The best nappy bags, according to travelling parents (2025)

What to consider when finding the right nappy bag for you:

Much like sunscreen, the best nappy bag is the one you actually use, so think about your needs. Are you a minimalist? Do you love pockets? Are you planning on using one bag for multiple children? Multiple bags for multiple children? Do you tend to travel by plane or by car? Do backpacks make your back ache? Want everyone to share a bag? Important considerations such as price and size matter, too, of course, but prioritising needs and individual differences will help you narrow down the (admittedly saturated) market.

Is a nappy bag considered a carry-on and/or personal item?

While rules and regulations vary depending on the carrier, most major UK airlines allow one bag per child. Some (British Airways), but not all (Ryanair), airlines include lap infants –babies under two without a seat –in that allowance. It's best to check your airline’s policy before packing.

Weight: 1.5kg
Capacity: 24L
Dimensions: 6.5" x 10.2" x 19.7"

The husband-wife duo behind this travel bag biz with a cult-like following created its Getaway Bag for long-haul flights and travelling the world with their two littles, and I can attest that it is there for you in any it’s-always-something moment. Other parents agree: “This bag is the holy grail,” says Erica Schindewolf, a mum of two in Philadelphia. It slides over a roller and includes an insulated lunch pack, dividers, multiple entry points, and a side pouch that perfectly fits a pack of wipes. “I am not an organised person and everything not only fits but it’s organised for you with the multiple compartments within the bag,” says Schindewolf. With this bag, “globetrotting parent” needs only to sound like an oxymoron.

Pros: Lifetime guarantee, versatile
Cons: Expensive

Weight: 1.7kg (medium)
Capacity: 16.39L (medium)
Dimensions: 11.75" x 6.5" x 12.75" (medium)

Many love Dagne Dover for its accessories (a changing mat, two different-sized pouches, stroller clips, etc.), but its beloved Indi Backpack has a niche following of fans (myself included!), in part because it’s multi-functional, gender neutral, stylish, and has a waterproof exterior (because, spills). Even the small size fits most breast pumps, too. “I have used the Dagne Dover Indi nappy backpack on every road trip, flight, and adventure we have been on,” says Laurabeth Bucur, a mum of one in Atlanta, Georgia. “I can not tell you how much I appreciate the side pockets to hold bottles,” she says, noting that she’s comfortably travelled with baby bottles and water bottles as her son has grown. “Living by the beach it holds up to saltwater and sand, too,” says Sarah Owens, a mom of two in Lewes, Delaware. “I will be using this bag long after the girls need it!”

Pros: Roomy, several compartments make organising easy, can clip on to any stroller, versatile
Cons: Somewhat bulky, especially when full

Weight: 490g
Capacity: 6.5L
Dimensions: 16 x 31 x 13cm

“I love that this bag can be used multiple ways –you can sling it over your shoulder or use the strap to attach to your buggy. This is a stylish baby bag that can double as your own bag once baby no longer needs it. It is on the smaller side, but still fits all the essentials for a few hours out the house. I’m good at travelling light so it suits me perfectly. It has a pocket for a compact changing mat (which comes with the bag), an inside compartment for a bottle lined with a heat protecting material and several other pockets to organise all the essential travel gear such as nappies, a fresh babygrow, wipes, plus your keys and phone.” Sophie Knight, senior visuals editor

Pros: fashionable, compact and lightweight
Cons: one to be used for an outing rather than overnight stay

Weight: 0.7kg

Capacity: 6.5L
Dimensions: 16 x 31 x 13cm

“Originally I bought a backpack-style changing bag thinking it the most practical option. But over a year in I’ve realised how frustrating it is not to be able to slip it into the base of the pram when we’re out for walks, and how often I’ve ended up using a canvas shopper as an alternative. Thinking ahead to a long-haul flight and all the kit that comes with it, I decided to switch things up and try this Storksak bundle instead. Why didn’t I do it sooner? It’s light enough when empty, that when filled with snacks and fresh clothes it feels easy to carry, and it has separate internal pouches for two different sizes of nappies (or bottles, muslins etc…). There’s an optional strap to make it into a backpack if you need to go hands free. The bundle also includes a foldable changing station that unwraps to be a mat. Inside is fitted with a pouch for wipes and a clever hole so you don’t have to unpack everything. Suddenly I see my life (and my travels) getting just that little bit more manageable.” Sarah Bannerman, acting commerce editor

Pros: lightweight, slots into the base of the pram or an overhead locker easily, soft but structured enough that finding things is quick and easy
Cons: backpack strap could be studier

Weight: 1kg
Capacity: 32L
Dimensions: 14" x 16" x 10"

“We’ve had our L.L.Bean nappy bag from the beginning,” says Hannah Pasternak, a special projects director at Condé Nast US, and mum of one. “It's come in handy most on park excursions, days at the zoo, and road trip –when I need to carry more than just a few nappies and some wipes,” she says. “We've spent weekends away and I've actually packed everything for the baby in this bag: medications, clothes, layers, and more.” But the bag is also a good pick for days spent out and about. “I feel like this diaper bag is a best-kept secret: I've yet to see anyone else in New York –or elsewhere –carrying it, but it's simply the best.”

Pros: Holds up over time, versatile
Cons: Front padded pocket can add bulk, making it hard to fit under some strollers

Weight: 0.9kg
Dimensions: 14.5" × 11" × 14.5"

“This is the only bag I’ve found large enough to fit everything for both babies,” says Lauren Dana Ellman, a New York-based Traveller contributor and a mum of twins. While not technically marketed as a nappy bag, thanks to an ultra-roomy interior and an abundance of pockets that make it easy to stay organised while on the go, this bag does the job well. You can also carry it hands-free thanks to adjustable stroller straps. “I use the included zip pouches for storing wipes, dummies, and nappies, while the exterior pockets are great for stashing away my essentials,” she says. “I also love that it includes a luggage sleeve, which I found especially handy while navigating through JFK with bulky suitcases, a double stroller, and two screaming babies.”

Pros: Incredibly roomy and designed with several pockets and pouches
Cons: No bottle compartments

Weight: 238g
Dimensions: 11.5"L x 7"W x 1.5"H

“Having travelled all over the world with my son, including a few international solo trips, I'm a big fan of less is more when it comes to packing,” says Lauren Burvill, the London-based commerce editor at Condé Nast Traveller and a mum of two. Instead of a traditional nappy bag, she prefers to travel with just a portable changing mat. “Often these include enough pockets for diapers, wipes, nappy bin bags, as well as a change of clothes, and a toy or two to keep them occupied.” This will easily fit under a stroller and you can store it in any carry-on in-flight to quickly grab when you need to bring it to that tiny plane bathroom. The one downside is, if you're travelling with milk/formula and bottles too, then a larger bag with more storage would be better.

Pros: Compact and versatile with impressive storage
Cons: Too small for extras like formula or bottles

Weight: 1.3kg
Capacity: 37L
Dimensions: 6.3" x 25.3" x 14.2"

Ashlea Halpern, a Traveler US contributor and a mum of one, used to have a dedicated nappy bag with a billion separate compartments but now that her son is almost three, she rolls with the bare minimum that she can “actually stand to look at.” For her, that’s this buttery-soft leather travel bag from Cuyana. “It fits my laptop and earbuds, his iPad Mini and Mickey Mouse headphones, a pack of wipes, a metal straw (I'm so done with sippy cups and thermoses soaking everything in my purse), and enough snacks to keep us both sane. So far, so good!” Seems like an understatement from someone who just wrapped up a 12-week, 14-country trip.

Pros: Stylish, fits a ton, not a traditional nappy bag
Cons: Lacks the many storage pockets other bags have, pricey

Weight: 1kg
Capacity: 35L
Dimensions: 7.75" x 13" x 21.5"

Marketed as a men’s product, I never would have found this bag –let alone used it as a nappy bag –if it weren’t for my husband’s keen sense of organisation and athletic flair. He uses it for everyday work, workouts, and commutes, but in the vein of consolidation, we’ve recently co-opted it as a part-his, part-theirs bag for long flights or day trips to the city with our three small kids. It’s got a separate compartment that fits a 15" laptop, plenty of pockets for easy-to-lose items (hair elastics, AirPods), and –while slim –the bag has a strange and wonderful way of fitting all of the wonky-shaped items that come with kids (stuffed animals, extra shoes, a banana, you name it!).

Pros: Gender-neutral and sturdy
Cons: Could be too big for some, no insulated pockets

Weight: 1.5kg
Dimensions: 7.25" x 12.5" x 16"

As the name implies, this really is the ultimate nappy bag. Insulated interior pockets for bottles? There are two. A fold-up changing station? You’ve got it (plus, it acts as a nice cushion against your back). This sleek nappy backpack is a go-to for Mercedes Bleth, US Traveler's global associate director of social and mum of one. “This spacious bag has so many pockets and handy features but, for all its bells and whistles, still manages to feel chic.” Given its size, Bleth says it's definitely not an everyday nappy bag: “I prefer something much smaller for that. But as a travel bag, I can’t think of anything I’d rather carry.” It's stain-resistant, odour-proof, and features a luggage sleeve that makes navigating the airport a breeze.

Pros: Luggage sleeve, key leash, built-in changing mat
Cons: Too large for everyday wear

Dimensions: 26cm x 12 x 13.5cm

I carry my babies in a papoose a lot of the time, so the thought of also carrying a bag makes me want to keep walks short. Artipoppe has pre-empted my struggles with its small and lightweight belt bag. It’s designed to match its super-stylish carriers, fitting snugly around their base strap. This isn’t a full-sized, proper nappy bag, but it does fit a small selection of non-negitable items. I’ll probably use it for my own essentials when travelling: the passports, my portable charger, my headphones – but it would also fit a few nappies and some snacks as well.

Pros: Really stylish, lightweight, matches the brand's baby carriers
Cons: Not really a nappy bag per se, but good to have on hand for essentials