Any mom out there knows that packing a diaper bag is an art.  Diaper bags after all, are basically just mini, on-the-go, command centers, am I right?  Right.

To be honest, it can be a little overwhelming.  You want to be sure that the diaper bag is well packed with all the essentials, but not over packed such that it’s too bulky and heavy to even be practical.  And of course, it must be organized well enough to actually get to the thing you need when you need it because nobody has time to dump the whole bag just to find the wipes.

Before having our littlest, I had mostly gotten out of the habit of carrying a properly packed diaper bag.  I simply made sure to have some snacks, an extra diaper, and some wipes in my own bag and we were good to go.

But, now that I’ve got both a [potty-training!] toddler and a little one in tow these days, I have once again had to learn the art of packing a diaper bag.  And today, I’m sharing with you just what’s in my diaper bag for the boys.

This post is sponsored by Baby K’tan and contains affiliate links.  All experiences and opinions are mine.  See disclosure for more info.

Diaper Bag Essentials for Toddler and Baby

First things first – I should acknowledge that packing the PERFECT diaper bag is a little bit of trial and error.  All kids are different.  Every mama is different.  And we all have different lifestyles and places we go with our kids.

So, your diaper bag will most likely look a little bit different from mine and that’s okay.  My hope is to give you a good starting point for packing your own diaper bag – efficiently and practically so you can enjoy your time out with your little ones.  That’s the whole point of this anyway.

The Right Bag: Baby K’tan Diaper Bag

Now, before we get to the list, I want to share my actual diaper bag.  I’ve been using the Baby K’tan diaper bag and it’s been really useful with the boys.  I’ve written before about how much I love their Weekender Bag for traveling, but the diaper bag is just right for everyday.

It’s lightweight so it’s easy to carry and had lots of great pockets and storage compartments to keep everything organized (14 compartments total – including 2 that are insulated for bottles).  With a separate key clip so I don’t loose my keys.  And stroller clips for our walks.

It’s even got a great wet bag feature that I absolutely love.  I was carrying around separate wet bags before this bag and it’s so nice to just have it built right in.  I also really like that I can wear it with the shorter shoulder straps or cross-body if I need.

And finally, my favorite part – it’s machine washable, so it’s really practical for everyday use since you can just toss it right in the wash if it gets messy.

Now – I’ll show you just what’s inside and how I pack it all together.

What’s Inside My Diaper Bag – For My Baby

Our guy has just recently turned 6 months and this is what we pack for him.  I think most of it is applicable for newborns too though, except baby food.  Newborns don’t eat sweet potatoes.

Diapers + Wipes

Because it’s a diaper bag.  And the baby wears diapers.  I try to keep 4-5 in the bag when I’m out, which is almost always too many, but you just never know.  And wipes because again, these are the very basics.

Changing Pad

So, before I had kids, I always saw the changing stations in bathrooms and assumed all places had these.  Well, that’s actually not the case.  You’d be surprised how many places don’t have a place to change baby’s diaper.  Having a changing pad in your bag makes sure you always have a clean surface to change baby (in the car, at the park, you can use it on top of the changing station if you want…).  The Baby K’tan diaper bag includes an anti-bacterial changing pad that easily wipes down after use.  It’s not bulky so it fits in the bag easily and makes those away from home diaper changes a little bit easier.

Extra Clothes

And since we’re talking about diapers, I’m thinking about messes.  Make sure you have an extra outfit (or two) for baby.  Even while I’m writing this post I was reminded of this when we were all out at Chick-Fil-A recently.  The littlest had a dirty diaper that ended in a dirty onesie and guess who was unprepared.  [ugh.]

I even said to Hubs – “Just look in the bag.  He should have another outfit in there.”  So anyway, lesson learned.  My sweet baby spent the rest of dinner in a very clean diaper and wrapped up in his swaddle blanket.  Mom of the year, right here.

Baby Carrier

I do not leave the house without our Baby K’tan carrier.  I’ve written before about how helpful it is to have especially with two little ones, but I so wish I used it more with Little, too.  There is no way I could take both boys out unless I was wearing the littlest.  Fortunately, my Baby K’tan carrier folds up nicely right into itself (the sash becomes a pouch) and it fits easily into my bag – although to be fair.  It’s not often actually IN the bag, since I’m usually wearing it.  When I’m heading out though, I just stick it right on top of everything.

Sun Hat

I keep baby’s sun hat in our bag also to protect his sweet little head and face when we are out during the day.

Burp Cloth

I always keep a burp cloth handy because spit up can happen anywhere.  You just never know, so it’s a good idea to have it on hand.

Swaddle Blanket

The swaddle blanket is maybe a not so obvious thing to keep in the bag, but let me tell you, it comes in handy.  [Case in point – Chick-Fil-A disaster detailed above.]  I also use it for a nursing cover rather than packing a separate nursing cover.

Baby Food + Spoon + Bib

Our littlest has just started eating solid foods, so I always make sure to keep some food in the bag for him when we’re out.  It makes things much easier if we end up stopping at a restaurant.

I also make sure to keep a little spoon and bib on hand for feeding said baby food.

Teething Toy + Other Baby Toys

Another thing that I’ve made the mistake of leaving without.  I always make sure that baby has a teething toy in the car seat with him when we travel and I keep one on hand in my diaper bag.  These are super helpful to keep baby happy and occupied when you’re out and about. Baby’s current favorites are his apple shaped teether, his blue elephant teether, and his “crinkly books” with the little teething corners.  [All of which are perfect for the diaper bag.]

What’s Inside My Diaper Bag – For My Toddler

Our big guy is almost three and potty trained.  If you’re toddler isn’t potty trained yet, just swap underwear for diapers here.

Extra Underwear + Change of Clothes

Thankfully, Little hasn’t had any public accidents, but I like to keep back-up undies and pants in our bag for him just in case.  Especially if your little one is recently potty-trained, you want to be prepared for anything.

Water Bottle

To be fair, Little almost always keeps his water bottle with him, but I’m adding it on the list, because it’s on my mental checklist when I’m getting our diaper bag ready to leave the house.

Snacks

If you have a toddler or preschooler, you know this.  Always have snacks and extra snacks.  We usually have any variation of fruit snacks, Goldfish, pretzels, chewy bars, and pouches in our bag.

Book + Small Toy

Little usually picks a toy to have in his car seat when we travel, but I still try to keep something in the diaper bag for him just in case.  Usually, this is a small book (usually from the kids’ meals at Chick-Fil-A…) and a small toy like a car or animal that can keep him occupied if we’re ever out and he’s getting antsy.

What’s Inside My Diaper Bag – First Aid

Sunscreen

To keep everyone’s skin safe when we play outdoors.  I keep a small little travel size with me all the time so I don’t have to remember it when we go out.

Band-aids

Just in case.

Hand Sanitizer

I always keep a travel size nearby because there are messes everywhere.  And we like messes, but we also like clean hands afterwards.

Hand & Face Wipes

I love these little wipes to keep hands and faces clean.  I try not to use the hand sanitizer on baby because he puts his hands in his face so often, I know he would get a fresh taste of alcohol if I used the sanitizer on his hands.

Baby Nail Clippers

To be honest, these don’t get a ton of use from the diaper bag, but baby’s nails grow so quickly and if I notice that he’s scratching himself, I like to have them handy to be able to clip those little nails if I need to.

What’s Inside My Diaper Bag – For Myself

And finally – the fact is, as a mom, the diaper bag really becomes your purse for this season of life.  Sure.  You might not carry it out if you’re by yourself (although I have before), but you also sure are not going to carry a separate purse when you’re with your kids.  So, the bag has to hold your things too.  These are my essentials that I do not leave the house without.

Water Bottle

Ever since having kids, I keep a water bottle with me at all times.

Wallet + Phone + Keys

I actually go through this mental checklist before I leave anywhere (including getting out of the car).  “Cell phone, wallet, keys.” Check, check, and check.

*I am actually hoping to get a clutch wallet soon with a wrist strap that I can just grab and use as my purse when I’m out without the boys.

Sunglasses.

Lip Balm.

Snacks

If we’ll be gone long enough, I sneak in a bar or snack for myself.  This is of course, totally optional.  You can also munch on some of the kids’ snacks and we won’t tell anyone.

Pen/Pencil

Don’t always use it, but I like having one on hand.

What’s Not in My Bag – But Worth Considering

So, I also wanted to add these here, because even though I don’t have them in my bag – don’t forget to consider them.  Just in case.

Diaper Ointment

In case of diaper rashes.  I do keep this with me as needed, but I don’t keep it in my everyday bag.

Nursing Cover

I used to keep this in my bag, but it took up a lot of space.  And to be honest, baby doesn’t really love being covered – especially as he gets older.  So, it was becoming a hassle and I took it out.  Now, I just use the swaddle blanket if I need to nurse while we’re out.

Bottles

I don’t keep bottles either since my littlest is breastfed – and now he’s eating solids.  But, if your baby takes a bottle, make sure you have them.  (And make sure your diaper bag has insulated pockets for them to keep them warm!)

Formula Dispenser

Same as above.  If you need it, pack it.  It’s way easier to have it measured out and ready before heading out of the house.

Pacifier

I used to keep this in my bag for Little when he was a baby, but our youngest doens’t take a pacifier, so I don’t keep them around anymore.

Extra shirt for Mama

Because sometimes baby’s mess ends up on you.  I still go back and forth about whether or not I need to put this back in my bag or not.

Your Turn!

So, what do you think?  Did I miss anything?  Moms – what are your essentials for leaving the house with kids in tow?  Tell me what’s in your bag below!