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(Diaper) Bags for Moms on the Go?

JuliaInGermany

For the last two years I have been schlepping a huge brown diaper bag. It's a great bag that holds everything I want to take with me and that fastens to the pram/stroller handles so I don't have to carry it.

I was actually looking forward to exchanging this huge bag for my normal handbags again soon. Now that my second baby is due in May, this will not happen it seems. So I'd probably need a new bag or a totally different solution.

So here is my questions for the other moms: What kind of bag do you use for carrying diapers, a change of clothes, toys etc? Do you simply put a small bag with everything into the stroller and carry your regular bag? Or do you have a big diaper bag that also holds your personal stuff? And do you have any tipps on how to minimize the contents of my diaper bag? I always end up with a huge load!

Any hints would be welcome! Thanks!

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17 replies

Latest reply was from JuliaInGermany

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Congrats on baby-to-be! I used a Skip Hop bag and so did lots of my friends. They are durable, have just the right pockets, and are easy to sling over a stroller. I'd put my own wallet, cell phone, lip balm, etc. into the bag, too.

http://www.skiphop.com/

What brand are you using right now?

JuliaInGermany

Laura, the bags look very nice. I am currently using an Allerhand bag (I don't know whether you can get them outside Europe). Unfortunately their website is down at the moment. I loved the bag as it had lots for pockets, a changing pad, one of these thermo bags to carry a warm bottle and lots more. But now the thing is REALLY worn and I need to replace it. I'd buy another one from that brand, but I so much would like to wear a regular pretty bag again.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Honestly, I would strongly encourage you to NOT use a "real" bag right now. One bottle leak and the bag is ruined. (Ask me how I know.) I know that's a common suggestion (to just use a non-diaper tote bag) but just be careful that it's machine washable and you're willing to have it trashed - you said your current two year old diaper bag is looking pretty worn...a real bag isn't going to fare much better.

I carry only minimal items:
* one sippy cup full of water
* small container of cheerios (these often get ground into the lining of my diaper bag, hence machine washable is extremely important
* diapers
* diaper wipes
* tub of formula
* bottle full of water, ready to mix with formula

Actually, I don't really carry the last two items much any more, as my daughter is old enough to drink whole milk (but I can't carry that with me, or it will spoil).

Extra things certainly make their way in, from time to time, but I try to pare it down to those essentials.

I'll be back later with bag suggestions!

Dusty

(website)

I carried a regular diaper bag until my daughter was 18 months or so. Mine was a Fleurville Mothership (aptly named - it's huge - but I cloth diaper and those take up some room). The Mothership is very diaper bag looking but they have other styles that look more like regular pretty bags but are still durable and waterproof. http://www.fleurville.com (I'll warn you that their website was down yesterday but I hope it's working today.)

ETA: I can't get their site to open again, but do a search for Fleurville and you'll find tons.

Tricia

Veteran

When my first daughter got to be about a year old and I didn't have to carry so much, I used a Land's End Little Tripper diaper bag - it's not hugely stylish, but it's basic and small and durable. Then I had another baby and had to go back to a bigger bag, and I got one from LL Bean. Mine is black with a gray hibiscus print, which doesn't seem to be offered anymore, but the bag itself is roomy and sturdy and it's worked very well for the last 18 months.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop.....ext=diaper

RoseandJoan

Veteran

My girls were born 17 months apart, so my fairly inexpensive black nylon nappy bag was stuffed to the brim for the first few months. Now my youngest is one I only take the pram bag if we will be out of the house most of the day. At other times I carry my usual bag and place in it a plastic zipper wallet which holds diapers, travel wipes and travel nappy cream. The advantage of the wallet is that I can easily switch bags and any messy items are contained.

If I was in need of a new bag I would find this one very tempting in red spot
http://www.asos.com/Cath-Kidst.....=BriarRose

shana

Veteran

I also had a larger skip hop bag that I used to tote around when my babies were actually babies. Now that number two is a little older, I attach this to the stroler in addition to carrying my own purse:

http://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop.....38;sr=8-10

I also sometimes throw stuff into a Longchamp Pliage tote but I think a real diaper bag is so much better (at least for the first year)!

anne

Veteran

I use a backpack, bought from a luggage shop. It is quite big - could be used as cabin luggage.
I have 3 kids, none of whom can be relied on not to need a change of clothes! So
ideally I have
3 changes of clothes,
a few extra knickers and pullups
plastic bags to put soiled items
wipes

in a separate section I have handbagish items - wallet, phone, pens etc

mine has a flat section next to where you wear it on the back and this tends to accumulate paper things like colouring books, playgroup rosters, spare paper to draw on. I don't empty it out enough.

Plus sometimes
a water bottle for me
sippy cup
bibs
clothing my children have discarded! (they are always taking their shoes off)

I don't think my bag is particularly stylish. Ages ago on YLF someone said they had a platinum bag. That always appealed to me!

Dusty

(website)

I ran across this today - I'm past the diaper bag stage, but I'd totally want this one if I needed one. (I almost kind of want one anyway)

http://www.petunia.com/collect.....redvelvet/

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Dusty, those bags are gorgeous, but I would have to act a little bit princess-y with that type of bag and my poor pram bag has to take some serious abuse (I throw it down the outside stairs so I can bounce my double pram down the stairs etc).

Pregnantmom- I hope you can be a little kinder to your new bag!

JuliaInGermany

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Those are ALL lovely bags. It's funny, because when my daughter was born I wanted a simple dark brown bag. Now that I'll have a baby boy I would so much want something really girly.

I think I will definitely buy another huge diaper bag instead of a smaller one and using my own purse. I'll probably have to tote around toys for my daughter as well as the things for the boy.

While looking for an online store that sold the brands you mentioned here in Germany, I also ran across this red leather diaper bag:
https://www.lilla-lycka.de/det.....8;farbe=20
What's stopping me (apart from the pricetag) is that it doesn't attach to the pram and doesn't seem long enough to wear across the body. Oh well, a girl can dream of the PERFECT bag, right?

An

This is mine and I love it:

http://www.storksak.com.au/pro.....prodid=130

I try to keep a change of clothes and extra wraps and bibs in the car so I'm not carting it all around.

JuliaInGermany

Thanks again for all your suggestions. I have (almost) made a decision. After looking at what felt like a hundred bags in several shops I am left with three alternatives:

http://www.amazon.de/Lässig-L.....38;sr=8-14
http://www.amazon.de/Lässig-L.....038;sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.de/bellybutt.....m_sbs_by_6

They are all the same brand and have the same features like a long shoulder strap, a changing mat etc. The first one is essentially what I have been lugging around for the last two years. It's safe and would look good with our pram (which is beige and brown). But I think I would like something different now to get a fresh look and feel.
The second one would be a combination of what I've had (so I know that I'll like the functionality) with a bit of colour.
The third one is something I wouldn't have considered 4 weeks ago as it is more stylish than I have felt for a long time. But I think it would be nice to try something new and I do want to be a bit more stylish, right?

So, what do you think? Any opinions are welcome!

Louise

Veteran

Oooooo i like that last one x

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Love the second one...is it machine washable? The third one is stylish, but the leather bits scare me, as it means you've only got spot cleaning as a last resort for stain removal.

I once plunked down almost $100 or so on this gorgeous bag (in champagne) from Skip Hop.

http://www.skiphop.com/product/21500.html

Within two weeks, the water stains from leaky bottles, formula and coffee stains, etc. made it look like junk and I stopped using it. Even if stains hadn't torpedoed the bag, just having to be so precious with it kind of dampened my enthusiasm for it. I wasn't able to just toss it on a splintery wooden park bench and run after the kids...I had to find a cleanish, not too sandy or snaggy spot and carefully put it down, etc. Too much work for me.

bitsofpieces

(website)

I might be a little late jumping into this discussion, but wanted to post since I was a diaper bag JUNKIE for the first year of my child's life. I went through a ton of those things.

I loved my Skip Hop bags (I had three), but hated that they were so... well... "diaper bag" in appearance. But for functionality and organization, they can't be beat.

I had one custom made for me on Etsy which I also loved, but it ended up being a bit too big for my needs.

I tried numerous organizer messenger style bags, as I like to wear my bags cross body when I'm trying to juggle baby, stroller, etc. The Reign Vermont Mini Messenger was great for short trips.

I now carry an EcoGear messenger bag that's just right for my 19-month-old. It has two cupholder pockets on the exterior, plus plenty of interior space. I can keep diapers, toys, change of clothes, snacks, etc. plus my small wristlet purse inside the bag with no problem. It's all canvas, so I suspect it's machine washable.

ALSO, something else I did was buy a Skip Hop saddlebag for my stroller. This stays attached to my stroller all the time, I never remove it. It contains diapers, wipes, tissues, a baby carrying sling, sunscreen, receiving blanket, two small toys, etc. plus has a small cupholder on the side. That way I don't always have to carry my giant diaper bag with me when I use the stroller, since I already have the basics in the saddlebag. Instead, I can just throw my purse over the handles and go.

JuliaInGermany

Mamapicklejuice, that's a good point about washing. I think all of them are washable. The third one is cotton canvas and the details are pleather so that shouldn't be a problem. I would hate to spill something onto a new bag and not be able to clean it. :-/

Bitsofpieces, the bags attach to the stroller, but I probably can't do this as I will be using a kiddie board for my daughter. We just tried it and if she is standing on the board there is no space to attach a bag. So I will probably have to carry it. I made sure that the shoulder straps are long enough to carry the bags cross body.