Why we like it

If you have not seen how excited we are about the No Reception Club Sidekick, you are about to find out.

The Sidekick Diaper Bag Belt Bag is specifically designed for traveling parents, addressing the unique challenges of changing diapers in tight spaces. It is my strong opinion, now that I have owned a few diaper fannies, that EVERY parent should have one. Whenever I meet a new parent, I introduce my “Diaper bag fanny,” saying how it is a lifesaver.

Here is the gist: a cool (and unisex) fanny pack/waist bag/sling bag that has diaper-changing-specific essentials inside: the No Reception Club Sidekick comes with a matching fold-out changing pad, space for diapers, diaper cream in travel size and my hand sanitizer (small bottle) and lastly, a magnetic flap on the back that can “house” your wipes package.

There you have it: every parent’s do-it-all sling bag that still has room for a few of your things (if you keep 2 or 3 diapers in there and they’re not super puffy).

The extra-wide changing pad (22” x 15.75”) with the No Reception Club branded pattern is a nice touch, and it folds down to pack right back into the Sidekick bag.

What’s more is that the Sidekick diaper bag fanny pack fits perfectly within the Getaway Bag (the brand’s travel-forward diaper backpack) rapid-access compartment, making it an ideal travel accessory for cool traveling parents.

How we use it

From trips to our local zoo, to road trips down to see family, our Sidekick is a belt bag with an excellent use case. We use it to duck into a restroom with our baby or our toddler, and do a quick diaper change, without lugging our entire diaper bag, nor the packing cube in which we organize diapers and wipes within our diaper bag backpack.

When going into a restroom for a diaper change, whether it’s how to change a diaper on an airplane or how to duck into another room at a friend’s house to change a baby without taking the entire diaper bag, the Sidekick is the handiest minimal solution.

Update in 2025: We’ve had the Sidekick for over a year now and I think our favorite part about it is that

Considerations

Who it’s for: if you don’t have kids, you don’t need the special frills of this unique fanny pack that gets you through a baby or toddler diaper change. It’s that simple. If you are looking for a new waist bag or sling bag, head to my list of the best travel fanny packs to see all the other (diverse) brands making good ones!

The price: I like to consider that the price tag for the Sidekick reflects the specialized features and the fact that No Reception Club is NOT yet a massive brand like Patagonia, Cotopaxi, The North Face or REI. The Sidekick is made by an up-and-coming brand (not a big box brand) started by two parents (Gemma and Daniel!) who saw a need for this type of travel product. So, it’s not cheap, but it’s crafted with more care and with better materials than fanny packs that’ll break or fray. Because of that, you only have to buy it once.

The last thing is that if you wanted a fanny pack for LOTS of your essentials, this may also not be the one. Once I have a few diapers in there, plus my hand sanitizer, a tube of diaper cream and the changing pad that the Sidekick comes with, there’s very little room for stuff of mine. I can cram in my phone and wallet/key ring of keys, but after sliding in a granola bar, too, I’m out of space. If you want a daily carry travel fanny pack, I’d look for an oversized one that edges on 6L of volume.

My tip, after a year of use: To combat this space crunch inside the Sidekick, we sometimes travel with it stuffed into the Getaway Bag diaper bag backpack (reviewed here with photos), and then I take my own fanny pack as an additional item. We use the Sidekick when we go into public restrooms or airplane bathrooms and I still have a fanny like my lululemon belt bag for my wallet, phone and keys, along with the granola bar necessity I mentioned above.

About No Reception Club

No Reception Club is a NEW and niche travel gear brand specifically focused on parents, creating products that address the unique challenges of family travel. The founders, Gemma and Daniel, are parents of two, and they are impressive travelers who started No Reception Club to travel better with kids.

I like their perspective on how to make family travel products improved, from things like “cold pockets” on the Hideaway Duffel Bag that we reviewed, to “wet compartments” on the Getaway Bag, and the “Slider” packing cubes that stack perfectly into the dimensions of the company’s bags.

The Sidekick Diaper Bag Belt Bag reflects their understanding of parent needs, combining functionality with style. The brand’s cute designs and thoughtful features make travel with children more manageable and enjoyable.