Picking Out a Diaper Bag

There are so many diaper bags cropping up lately, it can be hard to know what type will work with your lifestyle. Here are a few tips to think about when considering what to purchase.

When we were picking out a diaper bag, there were two things that we needed it to have. One, my husband did NOT want to carry around a bag that had anything pink or resembling a purse. Two, we needed it to work on plane trips as well as everyday life.

The first thing you want to consider is all of the places you might be taking this bag. Will you mainly be going to Mom's Groups? Will you be traveling by plane? Do you go places that you will need to take a bunch of things?

Size

This is the first thing you need to think about. How big does that bag need to be? Most people rush out and buy the giant bag that is trendy. Great- if you need a bag that size. We thought about our trips, and how long we would be gone, and realized that even on a big trip, we were only gone from our "stuff" for only about 4-6 hours at the most. This means that the diaper bag needs to hold approximately 4-6 diapers, wipes, Ziploc bags (I'll get to that in another post), a change of clothing, any necessary bottles, and some toys or books. If you don't want to have a huge diaper bag, you don't have to. If you want one, go ahead and have fun with it. Just remember what it is you will need in it, and where you might be going.

Style

If you are a Mom and the primary person holding the bag, you might look into a fashionable bag. There are lots of bags that resemble purses, which you might like. Sometimes it is nice to at least look like you are trying to keep up on the style end, even if you are lugging around a giant bag full of diapers!
If you will be sharing this diaper bag holding responsibility, you need to think about it together. Will you both be comfortable holding the bag for long periods? Sure- the shoulder bags work well for women, but have you ever seen a guy try and hold something over one shoulder that only has 2 straps? Unless it is a book-bag type of strap it seems to be a little awkward. I'm not saying this will happen in every case, but at least ask him if that is a problem.

Comfort

When you are a new parent, you can't imagine how attached you will become to this one item you buy. How often can you possibly use this? Well- have you noticed people with glasses? Yes- you will be wearing your diaper bag as often as they wear their glasses. It will become part of you. In fact- once you hit the 4 year old stage, you will wonder why you feel naked when leaving the house. Well- you don't have your diaper bag anymore, that's why! Make certain that when buying on-line or at a store that it is comfortable. When purchasing online, which we did, read the reviews. What are people saying? Was it comfortable for them?

Washable

This is one thing that when starting out I thought "Yes- that seems like a decent feature, but it can't be THAT big of a deal." Well- I was wrong! We purchased a style that looked as though you couldn't wash it, but in fact was washable, and boy am I glad that we did! I had NO idea just how many times the bag would be thrown up in, and not to mention how dirty all of the bathrooms were that I would have to change my little one in! Yuck! Luckily, I also had a washable plastic changing fold up that came with the bag. That came in handy so many times, and I really felt comfortable knowing that I didn't have to lay my baby on a thin piece of paper to hopefully prevent any germs from getting to her!

When you use these steps in finding a diaper bag, you will be able to narrow down your search and know that you are picking a bag to last! Our diaper bag lasted for 6 full years, with many washes, and was a cross country traveler along with us. It was so much a part of what I did, that I had a hard time getting back into carrying a purse!