What to Pack in a Diaper Bag

Are you welcoming a new little baby soon? If so, you might be wondering what to pack in a diaper bag.

Well, here you can learn all about that and also print off a free checklist too (at the very bottom)!

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What to Pack in a Diaper Bag for Baby
What to Pack in a Diaper Bag for a Toddler
Printable Diaper Bag Checklists

What to Pack in a Diaper Bag for Baby

a mom holding her baby while packing her diaper bag

Little babies are small, but it's always important to have everything he/she will need. After all, no one likes to be stranded without a diaper/bottle/extra set of clothes. After making the mistake myself with my first baby, I vowed never again.

Here's what to pack in a diaper bag for baby:

Bottle- If you are bottle feeding your baby, anytime you go somewhere...have a bottle ready to go! This helps prevent any meltdowns from your short little errand that ended up taking longer than expected. How? Well that brings me on to the second item.
Bottle Cooler/Ice Pack- Prepared bottles (formula or breastmilk) need to be kept cool to prevent bacteria growth. You can simply put an ice pack inside of a ziploc bag with the bottle or use one of these special bottle cooler with it's own ice pack. We used the special bottle cooler while my babies were still young and only using the 4mL bottles. When I made the switch to 8mL bottles, I used an ice pack and a ziploc bag.
Burp cloths- Having burp cloths packed is also a good thing, because they can help save baby's outfit from messes, and also your own! If you have some extra receiving blankets, they will work great for this too. 🙂
Diapers- They don't call it a diaper bag for nothing...so always have diapers. How many will depend on how long you plan on going out, but at any given time I always had at least 5 diapers and upwards of 10 when we would be away from home for long periods of time.
Wipes- One package of wipes should be sufficient as they tend to go a long way. We liked having the wipes that had a hard top on them, as they sealed better and laster for longer periods of time.
Extra Outfit- Another equally important thing to have in your diaper bag would be an extra outfit. This is for the inevitable blowout(read here on how to prevent diaper blowouts) or spit up. Things just happen, but being prepared is better than being without.
Extra Pacifiers- if you use pacifiers, having extra in your diaper bag is always a good thing. I don't know how many I have lost over the years, but when your baby needs it they NEED it.
Teething Toys- A teething baby is not a happy one. You can read all about how to soothe a teething baby here, but going out with a teething baby can spell trouble if you don't have some teething toys.
Baby Food & Supplies - If your baby is at the age of eating baby food, place a jar of unopened baby food, a baby spoon, and a bib in a small ziploc bag. Then, place this in your diaper bag so you are always ready!
Baby Sunscreen- The last thing to have would be baby sunscreen. This is important because your little one's skin is so sensitive, and can easily burn. Having sunscreen in your diaper bag will keep you prepared for the sunny days. Here's a list of the best baby sunscreens.
Changing Pad/Receiving Blanket- A lot of diaper bags nowadays have changing pads that are included with the bag/backpack. You might also think about designating a soft receiving blanket that you could use too!

What to Pack in a Diaper Bag for a Toddler

Is your baby, not so much a baby anymore? If so, you might be wondering what to pack in a diaper bag for a toddler. Well, there are a few differences when you are packing for a toddler. Here's the list:

Sippy Cup- Every time we leave the house, a sippy cup is always packed in our diaper bag. Afterall, toddlers are tempermental. They want what they want, when they want it. And if you don't give it to them, they will throw a tantrum. To prevent this, it is always a good idea to have a sippy cup filled with water so that if they get thirsty, you have something. It really is about prevention when packing.
Snacks- Along with the sippy cup, toddlers seem to throw fits when they are hungry. Having a small snack packed can really make all the difference. A baby food pouch and a small bag of crackers should be plenty!
Diapers/Pull-ups- If your toddler hasn't reached the milestone of being potty-trained, you will want to have diapers or pullups packed in your diaper bag. Toddler won't need nearly as many diapers as a baby would, so you could be fine with just 3 or 4.
Wipes- Wipes are essential for everybody. They are not only perfect for diaper changes, but can help clean up sticky fingers, messes, and so much more! So, as long as you are still using a diaper bag/backpack, have some wipes!
Toys/Books- Having a small toy or book for your toddler to read and play with will make all the difference in the car or even at a doctor's office. Keeping him/her preoccupied is a good thing, and avoids them getting into trouble.