How to Pick the Right Diaper Bag

There are few baby items that you’ll use more, both on a day-to-day basis and through the years, than your baby’s diaper bag. If you make a smart investment now, it will bring you years of ease, style and organization.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Think about how you’ll use your diaper bag. If you plan to work outside the home, will you take a bag full of the day’s necessities to a babysitter every day? If you stay at home, will you use it mostly to run short errands? Considering your lifestyle will help you determine whether you need a large bag, smaller bag or multiple bags.

2. Familiarize yourself with what supplies you’ll need in your bag. Many expectant parents think they need the largest diaper bag on the market to hold all of the products they plan to lug around. But especially while your baby is young—and if you plan to breastfeed—-all you may need is a few diapers, a pack of wipes, and a small toy.

3. Consider your budget—-or the budget of your shower guests. Diaper bags can be purchased for $20, but many new parents experience sticker shock when they shop for their first diaper bag. It’s not unusual for bags to go for $100 all the way up to hundreds of dollars. If you can afford it, the sky’s the limit. But think carefully about how much you’re willing to invest in your diaper bag.

4. When browsing, pay close attention to what materials are used in the bag’s construction. Ones made primarily of vinyl and plastic may be cheaper, but if you want one that’s going to last, consider purchasing one made of more durable material. However, one with a cloth exterior may stain more easily. Be realistic about what impact its construction will have down the road.

5. Take your partner’s needs into account. If he’s comfortable toting around a frilly pink bag, good for him. But most men would prefer something a little less feminine. Either buy a separate one for Dad (companies now make camo-print, sports logo and briefcase-style bags) or take his taste into consideration when making your choice.

6. Reflect on what style of bag will best complement your lifestyle. Do you live in the city where you need to juggle a stroller, baby, and diaper bag while using public transportation? Then you may want a backpack-style diaper bag that leaves your hands free. Or if you use your stroller on a daily basis, look into a stroller diaper bag, which attaches to the handle.

7. Look for an adequate number of pockets and dividers. A lot of moms forego their purse when they’re carrying a diaper bag, so make sure that your bag not only has enough pockets for baby’s stuff, but for your own as well. Is there a place for your cell phone, keys, money and anything else you need?

8. Consider the long term. Since diaper bags can be expensive, you’ll no doubt want to get as much use out of it as possible. If you choose a style that can transition past the days when you need to organize your kids’ diapers and into the stage when you’re organizing their electronic game parts, you’ll more than get your money’s worth.

Tips & Warnings

• A lot of hospitals send new parents home with a small, neutral-colored diaper bag, courtesy of a formula company. If you plan to purchase a small bag, consider holding off until after baby comes home.
• Though you may only register for one diaper bag, you might find yourself inundated with bags at your showers. Resist the urge to take them back to the store before your baby arrives. When reality sets in, you may find that you need more than one bag or that one of your “bonus” bags is actually more convenient than the one you originally registered for.
• Unless you want to throw your diaper bag into the washing machine every day, make sure the bag you select has a waterproof lining. When the inevitable spills happen, all you’ll need is a damp cloth.
• If you’re completely at a loss about what kind of bag to choose, ask an experienced mom, preferably one who has more than one child. She’ll give you the real scoop on what you really need and what you can definitely live without.
• It may seem like a good idea to match your diaper bag to your nursery décor, but nobody except you is going to know that it does. Make sure the bag’s style can stand on its own.