Diaper Bag - Chantilly,VA

My one with my last baby (3 in a few weeks) was from Pottery Barn Kids. My work got it for me and it was about $85, but it was AMAZING!! So easy and convenient, and had enough room for me to carry snacks and drinks for my older two without looking like I was carrying a suitcase. My sister loved it too and got one when she had her baby.

I have three different diaper bags and the one I always use is my old Tommy Hilfiger backpack! It seems to hold the most stuff, is easiest to carry and neutral for my son and daughter. It has a mesh pocket on one side and a button pocket on the other as well as a smaller zippered pocket in the front.

The others I have are the shoulder bags (different sizes). I suggest a REGULAR backpack, not the ones designed as 'diaper' bags because they are smaller.

I make my own diaper bags but I do have some purchased ones and some that I got for baby gifts. Funny thing is, the one I have that I use the most (besides my own handmade ones) is the one I got for free at the hospital. LOL. I love it! It's an over the shoulder style, black bag and is easy to carry, use and very durable. Most of all, it was free and my husband can carry it too.
If you buy one, I would just go for something you find pretty or comfortable to carry. You won't have too much heavy stuff in it anyway that would break handles, etc.

Neither of these were cheap, but DH and I both love our Diaper Dude (for him) and Petunia Picklebottom (for me). We both have the attitude that we carry it, not the kids, so it should look like something WE want to carry (i.e. not covered with Mickey Mouse or whatever). My PP is gorgeous--I get compliments on it all the time from non-moms who want one--and super practical. It carries lots, has very handy compartments, built-in (but removable via velcro) changing pad--you can actually put it down, fold out the pad, and have little pockets with your diapers, wipes, etc, exposed right there under the pad flap. It comes with straps so you can configure it as either a backpack or shoulder bag, then shorten the shoulder strap to attach it to the back of your stroller. It has held up great through 1 kid (almost 3 yo), and is now ready for round 2 (due in April), looking no worse for wear. It is, however, quite girly looking--nothing DH would carry on purpose.

DH carries a Diaper Dude, which has also been great. It looks like a messenger bag, carries most nicely on your back over one shoulder, but can also do as a shoulder bag. Also good compartments and comes with the changing pad. I like mine a little better, he likes his--he's a much more bare-bones, bring a diaper and some wipes and that's enough kinda guy, whereas I tend to want to be ready for a 10-day overland trek just to run out to the drugstore, lol! But in any case, I'd definitely go and look at a bunch, and decide on your personality and what seems to work best with what you do and how you live your life. GL!

We have a ju ju be and I love it. It has so many extras that other diapers don't have (anti-microbial treated insides, thinsulate in two pockets, no velcro but magnets instead so don't have to worry about wool things getting ruined, and so many little extras all over the bag). They have many different styles and patterns so there is something for everyone.

http://www.ju-ju-be.com/products/bags.html

They are more expensive than a lot of the other diaper bags mentioned, but I think it is worth it. Since I carry the diaper bag every single day, everywhere I go, I wanted something that I really liked and that had some nice features.

We've used 3 different diaper bags - none have fallen apart despite heavy usage.

1. Eddie Bauer bag from Babies R Us - switched when second child was born and needed space for 2 diaper sizes.
2. Pottery Barn Kids (~$70) Ultimate diaper bag - switched recently to a smaller bag
3. LL Bean Diaper bag (~$50) - we've only been using it for 2 months, but so far, it's been really nice.

I have friends who use backpacks and love them because it's easier to carry a kid. honestly, I like something smaller and more compact because I hate carrying a lot of stuff.

Hope that helps. It will really come down to personal preferences - I'd recommend going to stores and put your belongings into them to see which holds them best. We sat on the floor at Babies R Us for 45 mintues trying our belongings in different bags before deciding on the Pottery Barn Kids bag.

When I had my boys (twins) I knew that I'd be lugging around a ton of stuff. I also knew that my hands would be full - one for each baby. I immediately went for a backpack diaper bag knowing that it would be out of the way to keep my hands free and not swing down off my shoulder if I had to bend down to tend to a baby or something. So I spent the money ($75) and got a diaper back pack. It lasted 3 months before it started to come apart at the seams literally. So I went to get a new backpack but avoided diaper ones and just looked for a sturdy one. I spent $30 and got one with lots of pockets - and never looked back. That $30 backpack not only lasted past the diaper stage, I still have it and occassionally use it after 7 years.

Get one that is black or a neutral color so the hubby won't complain about carrying it!

Congrats on the wee one!!
Jules

I was going to go with Vera Bradley because her diaper bags are washable...but I actually had a girl from my college make me one - she started her own business making purses, etc and she has excellent designs and is very friendly and professional..i am like you - I would rather buy things to support local artists than to spend money on a name brand. She is awesome to work with and will actually listen to what you want and let you help design your own bag...she sent me fabric samples to choose from, etc....I can't find her website address, but feel free to email her and let her know K. from VA recommended her! :) ____@____.com
my bag: https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=e396649244&...

I've always used 2 types of diaper bags for my kids. One for when we're doing a full day event, and one smaller for grocery store/daycare.

For kid 1 we had a Eddie Bauer bag from Burlington CF that looked like a fisherman's bag (dad picked out). It was square and bulky to carry. The small one a family member gave us as a baby shower gift. Its a small tote style with a long shoulder strap. That one was also from Burlington and lasted us 8y! and 3y with kid 2. We just stopped using last month.

For the all day bag for kid 2, I started out with a Toys R Us bag that was on sale for $10. I loved it, it was vynal, with yellow flowers. Too cute! Hubby REFUSED to carry it. So when it finally died after 6 months, I bought the large brown/tan Winnie the Pooh bag from Target $30. I've had it for 2y and its still going strong.

The main key is your body. How does each style of the bag work with your body, and how you live. The only other thing I looked for was the waterproofness of the bag. Could I sit it down in a pouring rain and not have the things inside or it get ruined.

Good luck
M.

I just wanted to say to Meg, that that's so funny about your husband carrying the bare minimum. I can't tell you how many pictures of zoo trips, outings etc where my husband just has a diaper & a bottle in his pocket!!! I did the same for short trips, threw a bottle or two & diapers in my purse. I did use that insulated bag alone that came with the diaper bag from the hospital. The one that holds a couple bottles & the ice packs. I still have it & even use it for picnics & whatever now. It is handy for shorter trips. I only used a diaper bag for longer visits where I could carry the change of clothes & all that. I have the same attitude (Meg) that most of the stuff for baby I have to be seen with or has to be in my home. So personally I don't understand why anything is gender specific or marketed towards baby (except clothes) & not me. I'm not pushing a pink stroller, girl or not. I don't want a bag with Pooh on it. This time around I am just going to look for a larger purse, or tote like someone already mentioned. I am a SAHM, so I probably wouldn't need anything that would be packed to capacity for any outing or used every day. My husband would probably never use one, even out alone. As long as it has enough space, pockets if that's what you need... that's what you need to look for. You should take a couple hours to go look around. See what fits your budget, style & your needs.

My favorite diaper bag was inexpensive. We got it from Target about 3 1/2 years ago. We just went in, looked for one that both my husband and I could use (and not feel too embarrassed about--for him), and could hold the things we needed (diapers, wipes, bottles, extra change of clothes, etc). It was a very lightweight bag that had great compartments.

It lasted more than 2 years before it just went kaput. The best $20 ever spent. But we just took an afternoon, went to Target, and explored. I'd recommend that you and your husband do something similar because each person has their own likes and dislikes.

man, we must be really tough on our diaper bags! with our first two we went through probly 4-6 different ones/brands cuz they kept falling apart- even the "expensive" ones from babies r us didn't really stand up to our usage. then just before my third child was born (just over two years ago now) my husband got me a petunia picklebottoms one. still works and looks like new! i personally can't believe how well it's held up, and i love that i have the option of making it backpack style or over the shoulder style. i have never been one to carry any bags, so even the diaper bag gets left in the car more often than not, just grabbing a diaper and wipes when i go inside (in a removeable pocket from the bag), but i still, personally, feel that if you can, this is one item to spend the money on :) of course, my sister got a "cheap" one for her first kid and still uses it with her third, so again, we just seem to be rougher on our bags than others

I have a Columbia backpack from Babies R Us. I LOVE IT! I have a hard time carrying the shoulder style bags, even purses, because they always fall off my shoulder, so the backpack is great because you have both hands/arms free. It's also convenient when you are trying to hold multiple things AND a baby carrier. I bought it because it was functional, and not frilly (meaning my husband would carry it too). I find that it is the right size for having one child, but it may be too small for two. It depends on how much you carry. I just find most diaper bags to be so bulky, and this one is definitely not so. The insulated pocket is nice too for storing an ice pack and a cold bottle. So, all in all - I definitely recommend a backpack!

My daughters purchased a backpack from Pottery Barn Kids. They got the smaller one. It worked fine as a diaper bag and held up long enough to be used for 2 years of pre-school.

I really like Lands' End's Little Tripper. It is $25, and I got it monogrammed for another $5.

I put the long strap across my chest so it is hands free. The front pocket has enough room and special pockets for me to use as a purse (I don't have a lot of stuff). The inside of the big pocket has a light blue waterproof lining making it easy to find things. The outside pockets are great for sunglasses, cell phones, sippy cups (and bottles if you don't breastfeed). The removable changing pad is fabulous too. The bag is small enough that it is easy to carry, but has ample space for diaps, wipes and a change of clothes. It also isn't so babyish that my husband is fine with carrying it. I continued to use it even after diapering just as a sporty purse with room for childrens' necessities. It wipes clean easily and I've traveled the world with it. Mine has been in constant use since '04 or '05 and still looks brand new!

I found one at walmart that I loved. It' looked more like an everyday tote rather than a diaper bag. But I totally agree with Kristy. Take a day and go look at what you want together.

i like the jeep cloth ones as they seem durable.

With my first child I got a Skip Hop Duo bag...cost me $50 and worked just fine, but then I got pregnant again and needed something a little bigger. I bought a bag from Target that is almost EXACTLY like the Skip Hop Duo (even made by Skip Hop) for half the price. It's called Spark by Skip Hop. I like it better because it has more room for cups/bottles but is still not bulky or girly (so my husband doesn't mind carrying it). It comes with a changing pad and has clasps to turn it into a stroller bag. I wish that they made these when I was preggo the first time because I wouldn't have wasted my money on the first one.

Good luck!!