Yes, You Need a Functional (Not Designer) Diaper Bag—These Are the 6 Best on the Market
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The best diaper bags house everything moms and little ones need on the go. These bags have become an essential part of your daily life, and that’s why it’s necessary to select one that satisfies your needs. Diaper bags come in a variety of styles — from backpacks to totes and even traditional bags — there’s a bag for every mom. Aside from holding the essentials: Diapers, wipes, blankets, you also want it to include accessories like a changing pad for unexpected blowouts. To help, we spoke with experts to learn how to select the best diaper bags ahead, plus six options to shop.
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Best Diaper Bags at a Glance
Best Overall: Kipling Camama Diaper Bag, $189
Best Diaper Bag Backpack: Ruvalino Diaper Bag Backpack, $32
Most Affordable: SoHo Tote Diaper Bag, $40
Best Tote Diaper Bag: Skip Hop Mainframe Wide Open Diaper Backpack, $64
Best Multi Use Diaper Bag: Original Bogg Bag, $90
Best New Diaper Bag: Lululemon New Parent Backpack 17L, $198
What to Look for in a Diaper Bag, According to an Expert
Since your diaper bag is used frequently, purchasing one that’s easy to clean is important. “We all love our designer bags, but sitting them down on the floor gets them dirty,” Kim Vaccarella, CEO and founder of Bogg Bags, tells SheKnows. “You also don’t want milk spilling in it.” That’s why it’s important to wait to purchase a designer diaper bag. “Bogg Bags are crafted with anti-microbial materials that are easy to clean and keep sanitized,” she says.
Also, look for diaper bags that have a good amount of space to hold your items. You don’t want to seek out bags that have narrow or compact silhouettes because bottles and bulky blankets won’t fit inside. Instead, consider options with wider zippered openings or totes.
Do You Really Need a Specific Diaper Bag?
A diaper bag does make it easy to access everything you need on the fly, but don’t let that scare you away from other options, especially if you find something that catches your eye. We’re seeing more and more tote-like designs from brands like Skip Hop and Kipling, and a surging amount of popular backpacks like Lululemon’s best-selling backpacks.
What Makes a Diaper Bag a…Diaper Bag?
Typically diaper bags are characterized by long carrying straps and compartments for bottles, wipes, and other essentials. Before modern designs hit the market, these bags often had storybook characters and other designs. Now, there are plenty of chic and minimal designs to purchase. Diaper bags also come in a variety of styles.
Is a Designer Diaper Bag Worth It?
While it seems like a right of passage to treat yourself (and your baby) to a designer diaper bag, it isn’t always practical. Sure, a high-end diaper bag is fun for a new mom, but after scouring the Internet for advice from veteran parents and experts, it’s best to have an everyday bag that you don’t mind scuffing up. “All of my friends and I made this mistake: the second we found out we were pregnant we started looking for fancy diaper bags. Resist the urge to do this!” CorporetteMoms said. “At least until after the kiddo is born and you’ve been using a diaper bag for a little bit of time and have a better sense of your needs (and the level of grossness that often comes with babies).”
What Age Do Babies Stop Using Diaper Bags?
Diaper bags are best used from infancy through the toddler years, but once your child is pretty trained, there’s really no use for one. Of course, you can opt to leave a bag in your car or stroller in case of emergencies, but if your child no longer has use for bottles, diapers, and wipes, you no longer need a diaper bag. That’s where non-traditional diaper bags come in: Think totes and backpacks that can transition with you and your little bestie as they grow.
If you’re on the search for a diaper bag, scroll ahead to shop six of the best options on the market.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Kipling is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
BEST OVERALL
Kipling Camama Diaper Bag
$189
The Kipling Camama Diaper Bag is our best overall pick. The bag has a roomy tote design, paired with a removable bottle holder and a pacifier pouch to keep your baby’s most essential items safe. The diaper bag also has a changing pad that’s easy to clean. Plus, there’s plenty of interior room for diapers, toys, extra clothes, blankets, and more.
Dimensions: 17.25″ x 11″ x 11″
Colorways: 2
Pocket situation: Front and sides
Weight: 2.11 lbs
Style: Tote
Stroller hooks? Yes
Changing pad? Yes
How to wash: Machine, do not dry
Pros:
Removable bottle holder
Pacifier pouch
Spacious
Cons:
Expensive
BEST DIAPER BAG BACKPACK
Ruvalino Diaper Bag Backpack
$31.99 $89.99 64% off
Amazon is a great place to find affordable diaper bags. And if you’re looking for a backpack style, look no further! Over 3,000 shoppers have purchased this $32 bag this month, and it’s racked up over 14,000 five-star reviews. The backpack offers big zipper-closure compartments to hold everything you need to get out of the house. It also features 16 pockets and insulated bottle pockets that fit wide-neck or tall baby bottles.
Dimensions: 11.8” x 7.8” x 16.5”
Colorways: 15
Pocket situation: Front
Weight: 1.78 lbs
Style: Backpack
Stroller hooks? No
Changing pad? Yes
How to wash: Spot clean or hand wash cold, dry flat
Pros:
Water resistant
Shoppers like its functionality
Durable
Cons:
Bulkier design
MOST AFFORDABLE
SoHo Tote Diaper Bag
$40
The SoHo Tote Diaper Bag is an affordable and stylish traditional diaper bag. The lightweight bag has 11 pockets to keep diapers and other items organized, plus eight other accessories like a wipe holder, changing pad, and more.
Dimensions: 14.8″ x 14.8″ x 5.4″
Colorways: 1
Pocket situation: Front and sides
Weight: N/A
Style: Traditional bag
Stroller hooks? No
Changing pad? Yes
How to wash: Spot clean
Pros:
Makes an excellent baby shower gift
Includes 8 pieces
Cons:
Straps are shorter
BEST TOTE DIAPER BAG
Skip Hop Mainframe Diaper Backpack
$64
Shoppers call the Skip Hop Mainframe Diaper Backpack “worth it.” The bag boasts a main compartment with structured frame opening and zip closure, two insulated side bottle pockets, and built-in stroller straps.
“Absolutely amazing!” the same reviewer shared. “So spacious on the inside yet small altogether! The straps are so comfortable and the material is so easy to wipe. I am in love and wish I found this sooner! Looks better in person than online! Cheaper option to the higher end “look and feel”
Dimensions: 15″ x 15″ x 7″
Colorways: 3
Pocket situation: Front and sides
Weight: 1.8 lbs
Style: Tote
Stroller hooks? Yes
Changing pad? Yes
How to wash: Air dry, spot or wipe clean
Pros:
Minimal design
High end look for less
Cons:
Some shoppers report the zipper broke easily
BEST MULTI USE DIAPER BAG
Original Bogg Bag
$90
Bogg Bags are known for their impressive space and durable design. Did you know there are a handful of uses for the bag, including packing all of your baby’s items into it? We love our Bogg Bags for toting all of the toys to the beach or packing the kids’ spriting goods into it, but using it as a diaper bag is a genius! Vaccarella created the bags with moms in mind — they’re easy to clean and grow with your family. While the turquoise shade is the brand’s bestseller, there’s new neutral tones you can choose. Better yet, you can purchase organizers for more compartments into the bag or neatly pack diapers, clothes, blankets, and wipes in more into it.
Dimensions: 19″ x 9″ x 14″
Colorways: 45
Pocket situation: None
Weight: 5lbs
Style: Tote
Stroller hooks? No
Changing pad? No
How to wash: Wipe clean
Pros:
Durable
Suitable diaper bag for all stages
Extra accessories available for purchase
Cons:
No included changing pad
BEST NEW DIAPER BAG
Lululemon New Parent Backpack 17L
$198
Lululemon’s bags are known for going viral, and it’s only a matter of time before the New Parent Backpack will join the ranks, along with the brand’s popular backpacks and belt bags. This bag is specifically made for parents and includes multiple pickets to keep creams, diapers, clothes, and more organized.
Dimensions: 12.2″ x 7.9″ x 15.7″
Colorways: 2
Pocket situation: Front
Weight: 2 lbs
Style: Backpack
Stroller hooks? Yes, straps clip around stroller handle
Changing pad? Yes
How to wash: Spot clean, do not dry
Pros:
Lightweight
Easily hooks onto stroller
Comes with pouch and changing pad
Cons:
Pricey
Experts in This Article
Kim Vaccarella: CEO and founder of Bogg Bags
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