"When we first made a baby registry for our daughter three years ago, I remember meticulously researching every small detail of the bulk of the products we had on the list. From the bassinet to the baby monitor, I wanted to read every review and be ready to find the most practical and highly-rated options we could possibly use. However, there was one item I didn’t really think of when adding to our list: a diaper bag.
Pre-kid, the idea of a diaper bag didn’t seem much different than any old backpack. What would I possibly need to be researching when all that mattered was that it looked fine and functional? Three years into parenthood, I will readily say I was wrong. Diaper bags have been one of the most functional, well-used accessories of our parenting lives, allowing us to take our newborn all the way up to toddler out into the world with their barrage of necessary items.
And over the years, I’ve tried quite a few different options, taking them for a spin everywhere from the local playground to the Orlando theme parks. Now, with another kid on the way, I’m considering what it will be like having to really pack those bags again. Read on for my comparison review of six of the best diaper bag brands that I’ve personally tried.
Best Diaper Bags Comparison: My Review of Each
Dagne Dover Indi Diaper Bag
Overall Rating: 4/5
Pros: Easily attaches to stroller, available in different sizes. Neoprene material easy to clean.
Cons: Not as easy to organize as other options.
The fan-favorite Dagne Dover Diaper Bag is a popular registry pick for a reason. Its simplistic design makes for a great gender-neutral accessory, while the neoprene fabric is ideal for cleaning up messes. For life with a toddler, the small size that I have works fine. But I would absolutely have needed to size up to a large for a newborn.
Is it worth the luxury price tag? Honestly, I’ve now tried enough diaper bags that I’d argue there are better options on this list for less of a cost. The major plus is the neoprene material, which has made this one of the easiest options to clean when we’ve had spills (an inevitability with diaper bags, IMO). For the small size, I do wish it was a little easier to organize. I often feel like I’m losing things in the bottom of the bag, especially if I’m trying to fill it to the brim during travel.
I’ve found the smaller Indi Diaper Bag is best used for short trips to the playground or when we’re just out running errands and I’m only needing to bring a water bottle and change of clothes for my toddler.
Where to Buy:
- Available in small, medium, and large sizes
- Comes in 10 colors
- Fits most 13″ laptops and tablets
- Includes a mini changing mat and extra pouches
- Can be clipped to a stroller
- Small: 9.5″ L X 5.625″ W X 12.25” H, Medium: 11.75” L x 6.5” W x 12.75” H, Large: 12.25” L x 7” W x 13.75” H
- $175-$230 (depending on size)
Enya Mond Luna Diaper Bag
Overall Rating: 4/5
Pros: Stylish design, tons of room inside.
Cons: Magnets can be harder to close.
I’d argue this is one of the best-looking of the picks on my list. In fact, aesthetically, I like it so much that I’ve used it for my own travels sans child. But how does it perform with a kid? Well, for one, there’s plenty of space inside, with interior pockets, an exterior pocket, two side pockets, and a sleeve in the back for a laptop or tablet.
I’ve actually used this as a carry-on before and found that I’ve overpacked it because it offers such a generous amount of space—sometimes so much that it’s hard to close the magnetic clasps.
While there’s more room than is really needed for a toddler, I do feel like this is one I’ll gravitate more toward when we add another baby to the family. The amount of space for wipes, a changing mat (which is included!), bottles, and other essentials is pretty impressive. I appreciate all the interior pockets to make it extra organized.
Where to Buy:
- Available in one size
- Comes in 6 colors
- Vegan leather, with water-resistant interior lining
- Extra-large changing mat included
- Electronic sleeve
- Set of stroller straps and a shoulder strap
- 14” L x 7” W x 14″ H
- $219
Calpak Diaper Backpack with Laptop Sleeve
Overall Rating: 5/5
Pros: Timeless design, laptop sleeve, water-resistant materials.
Cons: Magnets can be harder to close.
Made with water-resistant recycled materials, Calpak offers a simplistic design with a ton of organization—AKA my favorite possible aspect for a diaper bag. Inside the bag you’ll find multiple bottle pockets, with a padded sleeve in the back that fits up to a 14-inch laptop. The backpack also comes with a luggage trolley sleeve with adjustable straps to make getting this around the airport a breeze.
For me, the lightweight material and spacious compartments make this a winner. It’s simple but really gets the job done for all ages. Unlike the more structured options from Enya Mond and Dagne Dover, I appreciate how this bag easily expands and adapts to whatever amount of stuff I put into it.
The one downside to consider is the magnetic closures, which can be a little harder to navigate than a traditional zipper. But for me, the easy-to-wash material and design make this one of my top picks.
Where to Buy:
- Available in one size
- Comes in 8 colors
- Includes 14” padded laptop sleeve
- Eco-friendly and water-resistant recycled materials
- 11.5” L x 6.26” W x 15.25″ H
- $178
Parker Baby Co. Birch Bag Diaper Backpack
Overall Rating: 4/5
Pros: Large capacity, insulated side pockets
Cons: The larger space can make it harder to organize.
This was actually the first diaper bag we ever tried out, so it’s been through the ringer of new parenthood. We originally bought it for its more reasonable price and unisex colors and design, which are still two major perks I’d recommend for it.
The bag is plenty spacious, and if you asked my husband, he’d tell you this is still his tried-and-true favorite to use. But, for me, having tried a few different styles since, I’d probably rank it a bit lower on the list. For one, I wish there were more organizational pockets and easier organization inside. Out of every option on the list, this is the one where I have lost the most stuff.
I would give points, though, to the insulated pockets, which have helped keep bottles and pouches cold for road trips.
Where to Buy:
- Available in one size
- Comes in 4 colors
- Comes with stroller straps and wipeable changing pad
- Padded laptop pocket
- 11.5” L x 6.26” W x 15.25″ H
- $89.95
Colugo the Parent Diaper Bag
Overall Rating: 4/5
Pros: Compact design with a surprising amount of space.
Cons: The design can make it hard to organize and find what’s at the bottom of the bag.
For toddler life, the Parent Backpack is an excellent choice for its material (machine-washable and wipeable!) as well as its suitcase sleeve that makes it easy for travel. It also has one of my favorite features of any bag: a clip in the front where you can put your keys. Because who hasn’t lost their keys in a giant backpack, right?
As for newborn life, I personally didn’t feel like it was big enough for what we needed. The space is relatively small compared to other options, which makes it great for a grab-and-go bag when you just need a few items. But, for the boatload of stuff a newborn needs, it was difficult to find space for everything.
Where to Buy:
- Available in one size
- Comes in 4 colors and patterns
- Fits inside Colugo Compact Stroller
- Sleeve fits up to a 13″ laptop or tablet
- Washable and wipeable
- 12.5″ L x 4.5″ W x 17.5″ H
- $95
HAPP Levy Diaper Bag
Overall Rating: 5/5
Pros: The wide flap makes it easy to see everything.
Cons: More feminine design if you prefer a unisex bag.
We recently took the HAPP Diaper Bag with us on a weekend trip to Disney World, where I made the bold declaration to my husband that this was my favorite diaper bag I’ve ever used. And while I love the stylish design and loads of interior space, the big reason behind that statement was how easy it was to access everything in the bag.
Unlike the other options on this list, where you open from the top and look inside, the zipper for the HAPP bag is more on the middle front, with a wide zippered flap that lets you easily see everything in the bag. Easily my biggest grievance with diaper bags is when I lose something in them, so being able to see and pack everything is just a peace of mind that can’t be beat.
It’s also easy to organize everything, with four interior pocks as well as a mesh pocket in the flap, two side pockets, and a front exterior pocket. The bag also has a structured bottom, meaning you can easily stand it and unzip it.
While the material can pretty easily be wiped down, I am curious to see how the herringbone design of the exterior will work when we have inevitable spills or messes, which can easily get trapped in the nooks and crannies. But, for now, the ease of access for the interior is enough that I really have no complaints!
Where to Buy:
- Available in one size, also available as a purse or mini purse option
- Comes in 4 colors
- Water-resistant nylon fabric protects against spills
- Structured bottom with metal feet
- 17″L x 6″W x 12″H
- $179
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Morgan Flaherty, Contributing Writer
Morgan is full-time writer, editor, and mom. Along with her work as a contributing writer for The Everymom on all things Disney World, beauty products, and the latest fashion trends, her writing has appeared in Well + Good, InStyle, Scary Mommy, Byrdie, and Baby Chick.
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