Skip to Content

18 Best Travel Diaper Bag Backpacks [2023]

I’ve owned a few different diaper bags, but the best one for travel was definitely a diaper bag backpack! Having hands free for chasing toddlers or carrying a baby is a must! You don’t have to worry about it falling off your shoulder or getting in the way. In this post, we’ll share all the best travel diaper bag backpacks! You’ll be so glad you went this route on your next family holiday!

You have enough to think about getting through the airport when flying with a baby or holding your toddlers hand walking down the busy city streets. Diaper bag backpacks offer traveling parents, like myself, hands-free access to handle anything I need to do with my baby or toddler.

holding toddlers hand while wearing diaper bag backpack
Using our backpack diaper bag allowed me free hands to keep toddler close!

Plus, carrying all your baby travel essentials is much easier to do on your back in a diaper bag backpack than a shoulder bag.

Any of these best backpack diaper bags for travel will gives us parents the comfort of having our things safely and neatly organized within arm’s reach.

This list will show you that there’s a wide range of baby backpack diaper bags to choose from when searching for your best fit. Whether it’s a fashionable backpack diaper bag, a trendy backpack diaper bag or the best diaper backpacks for dads, you’ll have plenty to choose from. 

For those of you traveling with twins, you aren’t left out. An extra large backpack diaper bag is the best travel diaper bag for twins.

Carrying my toddler while wearing a backpack diaper bag in Norway.

This post contains compensated links.

Best Travel Diaper Bag Backpacks

Don’t have time to read the full post? Here is a list of our favorite backpack diaper bags for travel:

How to Choose the Best Backpack Diaper Bag for Travel

It’s important for parents to choose a backpack diaper bag that is tailored to their and their babies’ needs, but with so many options, how do you do that?

Well it all comes down to how you plan to use it, which depends on things like the number of babies you’re traveling with, the nature of your travels, and the age of your baby or toddler. 

This travel diaper backpack bag was just the right size to carry all our toddler essentials.

As a general rule of thumb, check to see if your backpack travel diaper bag is lightweight, water-resistant, and durable, at the very least. Stylish designs are a bonus if you’re planning to use it as a regular bag after your baby grows out of it. 

Why a Backpack Style Diaper Bag is the Best Diaper Bag for Travel

In short, a backpack diaper bag is perfect not just for your baby’s needs but for your needs as well, and here’s why:

using our diaper bag backpack on the beach in Mexico
Our travel diaper bag backpack was also perfect as a beach bag on family beach vacations!
  1. Portable: Most would agree that our backs are better suited to carrying heavy loads than our arms are. Especially when carrying things for two babies, you will need a bag that’s easier to carry than the conventional single-strap diaper bag. Plus, with your arms freed up, you get to carry your little bundle of joy with more ease. 

  2. Spacious: Backpack style diaper bags have multiple storage compartments and plenty of pockets. This makes organizing your toddler travel essentials a lot easier than an ordinary backpack or diaper bag.

  3. Multifunctional: Most of these bags can be used in a variety of situations. Whether it’s a typical outing to the local grocery store, a full-blown vacation, or a quick run to the workplace (even without baby), these bags will have you covered. Efficient design means most of these backpack bags can easily be converted into handbags as well.

  4. Perfect for your needs: Backpack style diaper bags come with a variety of facilities like changing pads, insulated pockets for food and drink, and even USB ports for busy parents on the go. All this innovation in compact, back-friendly, ergonomic designs? Yes, please. 

  5. Durability: Backpack diaper bags are made of durable materials that are very easy to clean. Some of the diaper bags featured on this list are made of vegan leather and are therefore environment friendly as well!

  6. Unisex: Most backpack diaper bags come with a unisex design, so they can pretty much be worn by anybody, anywhere! 

Using Backpacks as Diaper Bags

Unlike ordinary backpacks, backpack diaper bags come with features that are specifically customized for parents’ needs. These include insulated pockets, baby wipes pockets, separate pacifier bags, and changing pads.

Good luck trying to find these in an ordinary backpack!

Most of them don’t have the smart compartmentalization required to contain all these baby essentials in an easily accessible way, either. 

Furthermore, ordinary backpacks often do not come with smart zippers. Parents know the agony of trying to open a bag with just one hand while dealing with a squirmy baby in the other hand! Flimsy zippers are simply a no-go during times like those.

Backpack diaper bags are built to withstand overstuffing as well, which makes them a blessing when packing for a baby – because we all know, it’s just never enough!

You can count on backpack diaper bags and their strong zippers to just handle things for you. 

What to Pack in Your Baby Backpack Diaper Bag for Travel

Here are some items you can pack in your baby backpack diaper bag for travel to make your adventures with your baby easy and hassle-free:

Woman packing a diaper bag with baby essentials
  • Wipes: As any parent knows, plenty of wipes is an absolute must. Don’t forget to pack your baby wipe travel case in the dedicated wipes pocket that comes included with some baby backpack diaper bags.

  • Wet Bags: These are great for tucking away soiled diapers and baby clothing. Buy extra wet bags to store your bottles and pacifiers hygienically.

  • Diapers: Considering that an average baby needs a diaper change every two hours, it’s a good idea to carry plenty of these. 

  • Ointments: Make sure to take travel-friendly tube-based creams to avoid messes. 

  • Pacifiers: Pack your pacifier hygienically, and don’t forget to pack extra bottle nipples.

  • Changing pad: Many diaper bag backpacks come with a changing pad, but if not you’ll want to pick up one of these best diaper change mats to have with you!

  • Hat, umbrella and blanket: Weather is so unpredictable, especially during travel, which is why it’s best to stay prepared. Carrying a hat, umbrella, and blanket will help you shield your baby from the sun and the rain.

  • Washcloths: You can never have too many of these. 

  • Food: If your baby is eating solid foods, you’ll need to manage baby food while traveling. Whether it be pumped breast milk, formula, or solid food, pack enough to last the entire time you’re out (don’t forget a baby bottle warmer and a compact travel bottle drying rack).

    We all know how much toddlers love to snack, so you’ll also want to pack a toddler spill proof snack cup.

  • Sunscreen: If your baby is six months or older, keep sunscreen in your backpack diaper bag to keep your baby safe in the sun.

  • Extra clothes: Poop, spit, pee, and food, are only some of the things that soil babies’ clothes. Having extra clothes in your backpack can save you a lot of time and avoid unpleasant situations. It’s also a good idea to carry an extra pair of clothes for yourself, if you can fit them in. 

  • Toys: Baby travel toys are an essential to entertain your baby when they start fussing. You can also pack some of these screen-free toddler toys to keep your toddler entertained anywhere.

  • A first-aid kit: In case of an emergency, it never hurts to have a first-aid kit easily accessible.

  • Travel size baby products: If you are using your diaper bag as your carry-on, it never hurts to pack some travel size baby toiletries so you have them on arrival!

  • Your own things: Your wallet, keys, cards and other adult things should all find a place in your diaper bag backpack. You don’t want to be carrying around multiple bags after all, do you?

Don’t miss our Diaper Bag Backpacks story for a quick summary of this post!

Pin It For Later!

best backpack diaper bags for travel

This post was written & edited by:

Celine is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's been helping new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade.

Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.