Best diaper bag(s)?

November 13, 2005 6:08 PM

I have a brand-new baby and I forgot to get a diaper bag before having her. What brands are stylish yet sturdy, with plenty of pockets but without Pooh, P.Rabbit or any other characters? Other bags that work as diaper bags would be fine also.

What *didn't* work for you would be good to know as well. Price isn't an object necessarily, but I'm not a celebrity-bag chaser unless it's a workhorse. I'd love to be able to buy a bag online.

I'm 5'7", my husband is 6'5", and we are lanky people, if that makes any difference....

posted by mdiskin to Shopping (25 answers total)

A friend of mine used a Kate Spade diaper bag as a laptop/school bag in law school. You would never have known it was a diaper bag, and it seemed to hold up well.
posted by amro at 6:17 PM on November 13, 2005

Dig it.
posted by boo_radley at 6:18 PM on November 13, 2005

We have an orange Loom marsupial bag. It's pretty stylish, I don't feel bad wearing it as a guy, and it's really well built. There are no velcro or button fasteners, everything is done with magnets embedded in the fabric. So you get a really satisfying *click* when you close the flap on the bag or fold up the changing pad.
posted by mathowie at 6:21 PM on November 13, 2005

We just use a backpack -- can't remember the brand offhand (Eastsport, maybe?). Two large compartments, a smaller one on front, and two zippered pockets on either side. It's got plenty of space for diapers and other assorted baby accessories, and is big enough to hold whatever else we might be toting along on an outing (usually our gaming books, or occasionally a laptop). And since it's a backpack, it's easy to carry it and the tot without having it fall off a shoulder or what have you, plus once we no longer need a diaper bag it'll be easy to re-purpose. It was less expensive than the diaper bags I looked at buying, too.
posted by Janta at 6:43 PM on November 13, 2005

This is so not cool, but I found a great bag at Wal-Mart. They have a whole bunch of generic diaper bags. Mine is insulated in two outside pockets that can hold food, has a front pocket that fits my wallet, cell, keys and what-not, and has a roomy inside that holds several *cloth* diapers, a few disposables, a big pack of wipes, a bib and a change pad. It came with a change pad and a diaper wipes holder. There was also a pacifier holder, which I chucked because I don't use pacifiers. All this for CAD $20. After 9 months, the plastic liner is tearing a bit. However, I'm fairly confident that it will last me another year.

Also, if you live in an urban area and always have your stroller, you probably don't need a big diaper bag because you can use the underside of the stroller. Just get a stroller with a big basket.

Same goes for breastfeeding parents -- you don't need space for formula, bottles and what-not, so no need for a huge bag.
posted by acoutu at 7:00 PM on November 13, 2005

Depending on how you usually get around the place you might not need a massive bag-to-hold-everything. A small bag to fit a spill cloth, a couple of diapers, and some wipes (the basics) goes with you; a bigger one can stay in the car with lots of nappies and entire wardrobe changes. But I would recommend the big bag follow you around while you've got a wee baby with the breastfeeder poos and all that entails.
posted by slightlybewildered at 7:07 PM on November 13, 2005

We use the Colorado Midi Tote (by Catini), although we just call it "the Catini." It has great compartmentalization options and seems to have plenty of room for diapers and wipes. In fact, it's big enough that we can fit our Twingles (collapsable eating tray, velcros on to baby highchair at restaurants) into it. It also has insulated pockets, and I think it came with a changing pad.

Our daughter's now 20 months old, and I think we've had the Catini for the last 16 months or so. It's still going strong, with no tears in the fabric, no stuck zippers, and no other problems you might expect from a heavily used and abused bag.

Babies-R-Us has it for $20.
posted by Alt F4 at 7:15 PM on November 13, 2005

also ...

Not that it matters one way or the other, but I'm a guy. I have no problems carrying the Catini around.
posted by Alt F4 at 7:17 PM on November 13, 2005

a bunch of suggestions here, and babystyle has a bunch of other stylish ones.
posted by judith at 7:24 PM on November 13, 2005

Two words: Bumble. Bags.
posted by drpynchon at 7:25 PM on November 13, 2005

We bought every diaper bag from Land's End.. and they ALL rock.. For instance, the backpack looks like a normal backpack, but it has a ton of features that make it useful for dealing with infants and toddlers (like a washable zipper bag for putting soiled 'stuff' into). They also are very reliable. Finally, they have the option having your bag monogrammed... very useful.

Now that my kids are out of that age range, I use the bags for 'normal' uses.

Link to the bags.
posted by cowmix at 7:29 PM on November 13, 2005

check out Kelty's Diaper Daypack. its rugged, has plenty of room, and one hand accessibility. also the included changing pad is a nice feature.
posted by ShawnString at 7:33 PM on November 13, 2005

We use a regular bookbag sized backpack. Two of those mesh side pockets handy for bottles and sippy cups, two large zippered compartments (one for diaper changing paraphernalia and one for clothes, blankets, and other items) and several small zippered pockets. Ziploc freezer bags are your friends. Small for clips/wipes/snacks and super large for soiled items.
posted by Mitheral at 7:40 PM on November 13, 2005

It seems many try to diguise themselves as something else (backpack, duffle, totes etc.), why not just use a normal bag? What difference does it make? I know people love spending money but I use whatever we have around - even my camera bag. All I do is augment with a ziplock bag or two (which can be rinsed and reused).
posted by cmacleod at 7:41 PM on November 13, 2005

Petunia Picklebottom Bags
posted by clh at 7:46 PM on November 13, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks to everyone for their recommendations. One more question -- are backpacks better than the typical shoulder bag for toting around baby stuff? Also, I'm breastfeeding, so would carry less stuff than someone who wasn't. I think.
posted by mdiskin at 7:54 PM on November 13, 2005

Land's End. They deliver.
posted by ilsa at 7:55 PM on November 13, 2005

Mdiskin, I found that something that was easy to get in and out of the stroller was more important than how easy the bag was to carry. Are you planning to be walking, strollering or driving most of the time?
posted by acoutu at 8:03 PM on November 13, 2005

Response by poster: We live in a walking neighborhood, but I'm in Atlanta, so driving is a big part of our lives. I think I'm now looking for a messenger bag that fits into the stroller. The Fleurville ones would be fun if I got one as a gift, but I'm resisting spending that much. I like the idea of 2 bags, one big and one smaller...
posted by mdiskin at 8:09 PM on November 13, 2005

I love my JP Lizzy ... I don't think it looks like a diaper bag at all - it's a polished tote (I'm just not the backpack type) with simple, classic lines and sophisticated colors/prints. I got mine - the Caroline - at ebags for under $50 (marked down from $94).
posted by roundrock at 8:55 PM on November 13, 2005

Mdiskin--any bag you like will probably do. I preferred a tote-type bag because I found them easier to rummage through. You'll need one that can hold the usual diapers, wipes, toys, etc., but I would also recommend keeping a change of clothes for both you and the baby on hand. (Babies explode from all orifices with disturbing regularity.) Also, stuff some plastic bags in there for dirty diapers or to trek home soiled clothes.

I honestly found that I didn't use a diaper bag for very long. By the time my kid was about a year old, I just kept a little emergency kit in the car.
posted by jrossi4r at 9:09 PM on November 13, 2005

Best answer: I love my Skip Hop (skiphop.com) bag but would have got the roomier Expo rather than the Duo if I'd had the choice. The bag is versatile, fits comfortably on my shoulder and works when I attach it to the stroller. It carries a wallet, a copy of "Hand, Hand, Finger, Thumb," car keys, cell phone, toy cell phone, all the necessary diapers and wipes, a change or two of clothes, a sippy cup, a bottle or two, an iPod and a (toy) tractor, a pot of apple sauce, a spoon, and still leaves room for rice crackers. But any bag will do as long as it carries what you need and leaves you hands free when you need to wrangle other objects or humans. Congratulations on the kid! Have a lot of fun!
posted by firstdrop at 10:17 PM on November 13, 2005

I doubt this is what you meant by stylish, but I saw these camo ones yesterday. I have not ever used them.
posted by small_ruminant at 11:43 PM on November 13, 2005

mdiskin writes "Also, I'm breastfeeding, so would carry less stuff than someone who wasn't. I think."

If your not expressing than yes, otherwise you'll need all the stuff bottle feeders need minus the formula container plus a couple things they don't.
posted by Mitheral at 6:31 AM on November 14, 2005

When we had our kids, each time we were given a free bag with enfamil products.. Kind of a cheap bag, but served us well for a few months. These were promo things from the hospital.
posted by quibx at 6:43 AM on November 14, 2005