in there once the bag was packed up with everything I needed.” Other cool features include metal feet on the bottom (so your bag doesn’t have to touch the questionable bathroom floor at Target), plus over 20 color options to choose from including go-with-everything neutrals and look-at-me shimmering shades.
6. Skip Hop Forma Backpack Diaper Bag
One of the lightest bags on the market (it weighs just 1.4 pounds), this budget-friendly pick packs a powerful punch with its eight pockets, two packing cubes, included changing pad (that's slightly narrower than most others on the list but does the job) and built-in stroller straps.
“It's very simple and structured,” says PureWow’s Operations Director and mom-of-one Rachel Gulmi. “I wanted something that was unisex so both me and my husband could use it and I actually like that it doesn't overtly look like a diaper bag. The fabric is nice and heavy—it can definitely stand up to being thrown around.”
When it comes to storage, the Forma has a lot to offer although Gulmi notes that it’s best suited for organized types. “There's a sleeve for a laptop and it has a bunch of different pockets. It comes with two packing cubes that fit in the front pocket which are super useful for keeping things organized. I think to use this diaper bag you need to be a good packer because if you are the type to just throw stuff in then you probably won't be able to fit as much as you could if you were more strategic about it. You can for sure fit all the basics like extra clothes, wipes, diapers, bibs/burp cloths, a bottle, cell phone, small toys, etc.”
Gulmi also loves the fact that it’s super comfy (“even when I had it packed out, my back never felt like I was holding too much or it was sagging down” and that it stands open on its own. “You can place it down, open the main flap and use one hand to dig around for stuff as opposed to having to hold it open.” And to top it off, doula Hall says it’s a great pick, noting that it’s an “affordable and feature-packed backpack with multiple compartments, stroller attachments and a changing pad.”
7. Dagne Dover Indi Diaper Backpack
Another sleek pick that doesn’t look or feel like a diaper bag, the Dagne Dover features 10 pockets (including a magnetic-closure pocket on the front and a padded Velcro-closure one on the back for your laptop or tablet) and two extra zippered bags (one smaller neoprene one that our tester used for hand sanitizer and tissues, and a larger waterproof bag for soiled items). It also comes with multiple hooks and fobs so you can clip it on to your stroller or add other items to it (like pacifiers and toys).
PureWow Executive Editor and mom-of-two Alexia Dellner says this has been her favorite diaper bag out of all the ones she’s tried. “I’ve had a few diaper bags over the years, but this one is a clear winner for both me and my husband. There’s tons of space inside to fit everything you need (I can fit all my 1-year-old’s diaper stuff in there, plus snacks, toys and spare clothes for my 4-year-old) and it’s nice-looking enough that I can definitely see myself using it after my youngest is out of diapers. It’s also so comfortable to wear, thanks to the padded straps and super soft material. While I haven’t had any issues so far, I do worry that the material will stain if, say, a blueberry pouch were to explode all over it. But the brand says the bag can be washed with a mild detergent in cold water so should hopefully not be an issue.”
The bag also gets doula Hall’s seal of approval. “[It’s] stylish and functional, with ample compartments and thoughtful features,” she tells us.
The bag comes in three sizes—small, medium and large—depending on your needs. While Dellner tried the medium size, the small (10 x 6 x 11 inches) would be great for older kids and don’t need to lug around as much stuff. The two larger sizes come with a luggage sleeve (because when it comes to traveling with kids, we’ll take all the help we can get). It’s also available in five colorways.
What to Look for in a Diaper Bag
The Best Baby Carriers, Tested and Approved by Parents
Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
