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If you’re a new mom getting your diaper bag ready to go for your incoming baby, these are all of the newborn diaper bag essentials you need to always be prepared!
As an ex-nanny and new mom of a 3 month old, I have a pretty good idea of the newborn diaper bag essentials you actually need so you can be out and about with your little one and prepared for whatever might happen. Let’s get right to it!
This post is all about newborn diaper bag essentials.
I’ve been using my Freshly Picked diaper bag, and so far really really like it. I shared my full Freshly Picked diaper bag review here in case you’d like to read more. 3 months in and it’s super high quality, fits everything I need it to, and is comfortable to carry. Big fan!
1. Changing Pad
Most diaper bags come with a changing pad, but in case yours doesn’t, you definitely need one! We use this one at home for diaper changes upstairs, since our main changing table is downstairs, and really like it!
2. Disposable Changing Pad
We also have some disposable changing pads in their as well. We’ve used this for a blowout situation where we didn’t want to get our changing pad all messy!
I also wanted these in case we were in public and I didn’t want to put baby or the reusable changing pad down on a public changing station. Haven’t tackled the in public diaper change yet, but just in case.
I’ve heard puppy pads are cheaper, but that they contain chemicals that aren’t safe for baby’s skin, so I went with these.
3. Plastic Grocery bags
For all those times you have a diaper you need to trash with no nearby trash can. Good to keep these in the car too if you’re doing car diaper changes.
4. wet dry bag
We’ve used this wet dry bag for dirty clothes that we don’t want to just throw back in the diaper bag. It happens more often than you think. Babies like to do their biggest blowouts when you’re out and about! It’s washable too, so it doesn’t matter if it gets gross. I’ve heard people just use big ziplock bags, but I liked that this was reusable.
5. diapers
Obviously. We use Huggies Little Snugglers! We keep around 6 in there at a time.
6. wipes
Another obvious one! They make travel sized refillable wipes containers, but I just keep the entire wipe packaging in the bag. So far Millie Moon Wipes are our favorites.
7. snacks for mom and dad
You never know when you’re going to get hungry! I’m breastfeeding and starving 99% of the time, and my husband can get hangry real quick, so keeping snacks nearby is essential for us. I mostly have the snacks I ate when I had gestational diabetes, since they’re a bit more nutrient dense.
8. pacifier
If your baby takes a pacifier, be sure to have one just for the diaper bag. It’s nice to have a diaper bag specific one so I know it’s always there and I don’t need to worry about finding one when we’re in the house.
And in case you’re curious, these are the best pacifiers for newborn babies!
9. pacifier case
So they don’t get gross! I like to know it’s protected in the bag. These are inexpensive and come in a two pack.
10. pacifier clip
Anyone else have a baby who manages to spit out the pacifier like they’re trying to win a record for furthest spit paci? This pack of pacifier clips comes with two so we keep one in the house and one in the diaper bag.
11. burp cloth
An essential for sure! I really like the Copper Pearl ones, they’re thick and super absorbent. We also have a pack of these muslin cloth ones as well, which come with a ton for less money. I just grab a clean one for the diaper bag!
12. nursing cover
I actually don’t use this for nursing so much, just doesn’t work great for me. However, I love having this nursing cover in the diaper bag because it’s thin so it doesn’t take up that much space, and we use it for a blanket for him. We’ve also used it as a carseat cover when out and about and he’s asleep.
13. diaper rash cream
For newborns in particular. In his first few weeks he pooped with every single diaper. Hello irritation! We always had some nearby.
I really like this one for out and about because it’s really quick and easy to apply.
14. breast pads
If you’re nursing, you never know when a leak is going to happen! I use the ones by Lansinoh, but to be honest I don’t love them. At this point I leak a lot less so I probably will just keep using these on the rare occasions I need them. Do you have any you like?
15. tide to go stick
I always have a tide to go stick at the ready in any bag I carry! If you’d rather use something different for baby, this is the travel version of my favorite non-toxic stain removing spray. I’m going to grab these myself!
16. pads
In my early postpartum weeks I never knew when my postpartum bleeding was actually finished. It stopped and started a handful of times! Having pads wherever we went was crucial for me!
17. Lysol wipes
This is the only thing in the bag we haven’t used yet, but I’m glad we have them. You never know when you are going to need to wipe something down!
18. hand sanitizer
Never not applying hand sanitizer! We bought it in bulk since the first week he was home because we have it all over the house and use it a ton when we’re out.
19. pacifier wipes
These pacifier wipes have really come in handy since my baby drops his paci a ton. You can feel comfortable still using the paci even if it drops since these get it clean! The pacifier clip should help with drops, but these are still good to have either way imo.
20. change of clothes for him
At least one, but two to be safe! Like I said, babies like to do their blowouts on the go. I usually have a pair of socks, a t shirt onesie, long sleeve onesie, and pants. I keep it in this cute little pouch my friend got me! You could use the mommy version to keep all your stuff in the diaper bag.
21. wristlet of my stuff
I use my diaper bag as my purse so I don’t have a ton of stuff to carry. I use this Freshly Picked wristlet and keep my waller, chapstick, pills, hair ties, these two must haves to handle postpartum body odor (if you know you know), and any other essentials for the day. Fits everything really well!
22. stroller fan
This I wouldn’t call an essential necessarily, unless it’s summer. But our stroller fan fits in the bag which I think really shows you just how roomy it is! We’ve definitely used this out and about with baby in the thick of summer. It’s nice because it has bendable arms to attach wherever you want it to, like the car seat handle!
23. Bottle feeding needs
Of course if you’re bottle feeding, you’ll need to bring whatever you need along with you as well!
Those are all of the newborn diaper bag essentials you need to be prepared for whatever craziness your baby is going to throw at you that outing. You will be ready to go for anything!
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