Traveling with your baby can be a stressful experience even in the best of times. Lugging your bags around while managing your baby can make even the most zen mother want to stay at home until her wee one is more independent and easier to take care of! However, you can make things easier by using one good bag to carry everything you need for your baby and yourself on the journey. The best rated diaper bags for travel come with more features than needed on an everyday diaper bag.
The top rated travel diaper bags will have good organizational features such as separated compartments, pockets and insulated bottle holders to help you find things readily. It has to be big enough for your travel essentials as well as baby gear. It should be easy to clean and should come with a changing pad. There should be multiple ways to carry the bag and should be light but durable. Because you’re traveling and also using it as a handbag, consider getting a bag that doesn’t scream “cute baby”. There are many smart and stylish options to choose from. Some are even styled to be guy-friendly so he won’t be embarrassed to carry it now and then!
Want some recommendations to help you choose the best diaper bag for travel? Read on!
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Skip Hop GRAND CENTRAL Take-it-all diaper bag
Here’s a bag that could easily pass for a carry-all so you can use it even after your baby is past the need for a diaper bag. It measures 13 x 6 x 18 inches and weighs just 14 ozs. Even though it is large, it looks modern and compact and will fit under the seat in an airplane.
The material used is a nylon and polyester blend with faux leather trim and is available in 4 different chic color combinations. It is completely BPA and phthalate-free.
The Skip Hop Grand Central Take-it-all is divided into 3 main sections – the largest is for a change of clothes, clean diapers and other bulky items and features a zipper closure. The baby section is for everything else your baby needs. It even has a clear zippered pocket and a toy fob which is useful for keeping a pacifier in easy reach. The last section is for the adult. It has a zippered pocket, a phone pocket and a felt lined sunglasses pocket. These two sections feature snap button closure. There are two insulted side pockets on the outside for the bottles and two front zippered pockets to hold things like a small book, travel documents and keys.
You also get a cushioned changing pad.
There are two ways to transport this bag – by the double tote handles for over your shoulder or you can use the two adjustable stroller tabs to hang it off a stroller’s handles.
Ju-Ju-Be B.F.F Convertible Diaper Bag
If you like having more ways to carry the diaper bag, consider the Ju-Ju-Be B.F.F Convertible Diaper Bag. You can pick it up via a top grab and go handle, or use the a detachable shoulder messenger strap, or use the detachable backpack-style straps. All these straps are padded and adjustable so you’ll never complain of shoulder or back pain again! The messenger strap can also be used to hang the bag off a stroller’s handles or baby carrier strap.
This nylon bag is coated with an easy to clean teflon coating on the outside and an anti-microbial treatment on the inside. It can be thrown into the washing machine too. It measures 11 x 14 x 5.5 inches and weighs 2.4 lbs. This is a bit smaller than the other bags on this list but that may be a good thing for you if you don’t want to be tempted to over pack your baby travel bag.
You can choose from 16 different exciting prints! The bag has a firm structured bottom with metal feet to keep the bag from getting dirty when setting it down.
The main compartment opens via a full U-shaped zip and gussets on the sides prevent things from falling out. Inside this roomy space are 2 short and 1 long zippered pockets, 4 gusseted pockets and picture pockets. There are 2 bottle side pockets on the outside that are insulated. The front features two zippered pockets. One is placed high and felt lined and perfect for storing a camera while the other is below and larger and has various pockets, a sunglasses pouch and a key fob to organize your own things. There is a long pocket on the back of the bag that can hold the included memory foam changing pad. There is a small hole at the bottom in one corner to let crumbs fall out if you want to store some snacks there.
Skip Hop FORMA Pack & Go Diaper Tote
If you’d like your bag to have even more organizational capabilities, consider the Skip Hop Forma Pack and Go. This diaper tote not only has 11 pockets but it also comes with two small zippered packing cubes and a changing pad.
It measures 17 x 5.50 x 15 inches and weighs 16 ozs. It is made of polyester with quilting details and is available in black, berry and peacock colors.
There are three zippered compartments. The smallest one in the front can hold a wallet, a large smart phone and other odds and ends, and the larger middle one can hold the two packing cubes side by side. One cube has a see through mesh lid and the other is a patterned insulated one that can hold two full sized bottles. Use one cube for keeping baby food, milk or formula warm and the other for holding a set of clean clothes or baby powder, lotion, etc. The largest main compartment can hold everything else that your baby needs and it has side pockets for added organization.
There are two side pockets. If you use the packing cubes for your baby’s bottles then these outer pockets can be used for your own bottle and a travel sized umbrella. A zippered back pocket runs the length of the bag and holds the padded changing mat.
There are two stroller straps to allow you to hang the bag from stroller handles and two long shoulder straps make it comfortable to tote around as well.
If you like this bag but prefer it in a backpack style, then the Skip Hop Forma diaper backpack is one of our picks for the best travel diaper backpacks.
Okiedog Dahoma Sumo Diaper Bag
This is another travel diaper bag that can be carried messenger style or backpack style via adjustable and detachable straps. You also have the option of just picking it up by the two grab handles with a snap button closure on top. If you don’t use the backpack straps they can be tucked away into a large zippered pocket on the back which can also be used for extra storage.
It is the largest and roomiest of the bunch, measuring 18.5 x 15.8 x 5.5 inches but weighing a very light 1.5 lbs. It is available in 6 different prints and colors and the outer shell is made of nylon, while the inner lining is polyester.
The Okiedog Dahoma Sumo Diaper Bag also comes with several accessories like a detachable insulated bottle holder, an antibacterial changing pad and an accessories bag. Except for the pad, each of these can be separately attached to a stroller via an included clip system.
A separate mommy zone pocket on the front is perfect for carrying all your own essentials including a tablet. This pocket closed via a large velcro flap that deters petty thieves. The main compartment is zippered shut and features a few pockets as well as two fobs for things like keys and pacifiers. This compartment is also large enough to hold a standard laptop. There are two exterior side pockets – one is lined for insulation. Two quick access front pockets complete the look.
Lug Tuk Tuk Carry-All Bag
This carry all may just be the best diaper bag for travel available. At 17 x 6 x 12.5 inches and 2.4 lbs, the Lug Tuk Tuk Carry-All can hold lots of stuff in a very organized way.
In addition to the zippered main compartment that features inner pockets and fobs, there are 5 exterior front pockets. Three are drop pockets that can hold sippy cups, one is a U-shaped zippered pocket and the third is a long open pocket for the included padded changing mat. The back features another U-shaped pocket at the bottom and a straight pocket at the top and both are zippered. Two stroller straps tuck into their own small pockets here and a piggyback strap lets you slide it over the handle of your wheeled luggage. Two elastic top drop pockets on the sides are good for small items or bottles. A drawstring bag is included so you can separate soiled or wet items.
In addition to hanging it from stroller bars, you can carry this bag in one of two ways – by the detachable shoulder strap that is long enough to use messenger style, or by the dual tote handles. The material used is polyester and it is available in 6 different fun colors.