When you are pregnant, there will be a million and one things that you absolutely MUST have. If you wanted to, you could truly spend a fortune before your baby even arrives. (And, if the statistics are true that it costs 235,000 to raise a child today; I for one don't have the money to just toss around like that.)
In "stocking up" for Sam's arrival, I tried to prioritize my lists of needs/wants and be sure I was getting the most bang for my buck. For the most part, I think I was successful with that. But, there were a few things I wish I had invested a little less in and a few things I wish I'd spent (well, if not money) at least more time picking out. Which brings me to....
Lesson #17: Love Your Diaper Bag
Why? Because of ALL the possessions (and trust me, there will be a lot) your infant will have upon birth, this is the one that a.) you will use the most; and b.) other people will see the most. Call me shallow, but it's true.
As adorable as Sam's bedroom was/is with his custom made bed-skirt and bumper (and, it was adorable), I realized quickly after he was born that Jeff and I were pretty much the only ones that ever spent time in there. (Well, and Addy and Sam of course - but neither of them fully appreciated the decor.) Not to mention, the bumper came out as soon as he started sleeping in his bed, and the crib skirt had to be removed when we adjusted the bed to its lowest height.
Likewise, the items like the pack and play, swing, and stroller that I just had to have match & coordinate with my house were really only "on display" for a very short time. Not all that important.
(Ha, if Jeff reads this, he is probably going to kill me for figuring all this out NOW, when it was oh so important to me a year ago.)
But... the diaper bag? Still.going.strong.
That thing has gone everywhere Sam has gone since day one (more like day four if we are being technical). Even as he has outgrown his clothes, his car seat, his toys, etc., Ole Green has been our trusty companion.
Ours is Skip Hop sold by Land of Nod. I can't find it anymore, but you probably can if you look hard enough!
So, with that in mind, here are a few tips for buying the perfect diaper bag:
- Make sure YOU like the look. A lot. (I'd venture to say it is even worth spending the extra moolah if need be.)
- Make sure your husband likes it/will carry it too. (Trust me, you will want him too.)
- Make sure it can grow with your baby and his/her needs. (At first, we had diapers, a change of clothes, all kinds of ointments and creams. Now, it is mostly a traveling toy chest/ pantry.)
- Make sure it is durable/ won't show dirt easily. (Ours had a pocket rip out about six months in and Land of Nod sent us a brand new one right away - so a good return policy works too.)
- Make sure it will be easy to carry/store/etc. (Ours is a special model by SkipHop with special little hooks to attach it to a stroller. Because I never read the manuals, I didn't realize until Sam was about 9 months old that it had this feature; but, now that I know, I love it.
- Make sure you like the look. (Oh, did I already say that?) ;)
So... There you have it.
And, just for fun, here are a couple of diaper bags I love right now:
So... There you have it.
And, just for fun, here are a couple of diaper bags I love right now:
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| PB Kids |
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| PB Kids |
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| PB Kids |
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| For dad, Scout by Petunia Picklebottom |
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| Maranda Lee on Etsy |
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| Skip Hop |
What does your diaper bag look like? Do you love it?
What other items do you think it's "worth it" to spend on?
*And, no, none of this is "sponsored." I just like the stuff!
P.S.S. Don't forget to VOTE today. (And get free stuff at Starbucks and Chickfila!)
SO SO SO important! Now that we're having baby #2, I was obsessed with getting a better bag. I hated my first bag and switched to just an over sized purse once Jo was about a year old.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those things that $$ is worth being spent on. We got a the BFF Ju Ju Be bag and it is fabulous. The quality is way way way better.
Good post!
I had a custom fabric one made for Avery to match her car seat cover (so vain!) but I loved it and got SO many compliments on it. It was great because i could toss it in the wash. With Parker I had a sturdier one made and I thought it was pretty but it wasn't very functional. Now I just use the 31 large utility tote and it works fine too :)
ReplyDeleteLove these lessons! Especially this one because I'm 14 weeks pregnant and love the practical advice!
ReplyDeleteAlso, what is the chick-fil-A deal? I hadn't heard about it and couldn't find it on google. I wonder if it is everywhere or just in your area?
Great post! Love the Etsy bag! Can't wait to link up tomorrow for some mommy confessions. I got 'em!
ReplyDeleteVery important lesson! I use the Vera Bradly Miller bag. It is not a diaper bag but has 6 interior pockets and the whole thing zips up. I keep a Skip Hop pronto changing pad in the large interior pocket for easy diaper changes.
ReplyDeleteI had a Petunia Pickle Bottom bag and I loved it. I'm sad that I don't have a use for it anymore!
ReplyDeleteWe had gone the economy rout and got a 50-60 dollar one, as it looked more sporty than a diaper bag by Columbia. For the most part, it worked as it should. We enjoyed the insulated side pocket for bottles of expressed BM. After the first year of Eliza's life, and then finding out we have become pregnant again (due in Jan), I was finding our old trusty was going to need more room, and a better way to organize it.
ReplyDeleteI found the Bento style from Skip Hop. I LOVE that it has a bottom compartment with its own lunch box with tuber-wear. I hated having all the snack items always mixed in with clothes and of course spilling down into the bottom. It has a stroller strap, and is like a purse/messenger bag with out the flap.
My diaper bag was definitely a big splurge (I got it for my last birthday before N was born). I have a black Kate Spade Stevie diaper bag, and it is still going strong despite 15 months of HEAVY use. I could probably switch back to a regular purse and just stash the toddler necessities, but because it doesn't look like a diaper bag, I'm not too worried about it. And I totally agree about so many of the other things that we did spend a lot on, that didn't get a ton of use...like the PBK crib skirt and quilt (this one has literally never been used). Thank goodness my husband won't read this comment, ha!
ReplyDeleteI succumbed to the Petunia Picklebottom temptation. My husband bought it for me as a gift at my baby shower. 18+ months later and I still love it. You can wear it over the shoulder or as a backpack with the extra straps. There is a changing pad and enough room for a few diapers, wipes, and pretty much anything else you may need. My favorite part is that it is that waxed twill so everything just wipes right off. In sticking with the yellow/gray theme of Avery's nursery, I got the gray/creme/yellow design.
ReplyDeletei also loved my son's crib stuff, and when i lowered the crib i couldn't bring myself to take the skirt off. so, instead, i shortened it. i'm going to put a tutorial on my blog someday, when i FINALLY do i'll leave the link :)
ReplyDeleteDO it Amanda! I want to know how, too.
Deletethis took me a REALLY long time, but i finally posted the tutorial on shortening a crib skirt:
Deletehttp://www.thekriegers.org/2013/06/how-to-shorten-a-crib-skirt/
I learned quickly that you need a bag that is actually designed to be a diaper bag. I couldn't find a bag that was "fashionable" enough for me (I openly admit I am a purse snob) so I bought a large bag that I found at Fossil. Well, without all the pockets to store stuff, it became a black hole of baby gear and I could never find what I wanted. I ended up getting the Skip Hop studio bag and I LOVE it. It looks like a purse but has plenty of room for diapers, wipes, extra outfits (because Sawyer has become the king of blow out diapers), and has a great pocket for me to keep MY stuff (wallet, chapstick, etc). Its definitely worth the money to buy a good diaper bag that suits your needs.
ReplyDeleteWhy'd you have to post those other examples? They are too cute, and now I want one of each. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a Kate spade Stevie bag and I like the look but not crazy about the function. I wish it was deeper as opposed to being so long. I'm horrible at keeping purses clean so it gets very heavy also. I really enjoy the side pockets on it though. I could not bring myself to have a "babyish" bag I haaaate them. I also have a medium Vera Bradley tote that I use sometimes it's much lighter but the pattern screams baby! Before baby, I carried a Michael kors bag with a chain detail. I carry that when baby is not going with us. The Stevie bag is huge!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to rely on YOU to help me pick out a stylish diaper bag (maybe we can find one at the town yard sale). I like how they look like cute, roomy purses. Can't wait to see you and Sam and Jeff this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that PBK had such cute diaper bags! I did a non-traditional diaper bag, the large Longchamp pliage. I had always wanted a Longchamp and didn't ever buy it for myself but splurged for my baby =) I have loved having the bag, and we still use it daily, sometimes for work and sometimes for baby.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you -- It is so important to love your diaper bag! I have the skip hop studio diaper bag and it has withstood all the spills and travels. I love that, even if it gets sooo dirty, I can put it in the washing machine and it comes out looking new!
ReplyDeleteI have three children in diapers. My oldest is 4 years old and is autistic. We have not been able to potty train him yet. We tried several brands only to find out that Honest was always the one we went back to. No question! No leaks!
ReplyDelete