If you ask any seasoned mum what item is most vital to everyone’s survival when travelling with children, she will more than likely immediately say, “My diaper bag!” (or nappy bag depending on where you are from!).
The diaper bag is really the glue that holds everything together in terms of organised travel with young children. It’s also a kind of statement piece of parenthood, representing the essence of our individuality.
It houses the spare wipes, nappies, juice bottles, emergency snacks, passports and other necessary documents, and those backup wipes just in case you don’t have enough in the first go-around. Travel diaper bags are specially designed with a child’s need in mind, with extra pockets and insulated areas for bottles and other food items.
Choosing a suitable travel diaper bag is a must if you’re planning on going anywhere beyond the front door with your children. It’s an absolute essential when taking extended trips, whether they be on the road or in the air. Everyone’s style is different, but there are several qualities you’ll want to consider before purchasing the best travel diaper bag that will suit you and your family.
This post is part of our Tried & Tested travel products series
Essential Travel Diaper Bag Features
Comfort
I speak from extensive experience when I say that the most important feature of your traveling diaper bag has to be comfort. There is nothing more draining than lugging around an uncomfortable and overloaded bag at the airport during a five-hour layover.
I strongly recommend choosing a diaper bag with padded straps if you’re going to be carrying it for any length of time beyond about 10 minutes. It’s amazing how quickly they will begin to dig into your shoulders. If you can find one that evenly distributes weight across your body while carrying, it will benefit you in the long run. Conversely, investing in a style that clips securely to your stroller will also do wonders for your posture.
Size
While it may be tempting to select the largest diaper bag on the market in an effort to pack everything you might possibly need, that mentality might backfire on you while trying to check your bag at the gate. You’ll want something that can be stored easily underneath an airplane seat in case you need it mid-flight or fit into the overhead bin above you. Carry-on size and weight is key when flying and isn’t a bad idea for other modes of travel as well.
Also, think about the practicalities of carrying a diaper bag and a child. As you might know, one of our top tips for navigating around an airport is to use a baby or toddler carrier rather than a stroller, so think about how you will then carry your bag and baby together.
Material and Durability
Pause for a moment and think about the potential contents of your diaper bag while travelling, and how often it will probably be jostled, dropped, and accidentally stepped on. In addition to those hazards, someone’s sippy cup will more than likely be upended inside of it at some point. That being said, let’s discuss the durability and, more importantly, washability, of your next travel diaper bag. Here are a few, shall we say, essential qualities you’ll want your bag to have:
- Tear-resistant
- Machine-washable OR Easily Wiped Off
- Stain-Resistant
- Moisture Resistant or Waterproof
Your diaper bag will be your steady companion on a number of long and potentially grimy adventures, and you’ll want to be able to keep it as clean and sanitary as possible.
Additional Accessories
In addition to the diaper bag itself, you’ll want to consider what additional accessories you might desire to have. What features or add-ons are important to you? Here are some common extras that many travel diaper bags have included in their purchase:
- Stroller strap attachment
- Built in changing pad
- A “mum” section for personal items
- Insulated side pockets for bottles
- Multiple sections vs. large open area
As a mum who has travelled as much as I have, I liked having a travel diaper bag with multiple sections. It just kept everything neater and organised as opposed to feeling like everyone’s items were floating around in one big open abyss!
Given that everyone has their own distinct preference when it comes to choosing a travel diaper bag, I’ve rounded up some of my favourites in a range of styles and price points to suit almost every fashion taste and budget. I’ve even included a few choices for Dads as well!
Jump straight to your favourite diaper bag style or read on:
- Best Diaper Backpack for Travel
- Tote Travel Diaper Bags
- Messenger Travel Diaper Bags
- Convertible Travel Diaper Bags
- Best Diaper Bags for Dads
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The Best Travel Diaper Bags of 2020
Cost $ – under $40 USD: Cost $$ – $40 to $80 USD; Cost $$$ – over $80USD
Bag Nation Diaper Bag Backpack Our Top Choice
This sleek, multi-functional travel diaper backpack may not be the fanciest contender on the market, but it’s a shoe-in for functionality and durability. Perfect for mums and dads alike, this is the only travel diaper bag you’ll ever need for any journey you undertake.
Features We Love:
- Water-resistant twill polyester material
- Upgraded padding for shoulder and back straps
- Built-in stroller straps
- 14 pockets with changing pad and sundry bag included
- Gender-neutral style and colour
- Lifetime warranty
- Dimensions 17 x 14 x 7.5 inches
Best Diaper Backpack for Travel
A diaper backpack is our favourite style for travel. It leaves your hands free and is super practical for moving about in busy places with plenty of easy-to-reach pockets. With quite practical, neutral designs, you can keep using a diaper backpack well after your diaper years are finished!
Features We Love:
- Polyester fabric easily wipes clean
- Machine washable changing pad
- Insulated cube can hold two bottles
- Multi-function changing pad pocket can also hold laptops up to 15”
- Dimensions 16 x 8 x 14 inches
Features We Love
- Modern color combinations and design
- Water-resistant, wipe-clean fabric
- Spacious main compartment with additional pockets
- Insulated side pockets for bottles
- Dimensions 12.99 x 5.91 x 15.35 inches
Features We Love:
- Constructed of durable, waterproof fabric
- Two large dual-zipper extra wide compartments
- 16 pockets, including a padded laptop pocket
- Ergonomic design with padded shoulder straps
- Dimensions 11.81 x 7.87 x 16.54 inches
HaloVa Multifunction Diaper Backpack
Features We Love:
- Multiple designs and colors to suit any style preference
- Anti-theft pocket to keep valuables safe
- Unique L-shaped opening to easily access bottom of main compartment
- High density, waterproof Oxford fabric
- Dimension 16.8 x 12.1 x 2.6 inches
Tote Travel Diaper Bags
Features We Love:
- Eye-catching floral print
- Constructed of vegan leather
- 25 pockets-18 internal and 7 external
- Converts from tote to messenger bag
- Color coordinated stroller clips included
- Dimensions 18 x 7 x 13.5 inches
Features We Love:
- Fashionable and neutral grey heather fabric
- Roomy main compartment
- Several interior pockets for essentials
- Extended length carrying handles
- Dimensions 17.5 x 6.5 x 14 inches
Features We Love:
- Available in several stylish designs
- Multiple carrying options for ease and comfort
- Removable padded shoulder strap and wipeable changing pad
- 11 pockets with insulated spaces for bottles, food pouches, etc.
- Dimensions 17 x 6 x 12 inches
SoHo Collection Grand Central Station
- Multilayer fabric is waterproof and stain-resistant
- 7-piece set allows you to customize accessories based on trip requirements
- Machine washable
- Multiple specially designed compartments to fit every parenting need
- Dimensions 17.6 x 13.6 x 2.2 inches
Messenger Travel Diaper Bags
A cross-body style messenger bag can be super handy on the go. Equally as easy to throw it on the back of your stroller as it is to sling it around your body, still leaving your hands free and able to carry a tot on your back.
Columbia Departure Point Messenger Diaper Bag
Features We Love:
- Sleek, streamlined design
- Ultra Safe wipe clean floor and compartments
- Therma-flect radiant thermal bottle compartment
- Changing pad and pockets protected by Microban
- Dimensions 17.5 x 5.5 x 12 inches
Features We Love:
- Constructed of durable and easy-to-clean Oxford cloth
- Minimalist design allows for multi-purpose use
- Can be attached to a stroller or luggage
- 12 pockets for baby and Dad’s essentials
- Dimensions 12 x 5 x 12 inches
Convertible Travel Diaper Bags
If you are uncertain whether to go with a backpack or a messenger-style bag, then a convertible model could be just for you. These designs have plenty of adaptability for different situations, though do be mindful added features can add a little extra weight to the bag itself.
JuJuBe Multifunctional Convertible Diaper Bag
Features We Love:
- Sophisticated, elegant design
- Bottle pockets insulated with Thinsulate by 3M
- Specially designed pocket just for Mum
- Memory foam changing pad and shoulder strap
- Dimensions 6.5 x 14 x 12 inches
CONFACHI 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Diaper Bag
Features We Love:
- Portable travel bassinet feature for changing and naps on the go
- Padded, adjustable back and shoulder straps
- Customized side pocket wipe dispenser
- Comes with waterproof drawstring bag for those unforeseen accidents
- Dimensions 16.14 x 11.02 x 4.33 inches
ALLCAMP Convertible Diaper Backpack
Features We Love:
- Waterproof animal print is a statement-making piece
- Machine washable, high quality fabric with metal hardware
- Roomy interior houses several thoughtfully designed pockets
- Attaches easily to stroller
- Dimensions 14.5 x 8.5 x 13 inches
Best Diaper Bags for Dads
Whilst other than the most florally prints these days really are unisex diaper bags, some bags are that little more masculine for the fellas (and come with loads of added features that mums adore too!)
Tactical Baby Gear (TBG) Men’s Tactical Diaper Bag Top Choice for Dads
This is the swiss army knife of dad diaper bags! The interior storage space is vast so best suits those tall backs who like to fit all their gear in one spot.
Features We Love:
- Rugged, durable materials uses MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) webbing
- Removable padded changing pad
- Full-open zipper front has heavy-duty YKK zippers
- Redesigned, contoured heavy-duty straps
- Dimensions 20 x 11 x 8 inches
Features We Love:
- Rugged, functional design
- Spacious interior compartments with 11 pockets, including 2 insulated bottle pockets
- Removable, push-button wipes case and changing pad
- Built-in stroller loops and padded back and shoulder straps
- Dimensions 12 x 6.5 x 16.5 inches
Columbia Summit Rush Backpack Diaper Bag
Features We Love:
- Sporty style and colour
- Durable polyester fabric with breathable mesh panels
- Ultra Safe wipe clean floor and changing mat
- Changing pad pockets protected by Microban
- Dimensions 13.5 x 7 x 19.25 inches
Qwreoia Diaper Bag Backpack with USB Charging Port
Features We Love:
- Tear-resistant, waterproof Oxford fabric
- Built-in USB charging port
- 14 multi-purpose pockets, including insulated bottle pouch
- Back anti-theft pocket
- Dimensions 17.72 x 11.02 x 1.57 inches
So as you can see there is a huge range of diaper bags out there to suit your individual style preferences and unique needs, from a quick jaunt to the market to globetrotting across continents.
The best travel diaper bag for you is just a few clicks away, and you and your family will be on your way to a well-prepped adventure of your own making.
(Pssst – we’ve loved our diaper backpack so much we still use it even after passing our third round of potty training! Invest well at the start and you have the perfect family travel bag!!)
More helpful guides for travelling with babies & toddlers
If you’ve found this buying guide helpful, why not also check out:
- Baby Travel Essentials – 10 items we never leave home without!
- Toddler Travel Essentials – moving to the next stage items that have made travelling with our littles easier
- Do I need a travelling high chair? – pros and cons with different designs to choose from
- Best nursing covers for travel – keep feeding while being discreet on the move
- Best baby bottle warmers – the fastest and most convenient way to warm a feed on the move
- Portable Baby Bassinets – the best way to get infants to sleep well on the go
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