Traveling with a newborn or infant can be one of the most difficult things new parents are faced with. First, you’ll need to pack a lot of stuff, then you’ll have to be super patient and attentive all the time. Well, the first part is easier and that’s where diaper bags come in.
As any seasoned parent will tell you, the best diaper bags for traveling can be the single most important companion for traveling with a baby. It has to be functional, practical, aesthetically pleasing, and big enough to contain not just all your baby gear but also some of your most important items such as your passport and travel documents.
With the plethora of options available, finding the right one can be a challenge. However, we have rounded up the best travel diaper bags and the criteria for choosing the right one.
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Features to look for in a great diaper bag for travel
A diaper bag is one of the travel essentials for parents traveling with their infants. And with a well-built and functional diaper bag, you will have all your baby’s stuff in one place where they can be quickly retrieved when needed, which will make your journey a lot less messy and stressful.
The perfect baby diaper bag for you will depend mostly on your personal preference, however, there are certain features that cannot be compromised on, like bag quality and carrying comfort.
Other important points to consider when looking for a travel diaper bag should include the capacity of the bag, the weight when packed full, accessibility options, pockets and insulated compartments, etc. Before we dive deeper into the features to look for in the ideal diaper, let’s explore our list of the best travel diaper bags with reviews on what makes them great.
Best Diaper Bag For Traveling
- Skip Hop Diaper Bag Backpack
- HaloVa Multi-Function Traveling Diaper Bag
- Kaome Diaper Durable Traveling Bag Backpack
- Skip Hop Weekender Travel Diaper Bag
- MOMMY BAG Baby Diaper Traveling Bag
- Ruvalino Multifunction Travel Diaper Bag Backpack
- Vogshow Waterproof Diaper Traveling Bag
- Hap Tim Diaper Bag Travel Backpack
- Bamomby Multifunction Travel Diaper Bag
- Ecosusi Diaper Bag Traveling Backpack
1. Skip Hop Diaper Bag Backpack
This quilted Skip Hop Diaper bag is a hands-free travel backpack with a spacious interior and special packing cubes for organizing your baby’s essentials.
It has a total of 12 pockets which is enough to pack everything your baby needs from diapers and snacks to spare outfits and food. There are insulated side pockets to preserve the freshness of your baby’s food, and an included cushioned changing pad provides a clean sheet for changing diapers.The changing pad pocket doubles as a laptop sleeve and can comfortably contain up to a 17” laptop. For carrying comfort, this diaper bag features well-padded shoulder straps and stroller straps for hanging on a baby stroller while navigating a busy airport terminal.
- Great convertible diaper bag with enough room for everything
- Comfortable to wear and easy to carry
- Has a generous amount of pocket with packing cubes
- Made with quality material, Phthalate and PVC-free
- The shoulder straps do not have enough padding
- This bag cannot carry a lot of weight
2. HaloVa Multi-Function Traveling Diaper Bag
This bag from HaloVa is a practical and versatile diaper bag backpack designed for the parent who loves to stay organized when traveling with baby.
The bag has a large main compartment with a plethora of inner pockets, including insulated pockets for up to 3 milk bottles. It’s made with high-quality water-proof fabric, has an excellent gold-coated outer zipper and easy access pockets with quality interior lining.
The HaloVa diaper bag also has different options for versatility and carrying comfort; top carry handles make it a handbag and with the nice shoulder strap it becomes a snug-fitting backpack.
- Has plenty of pockets with insulated bottle compartments
- Nice and easy to clean interior lining
- It maintains its shape and does not slouch when fully packed
- Exterior water-resistant fabric feels thick and durable
- The straps are too short
- The inner pockets are not very solid
3. Kaome Diaper Durable Traveling Bag Backpack
This Kaome product is another excellent diaper backpack with a large capacity for carrying all your baby’s essentials during your travels. It’s made with a quality waterproof and tear-resistant fabric for durability.The main access to the bag is via a sturdy double zipper closure, and it features up to 15 separate pockets to enable easy packing and organization. Among these pockets is an insulated bottle holder, leakproof pockets for wet clothes and towels pockets for dry clothes, diapers, wipes, snacks, toys, extras, an anti-theft pocket, etc. virtually everything your little one needs has a place in this bag. And for added convenience, it has stroller strap and hook for attaching it to your baby stroller, and the backpack carrying style makes it a hands-free bag.
- Has enough pockets to contain all your baby items
- The fabric is waterproof and easy to wipe clean
- It’s comfortable to wear as a backpack
- It’s stylishly-made and looks lovely
- The shoulder straps are a bit too small
- The front pocket for bottles doesn’t fit standard Avent bottles
4. Skip Hop Weekender Travel Diaper Bag
With two multipurpose packing cubes, extra zippered and open pockets, and back slides that attach to rolling luggage, the Skip Hop Weekender travel diaper bag ensures you conveniently travel with your baby stuff.
It has insulated side pockets for storing two baby bottles, a separate smartphone pocket and a spacious main compartment with a drawbridge-style opening for easy access to the contents of the bag. The Skip Hop Weekender is an elegant family diaper bag made with quality material and can be toted around or carried like a handbag.
- Elegant and beautifully-made with quality material
- Easy to open and close with one hand
- Comes with a machine-washable changing pad
- Unisex design for both mom and dad
- Pricey diaper bag
- Shoulder straps could be longer
5. MOMMY BAG Baby Diaper Traveling Bag
If you want a simple and practical diaper bag for travel, hospital visits, or daycare, then this Mommy Bag is a great option for you.
This shoulder bag is designed for durability and functionality, with sturdy water-repellent nylon and a large capacity for seamlessly holding all your baby’s essentials. To aid the organization, it has interior elastic bands and partitions, and exterior pockets with quality zipper openings.
The Mommy travel diaper bag has leather straps for easy carry and slides that attach to rolling luggage for easily navigating crowded airports. And it comes in five different colors; pink, navy, gray, off-white, and black, so you get to pick one that perfectly fits your style.
- Very spacious baby diaper bags
- Durable and water-resistant fabric
- Elegant and functional design
- Easy to clean and comfortable to carry
- Zipper tends to get stuck
- Very expensive for a diaper bag
6. Ruvalino Multifunction Travel Diaper Bag Backpack
The Ruvalino backpack is a conveniently designed travel diaper bag for backpacking your baby gear when out with your little one.
It’s a sturdily-built bag with a breathable and durable fabric. Designed for functionality, it comes with 16 separate pockets including a large main compartment, insulated bottle pockets, and other smaller interior and exterior storage compartments for easy organization, plus an added changing pad.
An extra-wide zipper enables easy access into the bag for quickly finding stored items. The Ruvalino multi-function best diaper bag backpack isn’t just for your baby, the padded laptop compartment means you can still find it useful even after your toddler is grown.
- Large capacity with enough pockets
- Water-resistant and durable fabric
- Comfortable backpack carrying style
- Great for both mom and dad
- No stroller straps
- Not machine-washable
- Carry straps are somewhat fragile
7. Vogshow Waterproof Diaper Traveling Bag
Designed for the fashionable parent, the Vogshow traveling bag is a versatile travel diaper bag that doesn’t look like one. It’s elegant and beautiful with an exterior waterproof fabric and can be carried as a tote diaper bag, handbag, cross-body bag, or backpack.
Although it looks nothing like a diaper bag, it has all the features you’d want in one; a large main compartment with 13 pockets including three insulated pockets for bottles, a leaf-proof pocket for wet clothes, a mesh pocket for bibs, two side pockets for tissue and snacks, an anti-theft back pocket, a 14” laptop compartment, etc.
It’s designed for versatility and functionality, with thick-padded shoulder strap for carrying comfort and stroller straps that attaches to a stroller, luggage or shopping cart for convenience.
- Large but non-bulky design
- Waterproof and durable polyester fabric
- Different carrying styles for comfort
- Enough pockets for organization
- The bag has 3 separate latches which can be difficult to open and close
8. Hap Tim Diaper Bag Travel Backpack
Another excellent travel diaper bag backpack with multiple storage pockets is the HapTim backpack for new parents. It’s durable and built to last with high-quality polyester fabric and a beautiful unisex design for both mom and dad.
The HapTim diaper backpack comes with large double compartments and extra 18 pockets for easily storing baby items. It has insulated thermos pockets with waterproof liner for baby food, and pockets for breast milk pumps, tissue, wipes, fruits, snacks, etc.
As a hands-free diaper bag, it has two stroller straps for hanging on the baby stroller, and padded backpack straps for even weight distribution.
- It has sufficient storage space for all your baby items
- The padded shoulder straps are comfortable
- The spectra pump fits in the bottom compartment
- The zippers slide smoothly and easy to open and close
- It’s slightly heavy when empty
9. Bamomby Multifunction Travel Diaper Bag
The Bamomby multifunction travel diaper backpack is a great choice for both mommy and daddy, its stylish gray color and unisex design fits both parents. This large capacity backpack diaper bag is designed to contain not just all your baby stuff, but it also has enough space for some of your stuff too.
Well-organized and spacious two main compartments with 5 insulated bottle pockets for milk bottles or baby food, a pocket for wipes, a key loop, a padded 15.6” laptop pocket and a multifunction changing pad. This bag is made to last long with a sturdy zipper, solid lining, tear-resistant and waterproof fabric. And for convenient carry, it has well-cushioned straps, easy-grab top handle, and stroller clips.
- Very comfortable carry straps and excellent carry-on luggage
- Plenty of pockets for organizing your stuff
- Sturdy zippers and high-quality polyester material
- Comes with a nice diaper changing pad
- Durability is a concern as the stroller straps tend to come off after a couple of uses
10. Ecosusi Diaper Bag Traveling Backpack
The Ecosusi travel diaper bag is a lightweight polyester backpack with enough storage space to contain all your baby stuff. It has a main compartment that opens fully for easy access, insulated side pockets for keeping baby food warm or cool and can contain up to 4 baby bottles, and special back pockets for stuffing small items.
For versatility, this diaper bag can be carried as a handbag using the top handle, a backpack using extra-wide padded backpack straps, or can be attached to a stroller with the detachable stroller hook. The Ecosusi diaper bag backpack also comes with a cushioned changing pad for convenient diaper change on a clean surface.
- Very functional and comfortable to carry
- Lightweight and made with quality material
- Roomy interior with lots of pockets
- Included diaper changing pad
- Exterior mesh pocket for parents water bottle would be nice
Buyer Guide & FAQs
Different types of travel baby diaper bags
At the very core, most travel baby bags are the same in that they provide you with space for your baby essentials. There are about a tonne of baby bags on the market and each product has some features, however, they can be loosely put in different groups depending on how they can be carried. Here’s a quick rundown of the types of travel baby bags.
Tote-style diaper bags: these are diaper bags that are like tote bags and are carried on one shoulder with the aid of carrying straps. They tend to be very spacious and functional, but the problem with this tote-style diaper bag is the weight. A diaper can get really heavy when packed full, and a heavy tote-style or handbag diaper bag will be uncomfortable to carry for a long period of time.
Cross-body or Messenger bag: these are baby travel bags that can be worn across the body with a long strap. It’s easier to carry than a tote or handbag, and you can comfortably carry one for hours without feeling much discomfort.
Backpack diaper bags: this type of diaper bag tends to be the most convenient, but that will also depend on your personal preference. Large diaper bag backpacks are better at evenly distributing weight across your shoulder and back, plus they are also hands-free. Many backpack-style travel diaper bags come with stroller clips for attaching to a stroller or rolling luggage.
Multifunction diaper bags: these are convertible diaper bags that can be carried in different ways, they have multiple straps and can be carried as a tote, cross-body bag, handbag or backpack. This type of travel baby bag is super convenient because you can change up the carrying style to suit different situations.
Choosing the ideal travel baby bag: key points for consideration before buying
Size and weight
Every parent knows that babies need a lot of stuff and when packing to travel with a baby, you need a bag that is at least big enough to contain all your essential baby items. The ideal travel diaper bag should be lightweight and compact enough to pass as an airplane carry-on, but at the same it should be roomy with a good number of smaller pockets to fit in specific items for better organization.
Carrying Comfort
Your travel diaper bag will be mobile and follow you to places, therefore it should be comfortable to carry with cushioned or padded straps. If the straps of your baby bag are too narrow and thin, this will be uncomfortable because they will dig into your skin under the weight of all your baby stuff. Also, the straps should be long enough and easily adjustable to enable customization and better fitting.
Easy Access
When on-the-go with an infant who needs attention every single time, you should at least have a companion bag that you can reach into with one hand to quickly grab a snack, bib, diaper or any other item you need at any given time. For a bag to be easily accessible, it should have sturdy zippers that glide smoothly and open with one hand or magnetic closures and click-clack buttons.
Number of pockets
A good diaper bag should have a major compartment with other smaller compartments and pockets to aid load organization and finding items quickly. The pockets should also be easy to dig into and find things quickly, it’s also better to have light-colored linings, so you can see the contents of each pocket at a glance. Some diaper bags also come with insulated side bottle pockets, zip pockets for cell phone, etc.
Easy to Clean
Your baby bag is bound to get dirty at some point and will require cleaning, and this should be easy enough for you to do. Imagine that you have spilled baby formula or crushed snacks, in a situation like this, you should be able to easily wipe the bag with a damp cloth without any hassle. And if the bag needs thorough cleaning, the washing with soapy water should be easy. It’s even better if the bag is machine-washable.
Material and durability
Ideally, a diaper bag should last for as long as your baby needs it and eventually outgrows the need for one. It’s even better if it lasts for more than one baby. To get a sturdy and durable bag that will serve you for years, it’s important to pay attention to the exterior fabric, inner linings, zippers and closures, seams and straps, etc. Every part of the bag should look and feel solid.
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What should I pack in a diaper bag for international travel?
Babies need a lot of stuff, and if you’re taking a long flight, then you need to pack even more supplies in your diaper bag to last for the duration of the flight. Here’s a list of essential baby items to pack for your long international flights:
- Enough diapers, diaper cream, baby wipes, bibs, burp cloths
- Pacifier, soothing toys, travel snacks, a sippy cup
- Blankets for wrapping your baby, plastic bags for disposing used diapers
- Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes for cleaning surfaces
- A changing pad for diaper changes, a change of clothes for your baby
- Milk bottles, expressed breast milk or baby formula – in an insulated breastmilk cooler bag with ice packs
- Portable breast milk pump if you’re a pumping mum
- Nursing cover if you’ll be nursing on the plane
- Infant medication, passports and other travel documents.
FAQs
How is a diaper bag different from a regular bag?
Both a diaper bag and a regular bag will have a major compartment with smaller pockets. However, diaper bags usually have more pockets and special pockets for certain items like leakproof pockets for storing wet clothes or soiled towels, insulated pockets for keeping baby food fresh, integrated wipe dispenser, a sleeve for changing pad, etc. The special pockets in a diaper bag differentiates it from regular bags.
Can I take my diaper bag on a plane?
Yes, most airlines do not count a diaper bag as part of a passenger’s carry-on allowance. If you’re travelling with an infant, you will be allowed to carry your baby’s diaper bag as a personal item.
Do diaper bags need to be insulated?
No, diaper bags don’t need to be insulated. But some diaper bags have insulated pockets for storing baby food or milk to keep it warm or cool. If a diaper doesn’t have an insulated pouch, you can pack a small breastmilk cooler bag in a diaper bag when traveling.
Are diaper bags washable?
Yes, diaper bags can and should be washed when they get dirty. Some diaper bags are machine-washable, but some are not and will need to be washed in the sink with warm soapy water. Before washing your diaper, make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to care for it to ensure you don’t mistakenly damage the product.
Final Thoughts
The best diaper bag for your growing family will save you so much stress while traveling with your infant. Whether it’s for a day trip, a weekend long trip or a much-longer journey, you need a diaper bag with enough space to contain all the important stuff, plus quick-access compartments and special side pockets and zipper pockets for specific items.
The Ecosusi travel diaper bag is an excellent choice with a sturdy build, very roomy interior and special pockets. However, anyone on the above list of our best diaper bags is a great choice and will most certainly serve you for a significant period of time.