The diaper bag is one of my favorite baby essentials. Even though it’s a crucial item for both baby and mom, (and dad) I am usually the one who ends up wearing it everyday!
Because of such, mommy typically ends up intimately familiar with the diaper bag and the various pockets (or lack thereof).
Once baby is born, it’s a race to ditch your purse, and switch to a diaper bag. After all, you need to be prepared whenever you go out with your baby (it’s a warzone out there). And the diaper bag will accompany you and your baby for a long time, so getting it right matters!
I personally have used 4 diaper bags so far. Please don’t judge me — it’s just like how you might own more than one purse in your life. Have mercy on me I love diaper bags!
Recently, there are so many innovated and good looking diaper bags out there. It’s like they’ve disguised themselves to no longer appear like the vintage clunky diaper bags of yesteryear.
And at the same time they all seem to be getting more and more functional than the old school traditional diaper bags I’m used to.
The 4 diaper bags I owned are all awesome — different and unique in their own special ways.
Included with those I own, there are 3 additional diaper bags that made my list which I do not own…
Yet…I should say I don’t own them yet (yes, I have a problem, we’ve established that), but they are diaper bags I’m targeting to purchase in the near term (once I win the lottery). Here’s my run down.
Amy Baby’s Top Pick Diaper Bags
1. The Capri from Elkie & Co – Best Everyday Diaper Bag
Key Features:
Material: Matte vegan microfiber leather, water/stain resistant interior lining
Dimensions: 14H x 11W x 6D
Weight: 2.5 lbs
Storage:
8 interior pockets
2 interior insulated bottle pockets
6 exterior pockets
Regular Price:
$179.00
What do I Love About Capri:
I have used this diaper bag for about 3 years. It’s durable, stylish, and easy to clean. I almost never needed to scrub the exterior, it stays so polished looking. I’ve wiped the interior space a few times as bottles or milk inevitably spills in the bag. Just simply wipe clean with a wetted rag and you’re set to jet.
It is just about the right size for one baby. Not too big, not too small. This is my textbook everyday diaper bag. I love using it day in and day out with my babies.
What to Consider:
If you have more than one young kid in diapers, the Capri can sometimes be a little small depending on what you plan on packing.
2. Kibou Bag – Best Crossbody Diaper Bag
Key Features:
Material: Vegan leather and nylon liner
Dimensions: 11″W x 6″H x 4″D
Weight: 15 ounces
Storage:
Total 4 pockets (one water proofed pocket for wipes and a pocket for a removable changing pad)
Comes with a changing mat
Regular Price:
$89.00 – $98.00
What do I Love About Kibou Bag:
Carry it everywhere!
Since 2024, I have been obsessed with cross-body bags. Why? Well, my babies turned into toddlers.
I guess the younger one is still technically a baby but he is officially mobile. That small growth stage changed everything.
I now need to chase them and play with them all the time! It’s cumbersome and uncomfortable to wear a bulky diaper bag down a slide with my toddler. But I don’t feel safe to just leave my diaper bag on the ground with my wallet inside.
So I eventually fell in love with the cross-body bag. I can put my phone and wallet in the bag while wearing it and still feel flexible enough to chase my babies around. Only one problem, I can’t put diapers, wipes, and a changing pad in a regular cross-body bag, right?
Wrong — that’s when I found Kibou!!! The diaper bag built with parents in mind.
You can put diapers in the bag, along with many other essentials. There is a waterproof pocket for wipes. The front pocket can fit credit cards, phones, or sunglasses. The slickest pocket is the back portion which actually includes a detachable changing pad!!!
Perfect for changing diapers in a public bathroom
Imagine changing your baby in a public bathroom. It’s so easy to access diapers, changing pad, and wipes while you are wearing the Kibou bag. Not possible with the standard backpack diaper bags.
With the traditional diaper bag, I have to get out all the things I need, then either put the diaper bag on the floor (yuckie in a public bathroom), or put it back on my back. While this is happening, I have to either carry baby one handed, or let baby stand to wait (if baby’s old enough).
Only if your baby is like my son, he won’t stand still and keep his hands to himself — preferring instead to splash water from the sink or pat down the disgusting toilet seat!
Point being, it’s hard to do. Speaking from experience! I’m sure you know it too! Kibou is wonderful because it will save you from these complicated situations.
Perfect for baby-wearing
You can’t wear a both baby and diaper bag on your back — I’ve tried, and its just not possible. Kibou solves this problem. Even if you are wearing a baby in the front, wearing a big heavy diaper bag at the back is no exhausting and strenuous.
Some baby carriers don’t have pockets or not enough storage to put all the essentials you need. Kibou is your solution.
Perfect for quick trips to grocery stores or other errands
I don’t feel like to take a whole diaper bag for a quick run to the grocery store of other things. Kibou is perfect for a short going out for anything!
Great for travel
If you are flying with a baby, put your passport or ID in a Kibou bag along with diapers and wipes. These things will be right at your hand when you need them.
If you are traveling with car, put your car keys in the Kibou bag, no need to get stressed trying find your keys during stops.
What to Consider:
Kibou is minimalist, so easy to carry. Also suitable for Dad! But I wouldn’t use it as your only diaper bag. It can’t fit one set of changing clothes, and snacks, and baby bottles plus diapers, and all the other stuff.
I like to carry a normal diaper bag with me filled with all the other stuff. Then the most needed items will be in the Kibou bag and stay close everywhere I go.
Check out my full review on Kibou bag.
3. Luna from Enya Mond – Best Stylish Travel Diaper Bag
Key Features:
Material: premium vegan leather
Dimensions: 14″x14″x7″
Weight: 3.2lb
Storage:
Total 16 pockets! (including a secure electronic sleeve)
Comes with a large changing mat
Stroller straps
Luggage pass-through (convertible to a pocket)
Regular Price:
$221.00
What do I Love About Luna:
Similar to Capri, Luna bag is also high quality and stylish! The differences are 1. Luna is bigger; 2. Luna can be put on the luggage handle. 3. Dare I say a little more sophistication with Luna.
Luna bag is really good for traveling while doing it in style. I took it to the ABC Kids Expo with my two little ones and it did not disappoint.
It was with me through the plane ride and the whole time at the Expo as well. I was impressed with how much stuff I could put in the bag!
It was intuitive to find all the right pockets and changing pad, everything has its proper place. Even though this was my first trip with Luna, I felt like like I had owned the bag for years.
And if you don’t have a lot to put inside, the sides snap together to make the it look smaller. Like many aspects of the Luna, incredibly smart design.
The Luna talks the talk and walks the walk. Or I guess a better way to put it is that Luna talks like a diaper bag, but it walks like an elegant travel bag any woman would love to own.
What to Consider:
There is nothing I dislike about this diaper bag. Unless you prefer something smaller.
4. No Reception – Best Travel Diaper Dag
Key Features:
Material:
Exterior Fabric: 100% CORDURA® Recycled Polyester (water-resistant)
Printed Lining: 100% Recycled Polyester
Odor-Resistant Black Lining (Laundry Compartment): 81% Nylon, 19% Recycled Polyester
Insulated Pocket Lining: 100% Aluminum Foil
Trim: 97% Nylon, 3% Vegetable-Tanned Leather
Dimensions: Length 22″ (56 cm) x Width 13″ (33 cm) x Depth 9″ (23 cm)
Weight: 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) when empty; 5 lbs w/ shoulder straps + The Cubby + The Laundry Sack
Pack + Stay Organized: removable packing organizer (“the Cubby”) featuring up to 5 customizable sections
5 Ways to Carry (including luggage pass through)
Capacity: 42 Liters
Regular Price:
$295.00 – $320.00
What do I Love About No Reception Bag:
Best Diaper Bag for Traveling
This is a different kind of diaper bag for sure! This bag is the ultimate diaper bag for traveling, especially for flying. Being out about with babies or toddlers for a long time,you end up needing to pack A LOT!
Stay Organized with Huge Capacity
Our little babies require so much stuff! Whenever little baby or toddler needs something, they need it NOW! Imagine you are searching where you have put the pacifier in your big diaper bag when your baby is crying loud in public… you panic, and you can’t find the pacifier when you really need it.
That’s when No Reception bag is so amazing. You can organize this huge bag in just the way you want it.
Customizable
Divide your no reception bag anyway you want with the removable divider. You can even choose not divide your bag!
What a innovative way to get organized with flexibility. You can also easily hang the no reception bag with 2 hanging strips in the closet of your hotel or Airbnb. No need to unpack your well organized baby essentials!
What to Consider:
If you are buying a diaper bag for the first time for your everyday use, this one might be too big for you. You may not have use for a lot of its functions.
Kind of like the Kibou — it does look pretty cool for Dad to use.
5. Monaco by Luli Bebe – Best Soft Structure Diaper Bag
Key Features:
Material: cruelty-free faux leather
Dimensions: 14” wide x 14” high x 7” deep
Weight: 2.8 lbs
Storage:
4 interior elastic pockets, 1 zipper compartment, 3 exterior pockets
Come with a changing pad
Stroller straps
Capacity: 22 Liters
Regular Price:
$169.00
What do I Love About Monaco:
I don’t personally own this bag, but I have friends who are using this brand. It looks very stylish and I often get a little jelly. The main differences of this bag are 1. soft vegan leather; 2. the back straps are all vegan leather.
Most diaper bags I’ve seen are in the style of keeping the shape. This one gives you a different style when you don’t have much stuff in the bag, it shapes smaller.
Kind of like how stripes are supposed to make you look thinner, the Monaco is a diaper bag masquerading as a lush backpack.
What to Consider:
The organization options are a bit on the limited side. I wish it had a big pocket at the back of the bag, to store the changing pad. If that were the case, parents wouldn’t have to unzip the bag and rifle through it looking for the changing pad (which at this point is buried underneath snacks and bottles).
6. Belle from Hannah & Sophia – Best Messenger Diaper Bag
Key Features:
Material: I can’t find the detailed information on material. It’s fabric type instead of vegan leather type of material.
Dimensions: 16″ W x 7.5” B x 12.5” H
Weight: 2.6 lbs
Storage: 3 zippered pockets, 4 outer pockets (can be used as storage for backpack straps) and 5 inner pockets.
Comes with a changing pad
Capacity: 6.6 Liters
Regular Price:
$85.99
What do I Love About Hannah & Sophia:
Can be transformed from a backpack diaper bag to a messenger bag. What’s unique about this bag is the wide opening. It is very easy to access whatever you put in the bag. You can visually see what you need and reach items out easily as well.
I got some compliments on this bag when I was out about. It has a very unique design.
What to Consider:
I have to say it does look big and wide. I don’t really like how bulky it made me feel. The width can be a bit misleading, it actually doesn’t fit as much as you think inside. The opening of the bag is a little low, so you can’t put too much in without the risk of it falling out.
7. TOBIQ – Best Lightweight Travel Diaper Bag
Key Features:
Material: Weather and stain-resistant recycled plastics.
Dimensions: H 8″ x D 13″ x W 17″
Weight: 2 lbs
Storage: 4 big compartments with a total of 20 organizational features
Capacity: 30 Liters
Regular Price:
$199.00
What do I Love About TOBIQ:
This one technically is not a diaper bag. This is a travel bag that can be used for anyone including kids. So why do I include this bag in the list?
Because this bag can be super organized.
TOBIQ also offers a 60 L version of this bag, too big for me to consider as a diaper bag even for travel.
What to Consider:
TOBIQ bag can’t be converted into one big compartment, you’re stuck with the pocket setup — which is a very cool design, just not customizable.
FAQs
Do You Really Need a Diaper Bag?
No. You can use any big bag, or any backpack as a diaper bag for you and your baby.
So, why everyone is using a diaper bag when they have a baby?
The main difference between a diaper bag and non-diaper bag is the organization pockets! Diaper bags normally have a lot inside and outside pockets (small and big).
So you can put your baby’s essentials into different pockets based on size and usage.
It will be much easier to find stuff as there are lots of things to pack for a little person.
At What Age Do You Stop Carrying a Diaper Bag?
There is no golden rule on this. But I think in general you can stop carrying a diaper bag when your child is potty trained. It makes sense right? No diaper, no diaper bag.
But you can definitely still carry a diaper bag as long as you want. It’s just a super organized big bag. It’s still safe to carry extra clothes, snacks, and drinks for your toddlers, or just for yourself.
The Kibou Bag can definitely be used forever! Remove the changing pad and use that pocket for extra storage!
How Many Diapers Should I Keep in My Diaper Bag?
This depends on how many babies and how long are you going to be out. I normally carry 2 diapers for one baby if we are going to be out for a few hours (half day).
I do keep a few extra diapers in a bin in my car, just in case I forget to pack diapers (that has happened before! I find myself forgetting a lot of things after becoming a mom — not enough storage in my mommy hard drive).
Conclusion
There are so many options for diaper bags out there. These are my personal favorites.
If you are not sure which one to choose, always pick the one with more pockets! You’ll never regret you have too many options when it comes to being organized.
For your everyday use, pick the style you like most. Duh, isn’t that no-brainer?! I mean if you are struggling between capacity and the look, I’ll choose look.
You’ll want to love the appearance of your diaper bag, because you’ll use it everyday for at least 2 to 3 years. You can always find ways to hack the capacity.
I hope you match with the perfect diaper bag to accompany your first years of parenthood!