I'm not good with decisions. Never have been, never will be! I get severe anxiety when I walk into an ice-cream store and have to choose which flavor of ice-cream to buy. I break out in a sweat when I'm at a fancy restaurant and have to decide on a menu item. I don't even want to begin explaining the anxiety I felt as I was dating my husband and had to decide if I wanted to get married or not. (Thank goodness I had dear friends and family to help me decide - I (they) made the right decision)!!So, can you understand the anxiety I am feeling as I'm trying to buy baby paraphernalia? I have to make informed decisions on any purchase, so I read up on ratings and reviews before I buy anything. I stressed & stewed for 3 weeks over which stroller & car seat to buy, and it took Dan finally hitting the "submit" button for me before I could make my final decision. Clothes and the little things are fun to buy, but it's the big things that just about do me in. Why? Why do I take the fun out of something that could be so enjoyable?
This leads me to a question I need help with. I should just be able to go to Babies R Us or TJ Maxx and pick out a 'cute' diaper bag, but NO. It's me you're talking about! I want the most practical diaper bag out there, one that will fit my every need. This is where I need your help. Before I make such a "huge" decision (again, you're talking about me here), will you moms out there please let me know what you did or didn't like in a diaper bag? What was most important to you and what could you have gone without? You may think I'm crazy for posting something so trivial and dumb as a diaper bag, but it's truly causing me more stress than needed. And Carrie, hold your smart @$#* comments! :)
I may be exaggerating a little on the stress a diaper bag is causing me (I wasn't lying about the stroller & car seat), but would truly love to hear your input before I make the biggest decision of my life. (okay, kidding there as well).
Thanks all!
27 comments:
My most important quality in a diaper bag... hmm. You've gotta get one that's gender neutral so Dan will want to carry it too. Also, buy a bag that will double as a purse cause who wants to carry two bags around.
i ran out and bought this totally cute diaper bag when i was pregnant with Gav...and then used the totally butt ugly one the hospital gave me for free because it was WAY better and more useful.
anyway, most important features... i think it should have an adjustable strap that you can either wear over your shoulder, or adjust long enough to sling over your stroller handle bars. It has to have a very accessible small pocket for keys and wallet cause if you're lugging the infant carrier and your baby's freaking out, it's hard spending 10 minutes digging around your bag for your keys. oh, and i HATE diaper bags with flaps!! A flap is always in the way (especially when the bag's on your shoulder or slung on the stroller) unless i make a special point of lifting it completely and tucking it behind the bag after i lift the flap, which is just so annoying to do when your kid is screaming and you're frantically searching for their binky or whatever. i have the Skip*Hop (duo deluxe is the best, i think) and it's an awesome bag, very user friendly. Good luck with the anxiety of choosing one...and sadly, i can completely relate!
i forgot to tell you: the skip*hop is kind of small--you can't fit a blanket into it. But that's usually in the infant carrier on top of your baby, anyway.
You totally spoiled my fun on this one my friend...Of course you know I'd tell you to go to REI and get something that can double as a 72 hour kit, or I've seen some super amazing bags made out an old jean leg, yep, the whole leg. Imagine the possibilities. I think genius would be the person who would invent baby clothes that can house a diaper, wipes and a bottle all in one easy velcro pouch attached to the critter's side. Just saying my friend :)
i love having a key hook. and a pocket for diapers and wipes. and a pocket for bottles/sippy cups. And a little zipper pouch for my stuff that I don't want to get lost. I guess that's why I ended up just making my own.
Well, I completely relate to freaking out before major purchases and decisions...I stew about things, check and double check prices, read every comment I can possibly find, before making any purchase of something that I want to last me for a long time.
Anyway, that being said, my sister made me my bag, and I liked the look of it over the hospital bags that I got, so I used hers. The things I love about it are:
1. It zips at the top. Believe it or not, some bags don't close. BAD idea.
2. There are a billion pockets inside, and most are fairly large. This has been terrific because I can fit many diapers in one pocket, a thing of baby wipes in another, all the diaper/butt paste/Purell hand sanitizer in another, and all his little medicines in the next. I like being able to carry alot of diapers at once, b/c you never know when there will be a blowout, or you'll be at the dr. and they make you get the kid's diaper off and then you end up having to change it, etc. I also like keeping some baby Tylenol and IBP in one of the pockets. It has come in handy for every single dr's visit, when I want to drug him up before his shots, and it came in handy when I forgot my medicine bag on our vacation -- there was my little diaper bag stash for us. Woohoo.
3. Obviously, if there are alot of pockets, the bag is probably big. And it is. It's big enough that, even with the pockets full, I have room for a receiving blanket (which is very, very useful to have an extra one in your diaper bag, for many purposes - it's right with you when you go to nurse or change him somewhere, instead of using the one that you put on him in the car seat and getting it possibly dirty/poopy/pee-pee wet/etc.). I also have room for a change of clothes, which I've needed several times in a hurry, and some socks and shoes. Granted, babies are tiny and so are their clothes, but eventually he'll get big enough that you want the bag to be able to grow with him. I also put several toys and books in the main compartment, too. And, at the beginning, when you never know when you'll suddenly need to pump (if you're going to breastfeed), I carried around an extra bottle and a small manual pump and accessories. Very awesome, I know -- but very useful, too. So, yeah - alot of space, I would say, is the big thing.
4. You may want one that has an elastic sort of pocket for a bottle. Mine doesn't have that, but I wish it did.
5. A bag with a pocket for keys, cell phone, etc. -- all your stuff. Mine has this and it is great.
And I think that's all that I really wanted and use in my diaper bag. It's big, has alot of pockets, and is fairly gender-neutral (black with green and white polka dots, and just two little bows -- perfectly husband-friendly!).
Good luck! And if, in the end, the one you end up getting isn't what you want, at least you'll get one or two more -- albeit not as cute -- from the hospital when you have him. I got 3 from the hospital. So you'll have a few options until you can get yourself one.
Holy cow. Sorry I just left you a novel of a post. Geez.
All I can say is start with the hospital freebie and go from there. You will either (1) appreciate the fact that it was free, you can destroy it and then throw it away or (2) decide you want a diaper bag that doubles as a real accessory & invest in something cute.
I side with Julianne. One bag has not got the job of two. I always chose a slightly bigger bag so that I always had everything I needed. In the beginning you never know what you will need. And you always have to have it all or else the one thing you did not pack you are going to need. Just make sure it has room for a Bottle and a backup, a couple of diapers and small pack of wipes, extra onesie, erp rag of some sort or a bib, a toy or two, a binkie, your wallet and your cell. That should do you. I never liked the flap diaper bags, always in the way. Make sure it is not so big that you can't get it under your stroller. Good luck lady:)
The skip hop bags are really nice. I would go with the investment. It will be a permanent wardrobe accessory for the next while. Might as well get something you really like toting around day in and day out.
Mer- I have the Sherpani Lena Diaper bag, you can see it here http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013GHJXQ/ref=nosim/?tag=nextag-apparel-tier2-delta-20&creative=380333&creativeASIN=B0013GHJXQ&linkCode=asn . I love it and it is not too girly so it doesn't bug Barrett to carry it! Good luck finding one!
Mer, Elke (my brother Alan's wife) designs and produces boutique baby bags. Her company is called Myella. Go to my blog and link to their blog and she has her Etsy link on it. They are awesome bags, very practical and versatile and REALLY cute!
I kind of go with Adri on this one. Try out the hospital one and figure out what you like/don't like about it. Then you can really be informed about what you want! Good luck!
Oh, and POCKETS are a necessity. All shapes and sizes. I found a separate carrier at Babies R Us that holds diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, etc. and it folds out into a pad that you can use to cover the icky bathroom changing areas you don't want your baby to touch but feel like you have to use when you're on the go. It's so very handy because you're not digging in your bag for all those items separately. You just pull them out all at once!
Happy Hunting!
just to add my 2 cents... we have a Skip*Hop diaper bag as well, and it's nice, but Sylvia is right - very small. there are times i wished it was bigger, but after Reagan was about 10 months and i was sure she wouldn't explode out of one end or the other every time we walked out of the house, i didn't really need a big diaper bag anymore. but a good strap, pockets and easy opening are all pretty essential.
if you havn't bought your seat and stroller yet - we got the chicco stuff for Reagan and LOVE it. it's rated top in the country right now and is really nice. we didn't get the system (seat and stroller) because it was heavier, we just got the chicco car seat and chicco stroller.
anyway - we couldn't be happier for you guys. love you!!!
With my first 3 kids, I ended up with several diaper bags. With this last little critter, I've actually just used a cute purse. Your first baby is all about your discoveries. What works for one mom, doesn't work for another. Good luck with your decisions.
Mers...I have never used one although I love the petunia pickle bottom one that is made out of glazed canvas so it is water resistant and can be wiped off and doesn't get dirty. I think this one is super cute. And I like that it is a back pack. Then your shoulder won't hurt. But what the hell do I know???
http://www.petuniapicklebottom.com/collections/original/boxybackpacks/devonshiredandelion/
I have always used a big purse from Forever 21 with several pockets, which works for me. It fits what I need--wallet and keys, diapers and wipes, change of clothes for the baby, sippy cup and a toy or book for the toddler. It's kind of thrashed after 2 years though--I should get a new one.
You definitely either want something that is machine washable or something that you can wipe clean. For the diaper stuff I use a diaper wallet--you can buy them on Etsy, or Skip Hop has a line at Target. Etsy also has lots of cute diaper bags.
For church I use a diaper bag from Baby Gap. It has a pocket to hold bottles/sippy cups upright, which my purse doesn't have. That's nice. One perk of breastfeeding is that you don't have to lug around bottles if you don't want to, but eventually you get to sippy cups anyway.
I keep a hospital diaper bag stocked in the backseat of the car. That's nice to have for emergencies since the hospital ones aren't so cute but they are practical.
Good luck!!
I think the bag pictured is adorable!
Basically this bag that you get will be your purse as well for the next year or so, so you'd better love it...not to add to the stress of the decision.
Believe me you will not want to or be able to carry a diaper bag & a purse.
For this reason I went for basic black (or brown if you like), I wear more Black.....with lots of storage & compartments. Not too big, except with the twins that rule just went out the window.
Looks like you got alot of good adve here. I agree witht hte flap comment. Those get annoying.
& I love the comment about using the ugly free hospital one as a back-up already stocked & in the car for emergency situations.(that WILL HAPPEN).
Always, and I mean Always have an extra out fit packed for baby & a tshirt for you.
Ummm, I just had some knock-off Coach bag from Georgetown which worked great for me. As long as it was water resistant (for the most part) and had an outside pocket for the bottle, I was happy as a clam! Good luck! :)
Mer, this is a little late so maybe you chose a bag already...sorry. I like bags that zip closed so you don't spill everything each time you bend over (diaper bags are always jammed full of stuff), a bag that's BIG so you can pack an extra outfit, small blanket, small can of formula, etc. Also, a bag with lots of pockets and at least one pocket that zips (for keys and wallet items). Mine had a zip pocket on the front that was very helpful. Also, the bottle/sippy cup pockets - those were great! There's a website (www.onestepahead.com) that has some pretty functional, gender neutral bags and lots of other great baby stuff! Good luck!
Hi! I second the little fold up changing pad that can carry a couple diapers and wipes and butt cream. After the Boppy pillow I would say that was my most favorite baby item. Public bathroom changing tables are so germy! As far as bags, I just used the free hospital bag. They can hold more than you think. And nowhere does it say you can't get more than one bag. You can get a nicer bag for church and special outings and use a more practical bag for trips to the grocery store and stuff. My 2nd bag was a backpack. I used that when travelling.
By the way, are you having a baby shower? Are you registered anywhere?
Good luck!
Stephanie R.
My biggest tip is to have more then one bag. I use the free ones from the hospital. I have one that always stays in my car, so you're not hauling it out all the time. And I keep another one to give a babysitter, and a smaller one for church. For me, that's just easier.
Holy Cow! I was excited to give you my two-bits on the diaper bag quest, but then I saw you have 22 comments! You probably don't need any more information, I'm sure. But I'll post anyway, because I looked high and low for the perfect diaper bag when I had Eliza. By #2 I knew exactly what was most important...
Non-negotiable - SIZE. Atleast TWICE the size of the free hospital ones, with separated compartments. I simply wanted to have everything in the same bag, at all times. Right now I have one with a divider down the middle that is actually another pocket with a zipper in it. I keep special items in that middle zipper pocket to keep them safe, like bows/lace headbands that can be ruined by velcro and my camera. Then in one of the big pockets I keep diapers and wetwipes in special elastic pockets made for that. I keep desitin in a pocket behind them. Then there's the nursing cover and a changing pad, and a spare outfit since infants blow out or wet through their clothes ALL THE TIME. If you have a small diaper bag it's full already and that's just the beginning of all the necessary things you need at all times! My other big pocket is a life saver - I keep my huge wallet in there, treats in baggies, toys... Another non-negotiable feature is a KEY CHAIN HOLDER. I like the kind that has a little clip on the end. TOTALLY a life saver when you've got a heavy baby, bags, coats, etc and are trying to find your keys while juggling everything! Also, you really need a small pocket for your phone (on the inside of the bag). That's so convenient. An elastic pocket on both ends of the bag (on the outside) for bottle/sippy cup is a MUST-HAVE.
So, for me I looked for a really big size, key chain, lots of pockets for storing things so I knew exactly where to find it, outside sippycup holders, and NO FOLD OVER FLAP. (They might look stylin but to me they look like a complete PAIN - Remember - convenience in retrieving stuff is they key here!) If they didn't have those features I looked elsewhere. And believe me, I shopped everywhere for a bag, including babies r us, carters outlet, jc penny, etc. Where I found my treasured bag was at Burlington Coat Factory in their Baby Depot. (Huge selection, but completely unorganized. But worth the search because they are very reasonably priced. I only paid $40 for mine, I believe.) Oh, and my bag has a skinny zipper on the outside along the side, so I can fit coupons, cards, a pen, and the kids' immunization records so I'm prepared at the dr. office. I guess I just love lots of pockets. My diaper bag is very big, and so it doesn't fit under my stroller unless I slip it in sideways. But I don't care - as long as it fits and I'll take the extra size any day. I use the same bag for running errands as I do for going on a long flight and going to church... Just get one that will do the job every time. I would recommend that you don't try to use multiple bags! (oh, I just read someone's comment that said the exact opposite! How funny! There's proof that everyone is different! Whatever works for you!)Also, mine doesn't close completely - just a velcro flap that keeps it closed but not sealed on top obviously. But I don't mind, actually. I might like it better than a zipper along the top. I know mine would be unzipped all the time any way. There's some stuff that is negotiable and some that is not. :) GOOD LUCK.
Ju Ju Be has thought of it all. I have the backpack version because then I have two hands free which is always nice. You can wear it three different ways. Here's the website...you won't be dissapointed. I absolutely LOVE mine. http://www.ju-ju-be.com/
Ha! You crack me up. I understand though. I agree with going with the freebie and then you will be able to see what you really need. I think you will be surprised at how little you really need. Also, do buy one that doubles as a purse. That is a must. You will not want to carry around two bags, trust me. At times I have used a cute oversized purse and then put all of the baby things in a gallon size plastic bag and it works GREAT because you don't have to fish around for everything. It's all in one nice little pouch. Good luck!
We got a knock-off "Coach" brand diaper bag in China Town. Works great, and everyone thinks we're way more wealthy than we are. It's always nice pulling out the Coach changing pad that came with the bag...people can't believe that we are about to get poop on anything covered with pretentious, large "C's." Good luck!
I'm SO relieved to hear that I'm not the only one who has anxiety making even the simplest decisions in life. Thanks for this post. I needed it. ;)
CUTE diaper bag btw. ;)
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