What To Put In A Diaper Caddy: The Ultimate Guide

During my first pregnancy, I had no idea how crucial diaper caddies were. I didn’t know what to put in a diaper caddy (besides the apparent diapers and wipes), and I was reasonably convinced that we didn’t need one.

But, after bringing our newborn home and realizing how many diapers you change every day, I knew we could benefit from having all of our diaper changing essentials organized and ready to use. 

So, I set out to find the perfect diaper caddy that would keep all of our baby’s supplies easily accessible. Also, I knew I wanted a portable diaper caddy and one large enough to store everything we needed.

Throughout the first few months at home with our newborn, I gradually had the contents of our diaper caddy figured out. I knew what items were essential to have close at all times, plus what things were helpful to have. And today, I’m sharing that list with you!

So, whether you want to know what to put in a diaper caddy, or you’re unsure if you need a diaper caddy, keep reading!

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What to Put in a Diaper Caddy: The Essentials

When stocking your diaper caddy, know that there are some must-have items, and also items are nice to have available if you have room. The following list of things to put in a diaper caddy are essentials that you will use regularly. 

Diapers

The first item to add to your diaper caddy is, you guessed it, diapers. It’s best to have about 2-3 days’ worth of your favorite brand of diapers stocked so you’re not restocking the caddy every day. 

When stocking the caddy with diapers, you’ll want to think about how many diapers you’ll use in one day. For example, the average newborn uses 8-10 diapers each day. Therefore, you’ll want to add anywhere from 16-30 diapers.

Wipes

The next item to add to your diaper caddy is baby wipes. One package of wipes will be plenty, as you can add another package when you’re about to run out. 

I prefer to use wipes with a flip-top closure because they ultimately take up less space. For example, using wipes like these ones use less room in the caddy as they don’t need a hard, plastic wipe dispenser to keep them from drying out.

Changing Pad

When thinking of what to put in a diaper caddy, a changing pad is essential, primarily if you use a portable diaper caddy.

A changing pad is a must-have because it prevents any potential mess from getting on hard-to-clean surfaces. For example, if you change your baby’s diaper in the living room, using a changing pad will help keep your couch or carpet clean. 

I always used these changing pads with my son because they are waterproof. Plus, I loved that if anything got on the changing pad, I could pick it up and quickly throw it in the washing machine. 

Diaper Rash Cream

The following essential item for your diaper caddy is diaper rash cream. Diaper rash can sneak up on you, so having some cream available at every diaper change is helpful.

We preferred this brand of diaper rash cream because it does the job quickly. It’s a thick formula that stays on to help your baby heal quickly. 

Burp Cloths

In my experience, you can never have too many burp cloths. My son always spit up after feedings, so we needed 2-3 burp cloths in each room. 

I found that keeping the burp cloths in the caddy kept everything organized, and my husband and I always knew where to find them. 

These burp cloths were our favorite because of their generous size. They are much wider than the typical burp cloths that only cover a portion of your shoulder.

If you’re unsure of how many burp cloths you’ll need for your baby, check out this in-depth article!

Change of Clothes

The next item on this list of diaper caddy essentials is a change of clothes for your baby. It’s crucial to have an extra onesie and pair of pants if your baby has an inevitable blowout. 

Small Toys 

Especially as your baby gets older, diaper changes can become more difficult. You might find that your baby has become a wiggle worm, they get bored and try to turn away, or they simply don’t want their diaper changed. 

Having some small toys to keep your baby entertained while changing their diapers can save you a struggle. 

We always had a rotation of three toys that were pretty much guaranteed to keep our baby entertained if he started to get restless. Those toys were this soft book, this musical toy, and this cute caterpillar rattle.

You’ll also love: The Best Toys For 0 to 6-Month-Old Babies

What to Put in a Diaper Caddy: Bonus Items

As I mentioned earlier, there are diaper caddy essentials, and then there are items that are nice to have if you have extra room in your caddy. The following list of things to put in a diaper caddy are items that are helpful to have nearby but not necessarily must-haves. 

Pacifier or Teether

If your baby uses a pacifier, it can be nice to have one handy to help soothe them during a diaper change. 

If your baby is older and teething, it’s also a great idea to have a teether ready for them to chew on. My son always loved this teether the most; it always soothed him and kept him entertained.

Baby Lotion

You might notice some dry spots on your baby’s skin while changing their diaper, particularly on their thighs or ankles. Having some lotion close by makes it easy to keep your baby moisturized.

We have used this lotion on our toddler since he was a baby. I like that it’s a gentle formula that’s fragrance-free and great for sensitive skin. Also, it’s not greasy or thick feeling, so it’s great to help keep your child’s face moisturized. 

Baby Nail Clippers

Sometimes, it can seem like your baby’s nails grow in an instant. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep some nail clippers close by your diaper changing area. Keeping your baby’s nails trimmed will prevent them from scratching themselves. 

When it comes to baby nail clippers, I like to use these ones. They are of excellent quality and have a magnifier to help you see your baby’s tiny fingernails better.

Thermometer

Storing medical items, like a thermometer, in your caddy is great if you have some extra room. Keeping all of your baby’s care items together will help you stay organized, and you’ll always know where everything is. 

If you don’t already have a thermometer, I recommend using this one. It’s easy to use, accurate, and highly rated!

Nasal Aspirator

Keeping a nasal aspirator in your diaper caddy is great, especially in the wintertime. It can be expected for babies to become more congested in the cold winter months, so it’s great to be able to grab the aspirator to use while your baby is already lying down.

Saline Drops

Saline drops were a must-have in the winter months when my son was a baby. Using saline drops helped to keep his nose moisturized and clear.

Like the nasal aspirator, it’s nice to have saline drops in the caddy because you can quickly use them while your baby is lying down. Not to mention, saline drops work very well with a nasal aspirator, so you’ll want to keep them together. 

Related Articles:

• The Only Newborn Essentials You’ll Need To Have
• Simple And Fun Activities For 3-Month-Olds
• The Best Tummy Time Activities By Age
• Easy Ways To Calm Your Baby During Bath
• The Ultimate Guide For Dropping The Swaddle

Plastic Bags For Dirty Diapers

If you don’t have a designated diaper pail, it can be nice to have these bags to tie your baby’s dirty diapers in. Using a baggie will help eliminate the diapers from smelling up the regular garbage bin.

Swaddle

Having a swaddle ready and available during the first few months home with your baby is a great idea. I always kept a clean swaddle in our most used rooms to ensure I wasn’t scrambling to find one when it was time for a nap.

We tried a few different swaddles with our son, but these ones were the best. They attach with velcro to help ensure that the swaddle stays wrapped, plus they are of very nice quality. 

Brush or Comb

Keeping a baby brush or comb in your diaper caddy can be nice when smoothing your baby’s hair after their diaper change.

Breastfeeding Supplies

Lastly, it’s beneficial to keep some breastfeeding essentials in your diaper caddy if you have room for it. For example, it’s helpful to keep some snacks, a water bottle, nursing pads, and nipple cream handy. 

My son would often need his diaper changed after a feeding, so I was glad I had things like nipple cream close by.

Do you really need a diaper caddy?

To put it simply, yes, a diaper caddy is necessary. A diaper caddy is a container that allows you to store all of your diaper-changing essentials together in one place. 

Not only does a diaper caddy keep your baby’s diaper-changing items organized, but it also ensures that the essentials are close by. 

When you’re changing your baby’s diaper, you can’t leave them unattended; you need to ensure that you have everything you need within reach. Therefore, having a stocked caddy will take some stress out of remembering everything you need to grab before changing a diaper. 

Diaper Caddy Alternatives

When thinking about what kind of diaper caddy would be best suited for your family, you probably want to know all of your options. Here are the top choices for diaper caddy alternatives:

Portable Diaper Caddy

Before we get into the diaper caddy alternatives, I wanted to give an example of the most traditional diaper caddy: the portable diaper caddy.

When looking for portable diaper caddies, you’ll typically find them in the baby aisles of department stores. These diaper caddies were explicitly made to hold diapers and other related items. 

We had the Munchkin Portable Diaper Caddy Organizer in our living room, and it worked wonderfully. It was big enough to hold everything we needed, plus it came with a waterproof changing mat!

Hanging Diaper Caddy

A hanging diaper caddy is an excellent alternative to a portable caddy; the only downside is that you have to have a place to hang it. 

Typically, you would hang the diaper caddy on a designated changing table or even the side of your baby’s crib. But, some diaper caddies can also hang on the back of the door to your baby’s room.

Diaper Caddy Basket

The next diaper caddy alternative is a basket. Using a basket as a diaper caddy is a fantastic option because you can choose whatever size basket you need. 

We used a basket similar to this one in our bedroom when our son room-shared with us. It was perfect for holding the items he needed while still having room for my breastfeeding items. 

Diaper Changing Cart

If you are looking for a diaper caddy alternative with a lot of room, using a cart like this one will be the best choice. 

We used this cart for a diaper changing cart in our son’s bedroom. It was perfect to keep next to the changing area on top of his dresser.

Because this cart has three tiers, it was excellent for holding all of our son’s diaper changing items, plus we also kept extra breastfeeding supplies and burp cloths on it. 

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And there you have it! I hope you learned everything you need to know about what to put in a diaper caddy. Remember, the great thing about diaper caddies is that you can customize them however you want. 

After you get the hang of those frequent diaper changes, you’ll know if you need to add some supplies to your diaper caddy. Or maybe, you find things in your caddy that you don’t use often, and you can make some more room for other supplies. Whatever works for you is what’s important!

Before you go, check out these related articles:

• Essential Items To Keep In Your Diaper Bag
• Nursery Must-Haves You’ll Regret Not Having
• Everything You Need To Know About Newborn Bathing
• Signs Your Baby Is Overtired (And What To Do)
• The Best Tips For Nursery Organization

What is your favorite thing to keep in your diaper caddy? I would love to know in the comments below!

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