STMs - Diaper Bag Feedback

JessAnnJ · July 2014

I know we have had posts on diaper bags and the cute ones that everyone purchased, but there hasn't been a lot of discussion regarding what people have hated in diaper bags they owned and what they are looking for in new ones. With a second LO on the way and having two in diapers, DD will be 22 months when this LO is born, I need something better.

I currently have a skip hop duo and I have never liked it. It doesn't zip up on top so things are always falling out. It is also taller than it is wide which means it's deep and it can be annoying to dig around for things. The height also means it tips over easy when I put it down.

I do not want a designer bag because I don't see a point paying for a name when the bag comes into contact with bathroom floors, but I will pay more for a bag that is better in terms of comfort or function. I preferred to wear my daughter when she was younger so if anyone has tips on bags that are more comfortable while baby wearing that is great too. My current bag was always falling off my shoulder.

I hope someone has found a dream diaper bag and can help me narrow down my options.

JJsMum · July 2014

Personally, and after much trial and error, I have found that I generally love Ju-Ju-Be bags. My fav is the BFF. I could get everything that I needed for 2 cloth diapered kids in that bag. Plus, it converted from a messenger to a backpack if needed (helpful when I was wearing DS#2). Once DS#1 was out of diapers, I went with the Behave. I love that these bags are machine washable, have crumb drains in the bottom, are lighter coloured inside (helps with the 'lost' item problem), and have plenty of pockets for storage.

They are a little on the expensive side, but after going through a bunch with DS#1 and having them tear, wear out, or break, I decided that the quality was worth spending a bit more. My BFF has been through 2 kids and still looks brand new. My Behave I got about a year ago and also still looks brand new. Plus the Behave just looks like a big purse rather than a diaper bag, so I imagine I'll continue to use it long after the need for a diaper bag has passed.

vrj0522 · July 2014

I have a Petunia Pickle Bottom boxy backpack and that was my 3rd diaper bag. I absolutely love it and I love that it's easy to clean up and the outside is water resistant. Before I bought it I would carry both a purse and a diaper bag with me because I hated having the diaper bag as my purse.

When I bought it, I was trying to find a cute bag that I would feel was stylish and cute enough to use as a purse but also big enough and a backpack. I seriously did not think I could find what I wanted but did with the PPB. I know it's a designer bag and I'm not sure how much you are willing to spend on yours. I know one of my SILs just bought a used PPB on ebay and she said she only paid $80 for it. It doesn't look used because I think those bags keep really well so she got a really good deal. I wonder if you could find them on Craigslist too.

ariel06 · July 2014

I'm a diaper bag junkie and my favorite was the skip hop dash. My must have features are lots of pockets, top zipper or way to close, stroller straps. and durable fabric.

hgielrebmik · July 2014

I recently got a backpack diaper bag at Walmart and I love it. ($24) It has tons on pockets and my old one was always falling off my shoulder and hard to find things in. I also love that the wipes have their own pocket on the side and very easy to get to quickly.

JessAnnJ · July 2014

@vrj0522‌ is it comfortable as a backpack? There aren't too many options that can be a shoulder bag and a backpack.

JessAnnJ · July 2014

@JJsMum‌ -is it comfortable as a backpack? Do the backpack straps detach?

vrj0522 · July 2014

JessAnnJ said:

@vrj0522‌ is it comfortable as a backpack? There aren't too many options that can be a shoulder bag and a backpack.

It really is. I have no complaints and it works perfectly. I use the back pack option every time and DH likes the shoulder strap so we just keep both on and can use them no problem. It's also a very roomy bag.

ch3rry · July 2014

I bought the Ju-Ju-Be Be Right Back backpack since DS1 will be 21 months when DS2 arrives. It's the perfect size for two kids & comfortable to wear and have my hands free. I can pack everything & keep it organized with all the compartments and pockets. I can even fit our insulated lunch bag inside it.

For one kiddo, I had a PPB boxy backpack, but it wasn't big enough for two & it's so uncomfortable as a backpack. I tried the Ju-Ju-Be BFF, but it's the same size as the PPB boxy & ended up returning it.

There's a ton of packing videos on YouTube that can help give you a better idea of what each bag can hold.

ladybug0088 · July 2014

I ended up getting a Kate Spade Stevie Bag but only because I got it at the outlet for a little more than $100. It has so many great pockets and seems so roomy. Everyone recommended it to me and I couldn't get over the price but it was too good of a deal.

Jbunny100 · July 2014

@ch3rry - I also have the PPB backpack and find it uncomfortable at times.

I also cannot imagine how I am going to fit the new LO's things in there. It is pretty darn full just with the stuff I need already. I do like the outside portion that is the built in changing pad with pockets for wipes and diapers. It is super handy when you are out and about because you can open up the changing pad right on the changing table and everything is right there where you need it. The one downfall about that changing pad section, is if you have a bunch of diapers (like 3 or more) it ends up taking up space on the inside of the bag leaving you with less space for your other diaper bags items.
My husband got one of the Eddie Bauer shoulder bags and I must say, that thing holds so much stuff. I loved it for traveling especially because it held so much and I wasn't afraid of it getting dirty. The fabric just whips clean. The bag is also really light weight. The bag costs less than $30.

JJsMum · July 2014

JessAnnJ said:
@JJsMum‌ -is it comfortable as a backpack? Do the backpack straps detach?

I love it as a backpack and find it really comfortable. The newer models have padded straps, and they do detach.

Waterlilly11 · July 2014

I agree with skip hop duo-- I hated tossing it in the car or stroller and having everything fall out of the top. Then there was carrying a wiggly baby, a purse ect, and balancing the thing on my shoulder, eek! After DS was about 9m I started using a regular backpack. This time I am going for the skiphop via diaper backpack because I'm loving all the extra pockets and organization it has to offer vs just a normal backpack. I plan on using one of the 20% off coupons from BBB to get the price down a bit. Having room for everything you need AND having two free hands/arms is a life saver!

ss265 · July 2014

I have three diaper bags - a Skip Hop Duo, a PPB Sashay Satchel and a Danzo San Ysidro diaper bag. Of the three, I like the PPB the best. It looks like a regular purse, has long straps so it stays on your shoulder and can convert to a backpack when needed. The Skip Hop Duo is mainly used for leaving at day care and it's ok. I don't like that it doesn't zip up and things can fall out. The Danzo bag looked promising but the compartments inside are weird sizes - you can't even fit diapers and wipes in them and it's HUGE. It might be more useful when we have stuff for two kids but it was too big for just DS.

If you sign up on the PPB website, you will get emails on when they have sales. They sell discontinued designs and less than perfect bags (from what I understand, the imperfections are barely noticeable but don't pass their internal quality checks) at a good discount. I also like that the service is vinyl-like so it wipes down easily.

I would recommend checking out bags in person before purchasing. There were a couple of bags that people loved but when I checked them out in person, I couldn't justify the price for them. I remember looking at the Kate Spade Stevie bag and I couldn't believe that it was > $200. (I might purchase it for around $100 though). Another option is to skip the diaper bag completely and just keep stuff in the car for the baby.

Maggie6424 · July 2014

I'm currently using a thirty-one zip top tote. I love it. It has pockets on the outside, elastic mesh pockets on each end and zips closed.

I was using just one of the standard ones I got at Target but it has that thick plastic lining and it's cracking and falling apart.

BeanNut · July 2014

I actually prefer bags with less pockets because I found I would fill them up with too much stuff then the bag gets really heavy.

I currently use a Nine West structured tote and love it. It has one pocket on the outside where I have a small pack of wipes, my phone and keys . On the inside, I have one change of clothes for each girl at the bottom. Then I have a zippered pouch filled with diapers and extra underwear. A quart sized ziplock bag filled with a few nonperishable snacks, then plenty of space on top to throw anything extra for that day.

I'll probably switch to a simple backpack when DS is born just because it would be easier to carry with three kids.

JessAnnJ · July 2014

Thank you everyone this feedback is really helpful.

hippohat · July 2014

A backpack, in whatever style you want. I can't personally see spending several hundred dollars on a diaper bag - it's going to get milk, bathroom and other floor nasties, etc. on it. I had this one LINK and it worked great, it's just a little small. I am lusting after the Skip Hop backpack, not sure if I'll be able to get it though. It's a little bigger and has lots of pockets/areas - LINK. I am laughing at the one dismal review on it now - one of my friends has this and has no complaints

I'm also probably in the minority though, I use my backpack for my purse and diaper bag for quite a while - I can't stand carrying 2 bags and she's with me 99% of the time. It has drastically reduced what I 'need' in my bag!

bumpuser10309732 · July 2014

This is awesome! I changed my registry since I had the skip hop duo on there that everyone is saying tips over all the time. Does anyone use an actual purse? @BeanNut is your Nine West supposed to be just a purse that you re purposed?

Eastie156 · July 2014

ladybug0088 said:

I ended up getting a Kate Spade Stevie Bag but only because I got it at the outlet for a little more than $100. It has so many great pockets and seems so roomy. Everyone recommended it to me and I couldn't get over the price but it was too good of a deal.

I have a Kate Spade bag that I got with DS and I love it. Tons of pockets, I've been able to wash it and I paid just over $100 when KS had their big sale that year.

BeanNut · July 2014

@MrsBabe614 yes, it's just a purse/tote bag not a "diaper bag." You can use anything really for a diaper bag but if you use a tote, a structured tote is a little sturdier.

melszum · July 2014

The best decision we ever made was to switch from a traditional diaper bag to a backpack. I had overloaded my diaper bag with so much crap and with a small backpack I have just what I need and can run after my 2 year old without it falling off my shoulder like the diaper bag.

TinyTRex321 · July 2014

I just bought a jjb bff and I love it. I love how it unzips making things super easy to find. I also love to be able to wear it on my back to have my arms free to wrangle DS.

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