.jpg)
It's funny how prepared we try to be during the first few weeks and months of parenthood. If we can only anticipate our baby's needs, everything will be under control, right? For me, packing an efficient, no-sitation-I-can't-handle bag helped create a semblance of order in a pretty chaotic time. Nothing wrong with that!
The bag I chose back then was a $20 no-nonsense black tote. Lots of pockets (too many, actually), "wet" section, changing pad, and more. I carried it for six months at most. Now, two years later, I feel like I need to cart around far less. My son's needs have changed, and I've relaxed a bit as a parent. I wrap a diaper around a ziplock with some wipes in it, put the whole thing inside another ziplock, and pop it into my purse. In the back of my car I have a small bag with a backup outfit, a snack, and an extra sippy.
Sure, you need a way to carry your baby's stuff, but do you need a diaper bag? I'm not so sure. I'd love to hear what you think. My friend never got a one. She hauls her daughter's stuff around in a JanSport backpack
Target has a nice selection of trendy bags, many for around twenty dollars (free shipping when you buy two or more baby gear items). I like this tote by Merona. Walmart offers this polka dot bowling style bag for $15.46. And here are a couple of standout deals I found at Amazon
What about you? How long did you carry a diaper bag? Are they really necessary or can you make do with something you already have?
Jul 31, 2007
Diaper Bags: Utility, Fashion...and a Few Great Deals
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Join the 
22 comments:
I have 4 different diaper bags.
I still use my Jansport Backpack.
Weight of it goes on both shoulders instead of one, and it's great to be hands free!
I wish I'd never bought the diaper bags.
i guess i must be cheap... i happily used the free plain black bag they gave us at the hospital!
A diaper bag is definitely not on my "must-have" list. In fact, it doesn't even make my "wishlist." If I could turn back the clock, I wouldn't have registered for a diaper bag at all.
When my baby was very little, I used the free bag from the hospital.
Now, I just throw a diaper and a travel wipes case in my purse (I keep an extra outfit and an extra diaper in the car).
If you want to invest in a bag, buy a stylish oversized purse (for the fashionista) or a backpack (for the athletic/outdoorsy type). BONUS: You'll be able to use the bag pre- and post-baby...
I just used the free one from the hospital too!! I figured why spend the extra money for a fancy one.
I love diaper bags, but refuse to spend a lot on them. Since my baby was born I have ditched the purse for the diaper bag which can hold his stuff and my few things like my keys and wallet. It's just easier than having two bags to haul around.
Carter's has some nice bags which you can sometimes pick up for pretty cheap. I got my current diaper bag for $12.50.
I have a nice one from Pottery Barn Kids that I like to use if I am going to be gone all day or overnight, but for normal every day, I use a diaper wallet inside of a purse. I bought a couple of larger purses that I like and would use after the baby no longer needs diapers.
We used the free hospital diaper bags as well. We've been pretty rough on them, but we received several so it works out.
I would love a cute little trendy diaper bag, but then I'd be stuck carrying it 100% of the time. My husband isn't so keen on toting a pink polka dot bag on his shoulder.
I would definitely think an oversized purse is the way to go if you don't fancy the plain black hospital bags.
I bought a cute skip hop bag. It's ok I guess, but I certainly got over using it. My husband and I are both bag obsessed and there are probably 20 different messenger bags that I can cycle between and use for a diaper bag. But the reality is I have a ziplock with a couple diapers, wipes, and sanitizer that I throw in with a spare onesie and a burpcloth and I'm done. Totally do NOT need a special diaper bag. In fact, it's way hipper (in my opinion) to just go with the cool bags we already spent lots on when we could afford it. If you have the funds, check out www. freitag.ch.
someone gave me a jjcole stroller bag which i never use (actually i use it for a bag for school) i do use the changing pad/purse thing it came with though- people tend to look at me less funny if i change the kiddo on top of something rather than directly on the train seat! it fits 4 diapers, a travel thing of wipes and my cash/card and some sanitizer. i can also fit the travel formula dispenser (then i just throw a bottle in the sling near his feet)
I bought myself a really nice Vera Bradley purse as an anniversary gift (I let DH off the hook for that one) and then discovered that it made the best diaper bag. It's oversized, has great storage and lots-o-pockets for everything baby and mommy related. I carried my essentials along with baby's. And it did not look like a 'diaper bag'..just a nice purse. I used it up until my daughter was just about 3 yrs old and then I realized that her things were taking up far less space than mine. Now I'm breaking it back out for baby #2
i bought the merona bag from target which was VERY cute..and neutral. I hate diaper bags made for either a girl or a boy...should compliment ur outfit, not ur kid! anyways that bag was nice, but heavy even without anything in it, plus too big for me to carry around everywhere, so i use it as an overnight bag at my moms. I recently (like 2 days ago) received that amazon.com bag that is pictured and i fell in love with it. Actually when u search for it, u can see i wrote a review ("a.khalid, Queenscheme"). Its hip and not diaper baggish. I like it. I also have a 3$ bag i bought from target once that is lighter than air, was on clearance, and was the exact same shades at my stroller. I have been using that since my son was born 6 months ago. It fits everything a baby needs, plus is small and light and cool.
anon, i know what u mean..my husband would never carry around a girllish bag..he says why not carry around the smallest thing cuz u will just put it in the basket of the stroller anyways! lol...and u want to know something? 90% of the women i know, do exactly that!
just a thought, skip hop has a brand at target now, i really wanted the skip hop bag when i was pregnant with my first, but they were only avail online, and i did not want to risk that much money on them...i was in a newly built target yesterday and saw the skip hop bags there (A different bag made by skip hop, u know like how isaac m. sells his things there also..) they also had just the diaper changing stations. Too cute.
Very Best Baby offers a free backpack style diaper bag at participating hospitals, and Enfamil offers the free standard over the one shoulder style diaper bag at participating hospitals. I am taking both "coupons" I received in the mail with me when I deliver (hopefully in less than a week). They are plain black but I'm not all about trends anyway. The cheaper the better for me :)
I'm in the shove-a-diaper-n-some-wipes-in-the-purse camp.
Our daycare bag is actually a canvas freebie I got at a conference.... black & red with just the right pocket setup and a zipper top.... I put some crafty decor over the advertising on the side. And I use those "half-cube" organizers in it... one for each kid, which works for me.
For adventures (stroller trips, sporting activities etc) I have a patagonia bag I got at their outlet.... it's kind of log-shaped and is a modified messenger... can't describe it better but it is great... 3 pockets (small one for mommy stuff, medium one for diapers & change of clothes & large one for toys, snacks & sippy cups) and a cell phone pocket. I love it because it is so narrow and low profile it works great under your feet at sporting events and such. And you can just toss it in the washer... 'cause who KNOWS what is on the floor at sporting events and such..... ew.
I just an old eastpak backpack that still has some life in it. The front pocket is perfect for diaper creme and plastic bags; I keep everything organized in the large section with plastic zip lock bags.
We had 3 other diaper bags - one stays in the car for emergencies and as a backup, and the others have been given away.
Instead of spending money on those I wish I'd just bought a nice big purse - most of the time if we're just going into a store I only bring a wipes case, blanket and a few diapers and cram them into my own bag.
I bought a columbia diaper bag from babies r us, and quite enjoyed it, and my DH wasn't embarassed to carry it around.
Now we use a canvas one, cause it stays on my shoulders better.
I think it depends on the baby. Mine were spitty messy babies where i had to constantly change clothes and stuff. Also if you can nurse you may be able to take less stuff, mine was on a specility formula so there was no way I was going to leave without it, I didn't want to have to buy it full price somewhere.
I was given a Target diaper bag for a baby shower gift and it fell apart in about two months time (lining came undone). It hurt so badly to carry that thing (we don't use a stroller - only babywear). Now we just use a small backpack and we're good to go!
My main diaper bag is a plain black Enfamil bag I recieved from the hosptial. It's big enough to carry all of my daughter's supplies along with my wallet and keys and it even has a place for my cell phone. I do have two others that I occasionally use. One is actually an oversized purse that was bought on sale at NY & Co. and the other is a cute pink quilted bag. I choose my bag depending on where I'm going and what I'm doing that particular day.
We bought an Eddie Bauer diaper bag at BRUs before our son came. The lining has already torn away and started to come out (only a year later). With no. 2 on the way, I feel like a do need a bag, but I'm not willing to pay big bucks for a special diaper bag...right now I am a diaper in my purse kind of girl.
We do use a bag when we go somewhere for a longer period of time. I'm considering the skip hop stroller bags at Target, as they would fit the need we have for a bag that is good for excursions, not too big, and works with the stroller. mor12gan
k, you might want to look into that amazon bag pictured in the article. it serves the purpose very well and is a backpack sling type bag, so when u are out, u can easily hold ur child in ur arms and not worry about a bag slipping off your shoulder. and it has enouigh compartments for a second child's use. I think u would really enjoy it.
First child I got the fancy diaper bag but quickly abandoned it when it fell apart. When baby 2 came I went for the back-pack and have looked back. I have 4 under the age of 4 so I still have to carry lots of stuff.
Post a Comment