Product spotlight 5/12: diaper bags

carrotsandpeas3 · May 2020

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/kj/eh5k16jc3gv1.gif

carrotsandpeas3 · May 2020

I didn't have super strong feelings about a diaper bag with DD. I wanted something that would hold up well, was fairly neutral so my husband wouldn't complain about carrying it, had a fair number of pockets and space, and wasn't too expensive. I ended up with this one and I've been very happy with it! I like how long the straps are and it has a nice cooler area on one of the side zippers.
https://www.target.com/p/eddie-bauer-heather-tall-tote/-/A-51466285?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Baby%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Baby&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9016050&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1248099&ds_rl=1242884&gclid=CjwKCAjwkun1BRAIEiwA2mJRWefpsjMclM1usQJv5aZsjyHgjGUDbUXib41wSsKSaB4iJBcUO28cQBoCbKIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

themoonandme · May 2020

I tried a Storksak and several Lily Jade bags, and ended up carrying a backpack that I really liked and putting different pouches in it. I'm not a fan of the typical diaper bag look and ended up loving my backpack because it didn't look frumpy. It was easy to transition through the stages of our needs, and I also loved being able to grab a pouch from it and go (diapers for example) rather than taking my whole bag to the bathroom or whatever. Having the ability to wear it on my back vs always over the shoulder was huge for me because I babywear a ton (especially on the front).

The other bags I tried were fine, but the Storksak was a little too diaper bag looking for my taste and the Lily Jade bags weren't as functional as I had hoped.

(ETA words)

anitamargarita_82 · May 2020

I wasn’t really passionate about a diaper bag with my DD. My husband didn’t care what it looked like he’ll use it either way. So I had a grey bag that had animals on it from Skip Hop. It was washable and that was awesome!! This go round I already ordered this one and it’s awesome. I felt I needed a backpack now with two kids. I like the soft blush color!

https://www.skiphop.com/skiphop-diaper-bags/V_200406.html

baseballismyfavoriteseason · May 2020

I am reconsidering my diaper bag choice for baby two, which I know will bewilder my husband because our other one is still in perfect condition!

My requirements: 1) not too girly or momish for my husband’s sake (though he wouldn’t care that much) 2) lots of pockets 3) at least one insulated “cooler” pocket 4) backpack style for easier carrying. We got this BagNation backpack and loooooved it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0127OZX7Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_pmSUEbF7R34E5

But.......... what drove me crazy after awhile was that it was easy for me to lose things in the backpack. Things would fall to the bottom and disappear into the vortex. It wasn’t a big deal when he was super little and blowing out with every diaper so that we were constantly rotating everything. It was later, when I pulled out three clean outfits because I kept putting new ones in, forgetting there was already one in there, that I was like, okay...

So, long story short (too late!) I am not sure what to do now. My first three criteria are still very much in effect...

babyodo · May 2020

We've registered for three different diaper bags, lol. One for my husband (tactical-looking dad bag), and two for me (I can't decide).

The two I'm torn between are the Bebe Luv Ultimate Diaper Backpack Bag ($149.50) and the Eddie Bauer Backpack Diaper Bag ($39.99). I love that the Bebe Luv has tons of storage, is waterproof, has an insulated pocket, and USB charging capability with bottle warmer, but I worry about how legit it is since I first came across it in an ad on Facebook (is it reliable? too gimicky?). The Eddie Bauer bag is pretty standard, it came recommended to me by a coworker, comes with a travel changing pad, has pretty good reviews, and is much cheaper than the Bebe Luv.

We travel out of state a lot (Massachusetts at least twice per year, WDW next February, etc), so we need something durable, comfortable, and that we can rely on.

carrotsandpeas3 · May 2020

@babyodo the Eddie Bauer bag reminds me a lot of my shoulder Eddie Bauer one. Not nearly as fancy as the other one you mentioned but very practical, and I like it! I will warn you that the changing pad is small and thin--I bought two others to rotate with it. Also, the wipes container broke for me but it wasn't a big deal as I just used the pop top wipes instead on the go. I just couldn't justify spending that much on a diaper bag, especially when I knew I had other pricier things that I was hoping to get off my registry.

profmcgonagall · May 2020

I had a really cheap diaper backpack from Amazon. 2 years later and it still works well. My little sister swears by Itzy Ritzy so I’m considering getting one of their backpacks this time around.

mamahosch · May 2020

I ended up getting a diaper bag backpack from our Vera Bradley outlet store a couple of months ago when I needed a new suitcase for a trip (that we obviously couldn’t end up going on, thanks covid lol) but I’m honestly not sure I’m a fan yet. It seems to have a really stiff opening at the zippers because there is stiff wire there to keep its shape. I ended up registering for a gender neutral one as well so we’ll see which one I like better!

This is the one I registered for on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H794T54/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_arWUEbZD3CFC0

baseballismyfavoriteseason · May 2020

Hmmm I might try this one (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0731Z4K77/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VaXUEb190DSS6) because it’s still a backpack style but it has an extra main pocket that I like, and comes with a couple packing cubes that might help keep me from losing things... 🤔

kboydbowman · May 2020

@mamahosch, maybe this should go in the Unpopular Opinions thread, but I think Vera Bradly stuff is all ugly as hell. Lol.

mamahosch · May 2020

@kboydbowman lol 🤷🏼‍♀️ To each her own!

AB518 · May 2020

I already have a Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag. I got it because my sister liked the one that she had. I was just looking at diaper bags on Amazon, and I feel like there are a lot more good options now than there were three years ago. I found a lot of options that I liked. My diaper bag is still in good shape, so I'll probably continue to use it with this baby. I would say that a backpack style diaper bag is a must have along with it being washable.

anitamargarita_82 · May 2020

@mamahosch I like Vera Bradley, some of them are very whimsical and the bright colors are always happy. I have a couple of her Disney prints that I’ve used on vacation to Florida. I like that bag you posted! Super cute!

aefsparrow · May 2020

@kboydbowman I'm with you on Vera Bradley... I used to have to sell it...

mammatoomc · May 2020

I had initially started with a Vera Bradley (solid royal blue- don’t like all the patterns except the Disney prints-lol) and I absolutely loved it. It’s still in great condition 5 years later so I’ll definitely reuse it. The ones Vera makes are not the same and don’t feel as good in quality but the one I got very much has the “diaper bag look. I also got a JujuBe BFF and Be Light when he was about 1.5. I loved that I could use the BFF as a backpack when baby wearing and I loved the super easy to wipe material and all the pockets. The Be Light was great for a quick run to the market.

I just bought a Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack. Mainly for the Disney print but I chose this one because I primarily prefer to carry them on my shoulder but need the backpack option when I’m baby wearing. It comes in tomorrow and I’m pretty excited to check it out. I think it will be my main bag but I’ll definitely dig out my sons old ones too cause I loved them. I don’t carry a purse when I have a diaper bag in tow so I do like to have a cute bag but also lots of pockets to separate my own smaller things.

babyodo · May 2020

kboydbowman said:

@mamahosch, maybe this should go in the Unpopular Opinions thread, but I think Vera Bradly stuff is all ugly as hell. Lol.

Same. Add to that, Simply Southern and Lily Pulitzer. I have a friend whose sister's dorm room at college looked like Lily Pulitzer threw up in it, and when they posted pics of it all the comments were of people drooling over it and I was just thinking, "I don't get it...it's tacky AF." She even got featured in a magazine for it. I dunno. Maybe it's a Southerner thing that is lost on me (a transplant from the PNW).

mamahosch · May 2020

@anitamargarita_82 I love the Disney prints but I’ve never been able to get one!

kboydbowman · May 2020

@babyodo, despite living in Cali, I'm a Southernor, and I think Lily Pulitzer looks like some flowers got drunk and threw up.

mamahosch · May 2020

@mammatoomc I have never heard of petunia pickle bottom but I just googled it and omg the Disney prints 😍 I wonder if I can sneakily buy one without DH knowing and pretend it was a gift... the one I’m wanting is sold out though!

baseballismyfavoriteseason · May 2020

@babyodo @kboydbowman PNWer here. I‘be never heard of Lily Pulitzer. Had to look it up. I can’t quite imagine a dorm room covered in it... 😳😬

Can anyone explain Petunia Picklebottom to me—like why they are regarded so highly? Is it just the styling? When I was pregnant with my first it seemed like they were outrageously expensive compared to other brands.

westslopemama · May 2020

My sister gave me a backpack style diaper bag that she used with her son. It’s been great because we do a lot of hiking and I can just take it without having to pack a separate bag. The best part about this backpack is a small zipper pocket on top where I could store burp clothes and bibs (my son spit up a ton as a newborn so it was very helpful to have easy access to those items). It also has 3 other compartments plus side mesh pockets for storing water bottles. Unfortunately, I have no idea what brand the backpack is. I’m thinking about getting a new backpack style bag that’s a bit more comfortable for hiking since I will have supplies for 2 kiddos in it, plus the baby in a front carrier. The only problem is I know DH will think I’m wasting money if I buy a new one.

carrotsandpeas3 · May 2020

Floral bags are not my style but I'm not as against it as some of you appear to be. You do you ladies! I guess in the same way, any patterned bag fits that same "no thanks" style for me--HP, Disney, etc. Maybe I'm boring, but I will take a nice grey or tan bag any day.

kboydbowman · May 2020

@carrotsandpeas3 Make mine purple, but I'm right there with you.

babyodo · May 2020

baseballismyfavoriteseason said:

@babyodo @kboydbowman PNWer here. I‘be never heard of Lily Pulitzer. Had to look it up. I can’t quite imagine a dorm room covered in it... 😳😬

It's uhhhh interesting, lol. Not my style, but people around here were fawning over it, so I dunno. I'll put pics in a spoiler since they're large.

Even the bathroom was done in Lily Pulitzer.

baseballismyfavoriteseason · May 2020

@babyodo Are those Lily Pulitzer coozies in the second photo or did she just find coordinating colors...?

coldbrew · May 2020

With DD1 I started with a solid black Vera Bradley bag. I loved it because it was all vinyl and waterproof inside, and I still use the changing pad it came with to this day. Once she was mobile I switched to the Skip Hop backpack and still use it to this day (so almost 6 years) and it is SOLID. No rips, tears, etc.

I’m planning to get a new one just because, but it will without a doubt have to be a backpack style first and foremost. Once they’re mobile and especially when you have 2, you need free hands. I also like the ones that have the wipes holder on the outside.

This is the one I have if anyone is interested https://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Backpack-Multi-Function-Changing/dp/B0731TBBWF/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=skip+hop+backpack+diaper+bags&qid=1589396207&sprefix=skip+hop+backpack&sr=8-4

babyodo · May 2020

baseballismyfavoriteseason said:

@babyodo Are those Lily Pulitzer coozies in the second photo or did she just find coordinating colors...?

LOL I honestly don't remember. I think they're just coordinating colors. She was in a sorority and is also big on using her Cricut, so I wouldn't be surprised if she made them given the monogram on many of them.

baseballismyfavoriteseason · May 2020

@coldbrew Ooooh I like that comes with packing cubes... 🤔

mamahosch · May 2020

@babyodo oh that is tacky!! Lol

@AB518 @mammatoomc which style of the PPB bags do you like? Loving the Disney prints but I can’t decide between the Boxy or the Ace. I’m selling my brand new Vera Bradley one because I hate how tall and deep it is, and how stiff it is around the opening.

kalesix3 · May 2020

@themoonandme I'm obsessed with Lily Jade bags even though they're out of my budget, you're the first person I've come across that didn't fawn all over them, what specifically didn't feel right about them to you functionality wise?
I really wish they weren't so expensive, like leather is nice but idk, the price has always seemed gimmicky to me.. I still really want one though, if my SO and I traveled more I'd think about spending the money, but there's no sense in getting a nice bag to have it sit in the nursery 9 months out of the year...

AB518 · May 2020

@mamahosch I have the PPB Boxy Backpack. I'm not familiar with the other style. I liked that the straps could be adjusted to be used either as a backpack or a messenger bag. The changing pad is easy to detach and wash. This diaper bag had enough space and enough pockets for everything that I needed to put in it. Certain PPB bags are easier to clean than other ones, so it is a good idea to pay extra attention to the type of material when choosing one.

morethanamama · May 2020

I had a jujube BFF and did not like it. It was stiff and I didn't like how bulky it looked. I also didn't use it much, when we traveled I used a regular backpack because of how much I did not like the BFF. I now have a Freshly Picked bag that I got on sale for Black Friday and it's awesome. It's good quality, looks nice, has lots of pockets, and even when full it doesn't look huge. I think it's going to be great with two kiddos.

themoonandme · May 2020

@kalesix3 they have a BST on Facebook and you can probably find one practically new for a good price if you're dying to have one! And you could resell it at the end or if you didn't like it. I sold all of mine on there! I am super picky about bags and just none of them felt quite right for me. They all had red lining at the time, which I hated and it felt cheap and gross compared to the leather. The changing pad was super small so not functional for very long, and I just couldn't find the style that best suited me size-wise. The smaller ones were too small and the bigger ones just weren't my favorite aesthetically. Also they are heavy! It's not super comfortable to carry them backpack style for long because the straps are kind of narrow and the bags themselves are heavy before you even put all your stuff in there. The organizer insert didn't quite work for me either- the idea is awesome, but they're kind of floppy so it's easy for the top to get squished down and then you might as well be digging in a black hole. They are lovely bags though and you could definitely carry one for years if you found one that you love!

mamahosch · May 2020

@AB518 Thank you! I'm going to go with the Boxy as well, it seems to be the most functional! There are two Disney designs I'm going back and forth on. The one is water resistant on both outside and inside, where the other is only water resistant on the outside but not inside, and it's white. So I'm afraid if something leaked inside it would show through... but I'm so happy that my grandma said that she's going to buy it for my shower gift! Now DH can't complain about me spending more money on another diaper bag 😂

Want a personalized experience?

Product spotlight 5/12: diaper bags

Re: Product spotlight 5/12: diaper bags

Choose Another Board

Search Boards