How to Choose the Perfect Diaper Bag
With my first I had a preconceived notion of what my diaper bag would look like. Basically a big purse with pockets that matched the nursery decor.
I packed it over and over before Emily came. Clearly, I was nesting.
But once Emily arrived and I put it to use, I realized it was a terrible diaper bag. I switched to my backpack before she was even 6 months old.
And because sometimes you don’t live and learn, I made the same mistake with my second daughter. And before I knew it I was using my backpack again.
This time, I bought a diaper bag backpack.
Am I telling you to buy a backpack style diaper bag?
No- I’m saying buy what will work for you. I hope with this you can narrow down your options by looking at different styles and price ranges by figuring out what will work for you
Because I am a list mom, I made myself a list about what I really wanted in a diaper bag. I knew I wanted a backpack this time around because it keeps both my arms free, it can’t slip down from my shoulder to my elbow, and it distributes the weight better. But there are lots of different styles. And within those styles, there are little things that make the purchase smart vs unnecessary.
Choosing the Perfect Diaper Bag for You
WHAT TO CONSIDER
It’s impossible to tell you what you’ll need because it’s a very personal decision. Some moms want to have everything while others want something super simple that will carry only a few things. So below are a couple of features for you to consider. However, remember that sometimes you won’t be able to find exactly what you are looking for within the price range you want so you’ll want to know what you are unwilling to compromise on.
Style
What’s your personal style? Do you want a diaper bag that is obvious it’s a diaper bag or do you want something more streamlined. While I don’t care much for name brands and not looking like a mom, I knew this time around I didn’t want something that screamed diaper bag. Maybe it could whisper it though.
Material
Diaper bags are made out of all sorts of material. I suggest a material that’s durable on the outside to avoid noticeable wear and tear, and an easy to clean material on the inside in case of spills.
The Straps
The type of bag can determine the straps you have but if you have a certain type of strap you love it may rule out certain types of bags, so take that into consideration when choosing a bag. You’ll want to look at the length, width, and the number of straps the bag has to offer.
Pockets
I love pockets, it makes everything feel more organized to me but at the same time I don’t want a thousand where I’ll have to go searching in twenty different pockets before I remember the one I put it in. For me, middle ground is best but you might be looking for just a couple or twenty. When buying, check and see what feels right to you.
Color
With my first baby I got a brown and pink diaper bag that matched her nursery decor. I soon regretted that decision. My husband hated it for one and it was so obvious it was a diaper bag. That doesn’t bother some people but to me, it was annoying. This time I choose gray before I even knew if it was a boy or girl. It works for me and my husband if we need it too and it’s not entirely obvious from its look if its a diaper bag. I would suggest getting a neutral color but that’s up to you.
Size
Size is a tricky little feature. You don’t want too big and you definitely don’t want too small. The thing with size is, you’ll fill up the space no matter what you need so think about your necessities first. (Need a little help? Check out my diaper bag essentials post) When buying, I already had a pump picked out, so I wanted to make sure it would work with my pump and having two kids before, gave me a pretty good idea about what size I would actually need.
Latch
As in, does it close? And how? I suggest a zipper, and most bags have it, because it’s both quick and easy and secure. You can also find velcro or snaps if you prefer that but there are some serious downsides to this. Other things can get caught in the velcro, it gets less sticky overtime due to this too, and if the bag falls, it may come open, dumping all your hard earned organization on the floor. As far as snaps, there are holes between each snap that can let small things fall out. And if there isn’t holes that means there are just waaaaay too many snaps to be snapping up.
Cost
I wish this wasn’t a matter I had to consider but unfortunately it is. The good thing is you can find a good diaper bag in all cost ranges. Some may be more streamlined with better material but if you know exactly what you want, you should be able to find something fitting for you with what you can afford.
WHAT TYPE WILL WORK BEST FOR YOU?
Traditional
A traditional diaper bag is what I had with the my first two. While I didn’t like it, it doesn’t mean they are all bad. There are usually pockets on the inside and out and are fairly spacious.
Tote
A tote diaper bag is similar to the traditional diaper bag but there are usually fewer but larger compartments. They, however, are usually more fashionable than the traditional diaper bag.
Satchel
A satchel diaper bag is usually smaller than the traditional or tote bags. Most of the time there are fewer and smaller compartments. They usually come with two straps that will fit over the elbow.
Hobo
This is basically just a large bag. I wouldn’t say it has much “style” to it and there are not a lot of compartments. If you don’t mind having everything mixed together and like to take a lot of items, this is the bag for you.
Backpack
Basically it’s a backpack. Within this category, are so many options. You can find ones with just one compartment with just a few pockets or many compartments with many pockets. It will depend on what your looking for.
Messenger
This time of diaper bag has a fold over top, usually with a zipper underneath. It’s not too big but it’s not tiny either.
Convertible
There is a wide variety of what you can find in the convertible type but it’s basically a mix between two or more of the other bags. Beware: Sometimes you’ll get the best of both worlds, but if your not careful when choosing you can get the worst of both instead.
My Picks?
Obviously I can only say what works for me. And I have not bought all of the products so I’m only showing the bags I was considering. I only had one non negotiable item–that it fit my spectra pump and there wasn’t many options because the pump is pretty big.
But knowing what you really want and need will narrow down your options quite a bit which is actually a great thing because there are thousands of options out there.
So what bag did I ultimately choose? Check out my blog next monday to find out!
Are there other things you consider when buying a diaper bag? What did I leave out?
Sherilyn Hill
Mother of two beautiful girls with a little boy on the way, wife to the love of my life, aspiring writer, preschool teacher, and expert worrier.
