August 2020 Moms
rivercitynik
member
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Product Spotlight: Diaper Bags
rivercitynik
member
We got a little behind so I'll try to get us caught up in the next few days!
This is a place for FTMs to ask questions about, S+TMs to share their prior experience with, and everyone to share what they're eyeing in the world of maternity, baby and postpartum products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week we're discussing Diaper Bags.
This is a place for FTMs to ask questions about, S+TMs to share their prior experience with, and everyone to share what they're eyeing in the world of maternity, baby and postpartum products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week we're discussing Diaper Bags.
To view past Product Spotlights or the upcoming schedule, see here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DzmfbSu7toufv3p1VWNu1XOXDaU-tbI5FEfV8av46pc/edit?usp=sharing
Re: Product Spotlight: Diaper Bags
Since I've never carried one before I have a few questions!
- When you are with the baby do you use your diaper bag in place of carrying a purse or do you normally carry both?
- Do you take it with you basically every time you leave the house or just when you are planning to be out for longer stretches?
- If someone else is caring for the baby (ie: grandparents) do you leave the bag with them or does it stay with you?
I'm sure everyone is different, just curious about how people use theirs. Anything FTM+ should consider when picking out their bag?also interested in hearing responses to the questions you’ve asked
I took it with me everywhere when baby was little because diaper changes were much more frequent and unexpected. I also always wanted to have a nursing cover and burp cloths on hand. Once he got older, I could rely on my diapers and wipes that I stashed in the trunk of my car if we were gone for a short amount of time. The diaper bag becomes more handy to carry toys, hand sanitizer, first aid equipment, and snacks... Lots of snacks once the baby is older.
If I left baby with someone, I always left a "diaper bag" with whatever they may need. It wasn't always my normal diaper bag though. I got so many bags that I did not register for so sometimes I would specifically pack a different bag with the usual essentials and a few things that I typically didn't carry regularly. This way I didn't need to disrupt my normal diaper bag organization. For example, right now I have a day care bag that has nap time stuff and a spot for bottles, etc. My go-to diaper bag doesn't have that stuff because it's usually for when we go out to eat, visit friends or family, or run to the store or something.
- When you are with the baby do you use your diaper bag in place of carrying a purse or do you normally carry both? I have done it both ways. If I know I am going to be out a long time, I put my wallet and keys in the bag and just take it. If it's a short trip or as DS1 got older and we didn't need it as frequently, I would keep it in the car and just carry my purse or carry both.
- Do you take it with you basically every time you leave the house or just when you are planning to be out for longer stretches? I took it everytime. You never know when you will need a bottle ready to go. When the baby is going to need a diaper change or a full outfit change due to a blowout or spit up. It just became a necessary every day accessory.
- If someone else is caring for the baby (ie: grandparents) do you leave the bag with them or does it stay with you? Yes, I would pack a few extra diapers, outfits, and bottles just in case and leave it with them.
I highly recommend a backpack style bag as it keeps your hands free to hold baby or other items. Also if you babywear, you can have the baby in the front and the bag in the back instead of falling off your shoulder or in your hand.If you want your SO to wear/carry the bag, a backpack style is best. DH refused to carry a regular diaper bag but gladly wore the backpack one with no issue.
Multiple pockets are essential, if you have a spare pocket for soiled clothes and another for a bottle and another for clean diapers and an area where you can reach wipes on the go, it makes it easier to find and use the bag overall. Having to dig to the bottom of the bag for the clean diaper while the baby is on a changing table is not easy.
@rivercitynik.
-Purse and diaper bag? For me, yes. I would leave the diaper bag in the car when I went into stores and just take my purse. I've recently sort of switched, not sure if it's permanent or not, to carrying a tiny little purse about the size of four credit cards in area. And then I just stick that in the diaper bag and pull it out when I go into a store.
-When do I take it with? I leave it for shorter trips - just to the store or under an hour. But you never know when you'll have a blow out, especially with using disposables, or when the baby will get hungry or when the trip will take longer than expected, so it's hard to know for sure.
-Someone else with the baby? Yes, I leave it.
I'm quite interested in this thread as I'm not the biggest fan of my current bag and I'm thinking of getting a new one for this baby. I currently have the BabaBing! day Tripper City Deluxe. My new bag will need to be big enough to store things for both of them as I doubt DT will be ready to potty train before baby arrives.
https://fawndesign.com/collections/diaper-bags/products/original-diaper-bag-gray
Like many others, I took the diaper bag everywhere (outside of the house) for the first 6-9 months or so, and it's been pretty unused since. My boss thinks people who use a diaper bag and tend to drive everywhere are silly -- they could just leave stuff in the back of the car -- and I do see her point, but if a baby needs a pacifier or a poop change they usually need it YESTERDAY. Having the diaper bag there in the early days was part security blanket, part actual necessity in my personal opinion.
i got a cross body wallet last time that i would use when I didn’t have kid with me. I’m a large purse person so carrying both wouldn’t work. I brought the bag every where until 6m or so then I would just bring my wallet and leave the bag in the car.
Craft Blog
I don't carry a purse, I have a wallet phone case, which I love, and it is so easy. I can just grab it and go. I recommend a backpack style because hands free is everything when you have a baby.
I usually leave my diaper bag with whomever is watching the kids. The bag has so many ways to organize, that it's never in disarray when I pick them up.
Dating 4/2008
Married 6/2016
TTC #1 9/2019
BFP 12/13/2019!
EDD 8/27/2020 Baby Girl