Thoughts on Diaper Bags (See Jane Contemplate)

I really love all of your choices. The easiest and most comfortable option would be a backpack (like the GAP one you posted). I carried a backpack as a diaper bag and then also a mini crossbody with my wallet, lipstick and stuff in it. It worked out well because if I was just running in somewhere and didn't need to haul the entire diaper bag, I would just grab my little crossbody. It worked for me. 🙂 Good luck w/your decision.

Anna,
You have always been much more chic than me, so maybe you'll be able to retain that as a mom, but you might regret choosing one of these bags.

A thousand dollar+ bag is no place for a dirty diaper (plenty of no-trashcan moments, and my every diaper will be sealed in an individual ziplock! plan was quickly forgotten…) or the half eaten banana your toddler hands you for safe keeping.

You also need to remember that this needs to be lightweight so that you can carry it (filled with pounds and pounds of baby things) and the baby (who will inevitably reject the stroller at exactly the wrong moment) and whatever else you need to carry at the same time. Oh, and probably while you also manage to change a diaper in some precarious place because not nearly enough places have changing tables!

You also probably want to look for something that is crossbody,for the same reason. You need to be able to get into it with one hand, so that the other hand is free to hold/clean/keep track of the little one. For that reason, I would avoid the backpack.

Whatever you choose, make certain to buy a foldable changing pad that you can wipe down.

Unfortunately, sometimes nylon just makes sense.

I carry the Lesportsac Ryan Baby Bag. It's no secret I have a baby and carry around diapers, so why fight it. I think of it as my little girl's bag, not mine, although I probably wouldn't mind the zoo animals for myself, I'm kindof like that.

Here are some options that might be more your speed: @ shoptimiandleslie dot com

A final word of advice: Enjoy the time you have with yourself now. After the baby comes, you belong to him. It's life changing in a good way, but it's life changing.

Kelly

So I had to chime in since I just had a baby 7 months ago and thought I would do the same thing! I originally used my LV Neverfull and didn't know why I would need a bag that was cotton or nylon and had a bunch of pockets- well I quickly learned my lesson! Basically with in just a 2 week span of using the LV it got spit up on it, a bottle leaked all over the inside, and I was constanly digging through the bag trying to find a pacifier to soothe a screaming baby in public. I quickly switched to Lands end tote with a bunch of interior pockets that is easy to clean.
I now save all my special bags for when I'm going out without the baby and I do keep a small Longchamp folded up in my big diaper bag just in case I just need to pop in somewhere quick with the baby and don't need to lug the big bag. I say go for the best looking diaper bag you can because you will regret it if you can't get a baby stain out of something really pricey-trust me and baby's are very, very messy.

As a mom of two, I like #3 or the Madewell Transportation tote that someone else mentioned. When they are little I kept a packed diaper bag in the car/stroller and then used a "regular" tote with a few essentials in it-2 diapers, small pack of wipes, maybe a pacifier. If you're breastfeeding that's all you need for at least 6 months. And maybe a plastic bag/onesie for the inevitable blow out.

You don't have to do a typical diaper bag!

Rebecca Minkoff makes a baby bag. Same stylish bags but nylon inside! Amazing.

My son is 15 months and once he was eating food a large normal purse was fine but I started bringing an insulated lunch bag for some of his food. (This would also be helpful if you need to carry breast milk). When he was really little you need to carry a lot. And I agree that you want something you can wipe clean because there are a lot of messes. I personally have a nylon kate spade diaper bag. Inside I use some le sport sac pouches to keep things organized. One for diapers, another for bottles, another for my things. I also bring zip lock bags to keep a few changes of clothes. And it's convenient to put the dirty clothes in the bags to keep from getting the bag dirty. Most of the time I like not having a zippered bag, but we are about to travel and I will need a zippered bag… Something to consider.

Needs with babies change often so you might consider getting a less expensive bag so that you won't feel bad changing it when your needs change.

I think a cross body strap is a must. When you are chasing after a little speed crawler or trying to prevent a dangerous situation, you will really want both hands free. Look for something with a nylon liner. I also moved all my stuff to a little clutch so that I didn't have to always use my bigger bag. You could also use something like this
http://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Pronto-Changer-Diaper/dp/B000F1SCJK
so that you can change bags easily. I got so bored carrying one bag all the time!

I'm no experienced mom, but I have plenty of friends who are and they all say the same thing: get a bag that DOESN'T look like a purse so your husband doesn't feel foolish carrying it! Makes perfect sense. I don't know your husband, but I imagine he'd rather not carry a (super chic!) pink leather bag.

These are all such fashionable diaper bag options! Have you looked at Lo + Sons bags? They're my favorite for traveling and I could see them making great diaper bags!

I had a Kate Spade nylon diaper bag… granted that was like 9 years ago. It was "cool" then… or so I thought. Whatever bag you choose you have to be prepared to have at least one bottle or juice box explode in it. It will happen. The nylon is good for that… but after I ditched the traditional diaper bag (after the bottle stage for both kids) a large purse worked great.

It's worth having a bag that "Dad" can use as well. I've found that having one bag everyone can use is a lot more streamlined.

Cross body is also nice because when you are running to the bathroom with a blow out diaper, you want to be able to have the bag at the ready.

It also depends how you plan on transporting your baby. If you plan on using a stroller folks won't see your baby bag as much. If you plan on using a carrier most of the time then the bag will be more visible and you will also want something that is easy to carry.

I love the black and white striped one that you picked!

Paige
http://www.thehappyflammily.com/

I've been eyeing this one for myself: http://www.shoptimiandleslie.com/Charlie-cinnamon.aspx#.UvUhjEJdUZc

Let us know which one you choose!

I think a lot depends on preference, climate, and how convenient your garage is to your house. I tried a Kate spade diaper bag but it was horrible- no cross body strap, and trust me, it gets loaded full pretty fast and it's hard to manage a baby/car seat/other bag with a diaper bag you can only wear on your shoulders. Plus, trying to carry it over a winter coat and schlep it around was a headache.
I ended up buying an Elizabeth quilted leather storksak diaper bag and I love it. It's leather but nylon lined and easy to wipe clean, has tons of pockets and pouches, a changing pad, and best of all a cross body strap. I too thought I would just use a large tote but without the organizers it turns into a nightmare (or did for me anyway). It comes in black, my hubby doesn't mind carrying it around, and it doesn't scream baby. Also, because if know it's a diaper bag, it doesn't bother me nearly as much if something spills or it gets dirty, while if it was my every day chanel or celine I might die a little inside.

Now that my little one is a little older, I keep it stocked and ready to go so I can throw it in the car when I know we might need to change her or distract her with toys, but I'm back to using my regular big bag for toting my stuff around. I'm expecting our second this fall though, so I'm glad I have a sturdy diaper bag I know I'll use again. There are a lot of choices out there, but definitely a cross body bag with some organization. I know some moms who make it work with their own bags, but to me, I'd rather invest a little in something that works and save the rest of my money for a bag for me, not something to do double duty. Good luck!

I agree wholeheartedly with most of the aforementioned thoughts. I might add: When it comes to diaper bags, I think function is more important than fashion, but that's not to say fashion can't play a role in your selection. I carried a Coach, my sister carried a Marc Jacobs. Both official diaper bags, both highly functional. Some things to consider:

Pockets: The last thing you want to do is dig through a large tote looking for that one thing your screaming/crying kid needs five minutes ago. Find a bag with tons of pockets. Especially one that will keep a bottle upright.

Spills/Stains: Your diaper bag will come into contact with mud, dirt, poop, puke, boogers, milk, diaper cream, baby food and toddler snacks. Whatever you choose, make sure you're OK with it getting dirty and or stained. This is why a majority of bags are nylon and/or otherwise wipeable material.

Make sure it closes.
Make sure your husband will carry it.
Make sure it goes across the body.
Make sure it can get smashed at the bottom of a stroller.

As for carrying it when you're done…I carried nothing but my diaper bag (and a small clutch that fit inside) for an entire year. I couldn't wait to switch it up when I didn't need to carry as much stuff.

I used a buttery soft, black leather backpack.
It was all I ever needed.
I really don't think pockets are important. In fact, I don't like pockets in my bags.
Ziplock bags or clear zippered cosmetic bags work the best. Keeps things organized and visible.
Crossbodies are the new backpack, look chic and will work much the same way.
One thing I do want to say about the whole baby thing is this…less is more. Babies really don't need that much. You could definitely use just a regular purse and the bin on your stroller and be just fine.

As much as I hate diaper bags (lets face it, there are some truly terrible ones out there) I have to agree with everyone that while using a traditional designer bag might seem like a good idea- it quickly becomes more of a hassle. I'd look into Rebecca Minkoff's line of diaper bags- they don't look like them but they come with everything that you need!

xo
Kara
http://www.thebostonista.com

I felt the same way. I owned one diaper bag and that was it! I quickly moved on to something much more practical (imagine that!) and that I really loved. A few things to consider: are you planning to cloth diaper or use disposables? If cloth, a larger bag is a must. If you're going with disposables, smaller is easier. In the first few months, if you plan to be out and about a lot and you're not breastfeeding, make sure your bag has inserts for bottles. If you're planning to breastfeed, you won't need bottle inserts, so a bag with one ro two additional compartments will be more than enough. My favorite bags have been the ones by bookhouathome you can find them on Etsy or here: http://www.bookhou.com I love that they have large inner compartments and zippers (an absolute must!) The zip tote is fantastic and if you want something a little smaller the carry all bag is a great size too. Truly one of the best quality bags I've owned to date. Oh and if you're planning to baby wear at all, sakura bloom slings are the best! I loved my essential sling and it wraps up small into a "diaper bag" too. 🙂 xo
Eleanor

I'm a mom of two boys in Toronto – ages 4 and 7 months. I swear the absolute best diaper bag is a Longchamp tote. Lightweight and easily wipes down. I have never understood what people put in those monster nylon diaper bags! Really all you need is a couple diapers, small pack of wipes, thin blanket for a change mat and an extra change of clothes. Even when my first switched to bottles I still didn't need anything bigger. What do people have in those giant bags – you're running errands not traversing Everest lol! Best of luck!

I have a 2-year-old and am going to have my second this summer. Right now I use an ugly diaper bag that I hate. It's an Eddie Bauer canvas diaper bag from Buy Buy Baby. I chose it because it was neutral enough for both me and my husband to carry without him feeling dumb. I previously purchased a Timi & Leslie diaper bag for $160, and I liked it because it was somewhat stylish and still cleanable and had all the diaper bag accessories and pockets (though not nearly enough pockets in my opinion), but I ended up returning it because I just felt like it was too heavy for all the walking I do. I just barely (last week) purchased a cheap but cute, oversized, red faux-leather purse from Target to have as a second diaper bag for when I want to look cuter. That way we still have the ugly canvas bag for my husband to feel okay carrying, and I can have a smaller, lighter, more stylish bag to carry when it's just me. And if it gets spilled on that's okay because it was only $30. But I think you should do whatever you want to do. If you want a purse instead of a diaper bag then do it! Everyone is different and things work differently for everyone.

I have a 3year old and a 10month old and much prefer throwing what a need in an oversized purse. While functionality and wipeability may be important, so is not loosing yourself and feeling pretty as a mom when you have less time/enegry for great hair, nails, and accessorizing. I only use a traditional diaper bag (Scouts Rocket Pocket – made of sail cloth) when we are gone for an all day event or I'm leaving my kids somewhere and taking my purse with me. Good Luck! and congrats!

الاول سيو افضل شركة تسويق الكترونى تعمل على تسويق المواقع وارشفتها باحدث وسائل السيو فهى تقوم بتهيئة المواقع لمحركات البحث لجلب الزوار والعملاء
ومن اقسام الاول سيو قسم الخدمات المنزليه مثل افضل شركة تنظيف بالرياض
وافضل شركة تنظيف شرق الرياض بالاضافة الى افضل شركة مكافحة الحشرات بالرياض وتغطى خدماتها شرق وشمال الرياض فالاول افضل شركة مكافحة حشرات شرق الرياض تستخدم اقوى المبيدات الحشرية
واسعارها في متناول الجميع ومن الهام التاكد دائما من خلو منزلك من تسربات المياه حتى لا تتعرض لمشاكل مثل انهيار وتصدع المبانى الاول افضل شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالرياض تستخدم اجهزه الكترونية اكشف التسرب بالذبذبات وتغطى كافة مناطق الرياض فهى افضل شركة كشف تسربات المياه شرق الرياض
شركة نقل عفش بجدة
شركة تنظيف خزانات بالقطيف

شركة تنظيف كنب بالرياض

الاول شركة تخزين اثاث بالرياض
توفر افضل المستودعات لتخزين الاثاث والعفش التى تتوفر بها كل عوامل الامن للحفاظ على الاثاث وتقوم بتغليف الاثاث قبل تخزينه للمحافظة عليها فالاول افضل شركات تخزين العفش بالرياض ونوفر سيارات لنقل الاثاث من اى مكان داخل المملكة .
شركة تنظيف خزانات بينبع

بالاضافة الى خدمة نقل اثاث بالرياض فنحن نمتلك اكبر اسطول نقل بالرياض يوفر لك افضل خدمة نقل اثاث بالرياض
بالاضافة الى ان اسعارها في متناول الجميع فهى فالاول شركة نقل اثاث بالرياض رخصية بالمقارنة مع باقي الشركات بالرغم من جودة عملها ودقة المواعيد فهى تقوم بتغليف العفش للحفاظ عليه اثناء النقل وتقوم باستخدام سيارات مغطاه مخصصة لنقل العفش للحفاظ عليه من اضرار الشمس والامطار والاتربة فالاول افضل شركة نقل اثاث بالرياض وتغطى كافة مدن المملكة
نقل اثاث بالرياض

وان كنت بحاجة الى شركة شراء اثاثك القديم المستعمل فباتصالك بنا تحصل على افضل شركة شراء اثاث مستعمل بالرياض والخرج
حقين شراء اثاث مستعمل بالرياض

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Love the chevron design of this bag! And, these are all good ideas to consider essentials! I completely agree with a snack and water bottle for Mom. It’s not just a baby bag…more like a Mom and Baby bag