What should a perfect diaper bag have?

nk1220

OK ladies, I am not at all a handbag person.  What shoule I be looking for when registering/ buying a diaper bag as far as function and a bit of style?  DH will be getting his own so I'm not worried about it being appropriate for both of us to carry.  I also need to know what kinds of things will I need when out and about.  I am an overpacker anyways, but in addition to the obvious diapers/wipes...what else should I need in it? What are your favorites?

Jackquelyn

These are obviously just my opinions, but make sure it has some way to attach it to the stroller.  If the shoulder straps are long enough, awesome.  If not, make sure it has stroller clips.  We use our stroller a lot and that is my biggest complaint about some diaper bags.

 For us, bottle pockets were nice.  You don't have to worry about the bottles getting turned or toppled.  

 Make sure the bag is big enough for what you will be using it for, and make sure that it is easily cleaned.  Our first diaper bag we loved, but it didn't get used long because it was impossible to clean.

 

jquirke9881

My criteria:  easy to clean, a good mix of large and small pockets, somewhere to put a bottle or 2.  For the infant stage, we travelled with diapers, wipes, spare clothes and socks, bibs, burp cloths, diaper cream, gas drops, suscreen, hat and a few toys.

nanabanana06

For me I like having a bag that has a large pocket and more pockets to store things. Plus some extras like a matching changing pad and a small clutch for my things. What you will need for going out is:

Diapers

Wipes

Extra clothes (like an outfit)

Extra blanket

Extra binky

Hand sanitizer

Nursing cover (if BFing)

Bottles 

Formula dispenser (if FFing)

A few toys

Your stuff

I try to keep it simple. If I know the child will need Tylenol or teething tablets I bring those too. Eventually I pack a few tubs of food, spoon and bib. Also, always have a few little plastic baggies for clothes and diapers.

ZooCrewMom

In addition to what ladies have already written, I would add that the changing pad and items need to be easy to get so you can grab with one hand if necessary. My 1st diaper bag had the changing pad just rolled and stuffed inside and after one trip I switched to a new one. Trying to hold your LO in a public rest room and wrestle with unrolling one is a huge pain. 

Make sure its easy to clean, inside and out. 

MommaAmers

I would second the stroller clips.  I have a Skip Hop Messenger bag for DS, but I am thinking of getting the Duo for this one.  It is a bit bigger and has a bit more room, but all Skip Hop bags have the clips that attach them to the stroller, which is one of my favorite things about my bag.

NoeliaV

Why is it important that it clip to the stroller? Apologies if there is a completely obvious answer here, FTM with no idea ;-)

jquirke9881

NoeliaV:

Why is it important that it clip to the stroller? Apologies if there is a completely obvious answer here, FTM with no idea ;-)

I have a Skip Hop with the clips and have honestly only used them a handful of times.  I always just put the diaper bag in the basket below the stroller.  I think if you get a stroller with a small basket that could be a problem and can see how they would come in handy.  Stoller clips are def not a must-have for me.

ShellShockedMama

a pocket sized nanny to do all the diaper changes.

HappyMama30

This is what works for us... regardless of the bag you choose.  I put items in ziplocs and so that way everything is sorted and ready at hand.  What you carry will change as baby grows.  You won't need to haul your diaper bag INTO the grocery store etc.  Usually, we keep it in the car and then if we need to do a change we just grab the ziploc and we're ready.  Ziplocs... change of clothes... receiving blankets... 2-4 diapers, portable change pad cover, sm. bum cream, flat wipes container... food... Now, I carry and over the shoulder/across the chest sm backpack style for my wallet, epi-pen, diaper ziploc, and snackies.  If you are not a handbag kind of girl I would go with a nice functional backpack.  All the leaning and crouching you will do with a new baby will only make a messenger style bag fall off your shoulder.  Have fun!

https://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=10918062

 

 

JLSmith124

Lots of pockets, easy to carry, easy to clean.

 

NoeliaV

jquirke9881:

NoeliaV:

Why is it important that it clip to the stroller? Apologies if there is a completely obvious answer here, FTM with no idea ;-)

I have a Skip Hop with the clips and have honestly only used them a handful of times.  I always just put the diaper bag in the basket below the stroller.  I think if you get a stroller with a small basket that could be a problem and can see how they would come in handy.  Stoller clips are def not a must-have for me.

Thank you :-)
I am thinking of getting a non-diaper bag diaper bag, but (obviously) that wouldn't have stroller clips.

We got the snap-in frame for our starter stroller, and it has a huuuuge basket under the seat.

Desmarie13

Nana_Osaki06:

For me I like having a bag that has a large pocket and more pockets to store things. Plus some extras like a matching changing pad and a small clutch for my things. What you will need for going out is:

Diapers

Wipes

Extra clothes (like an outfit)

Extra blanket

Extra binky

Hand sanitizer

Nursing cover (if BFing)

Bottles 

Formula dispenser (if FFing)

A few toys

Your stuff

I try to keep it simple. If I know the child will need Tylenol or teething tablets I bring those too. Eventually I pack a few tubs of food, spoon and bib. Also, always have a few little plastic baggies for clothes and diapers.

exactly this ... plus make sure there is a changing pad thats easily to unfold with 1 hand. EVERYTHING is better one handed ... bc usually ull have ur infant in the other lol. also make sure its some kind of material that is SUPER easy to clean! 

robyn2201

I keep seeing it mentioned that your diaper bag should be easy to clean which personally I find kind of find funny. Easy to clean is great, but I don't see that it's a must have. I see lots of comments on TB about how people wouldn't want a PPB because it has to be dry cleaned and I just don't get it because mine is 2 years old and still in awesome condition. Do people drag their bags along the ground? I personally think it's awesome bag and the fact that it has to be dry cleaned shouldn't be a reason not to buy one. But that's just my opinion though. What works for some, doesn't for others!

ETA: I didn't really answer your question. I would look for a diaper bag that has an adjustable strap. That way you can put it on one shoulder or if you are carrying a lot of stuff and don't want it falling off, you can adjust it so you can do across the shoulder. I hope that makes sense.

I like the PPB because it also comes with backpack straps. I loved these when traveling and using public transportation. When just out and about, we just use the shoulder strap.