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Diaper bag - size/contents?

post #1 of 18
Thread Starter 
So this might seem like a stupid question, but what it the "right" size diaper bag for one toddler? I can't seem to get it right - I had a big backpack when DS was younger (mostly to accommodate the cloth diapers), but got fed up carrying the huge thing around, and now seem to have gone for too small a bag.

So what do you have in your diaper bag?
post #2 of 18
Depends where we are going and how long we will be gone. When DS was still in diapers I would have a couple dipes and some wipes. If we were running an errand to a store I would just put a diaper in my purse and not even bring the diaper bag. Now he is toilet trained so I will have an extra pair of pants and underwear in the car but won't put anything in a diaper bag for him. For long outings I will have water and some snacks for him. I never really packed a ton of stuff in the diaper bag.
post #3 of 18
My LO is 16 months old. We EC, but aren't having much success with peeing in the potty these days, and use backup diapers most of the time. Usually if it's a short outing I'll just put one spare diaper in a small wet bag along with a pack of disposable wipes, and put that bag in my own purse. I'll pack two diapers if we're going to be out longer. Note my "purse" is an oversized "my whole life" type of thing. Now that I have the big purse, I rarely pack a separate diaper bag anymore, unless we're going to be away all day at the grandparents house or something like that.

If we're going to be out for the entire day, I have a big canvas tote that serves as a diaper bag. I'll pack 4 or 5 spare diapers, some cloth and some disposable wipes, an extra diaper cover, and whatever other baby -related stuff I might want to have along, such as the sling, gloves/hat for the babe, an extra shirt/pants perhaps, and some snacks, though snacks might just as easily be in the purse.
post #4 of 18
I'm never prepared, but I will have to be when I have a newborn soon

Normally I bring: diapers, wipes, Boogie wipes [it's winter, noses run, eeh!] some all natural organic orange/cinnamon hand sanitizer, flashcards/book [if we go out to eat or something] one tea, one snack, and umm that's it!

I've got a messenger style bag but I love having something across my chest to keep my hands free. I also always bring a book for me and a journal or something and those can take up some room!
post #5 of 18
Thread Starter 
Maybe part of the problem is I have too small a purse??!

Or maybe the problem is I'm trying to get one bag to work for both the short and longer trips? On really short trips I don't even usually bother with a diaper, but those are really rare. More common is the most-of-the-day errands or family visiting, sometimes including meals. I've tried leaving "extras" in a bag in the car, but then they're always not where they're needed!

So after giving it some thought over the last few days I think I'm coming down to:
- one cloth dipe
- one sposie
- sposie wipes
- one container of snacks (?)
- his tiny diner
- a bib
- his water bottle
- butt cream (for those rare occasions)
- boogie wipes (excellent suggestion!)

Does that sound about right?
post #6 of 18
I have the huge PPB Shoulder bag which was awesome for when DD was a newborn, but now it's really big (though will be good with 2 in diaps). Now when I go out (rarely for more than a few hours) I put a prefold and a couple of cloth wipes in a wetbag and shove it in my purse along with a sippy and a banana or other snack.

If we are going out all day, I will pack my real diaper bag with about 4 PFs, numerous wipes and food/drink.
post #7 of 18
Thread Starter 
Poo. I realized this morning that I forgot the folding potty seat on my list. Which will bump us out of the small bag I've got at the moment (& is also what prompted this post in the first place... d'oh!).

redvlagrl - I'm afraid you lost me with that abbreviation, what's a PPB bag? And I really must have too small a purse, a prefold would pretty much fill up my purse with my wallet and cell phone, never mind the other stuff! But at least we're on the same page of WHAT needs to go.
post #8 of 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommariffic View Post
I'm never prepared, but I will have to be when I have a newborn soon

Normally I bring: diapers, wipes, Boogie wipes [it's winter, noses run, eeh!] some all natural organic orange/cinnamon hand sanitizer, flashcards/book [if we go out to eat or something] one tea, one snack, and umm that's it!

I've got a messenger style bag but I love having something across my chest to keep my hands free. I also always bring a book for me and a journal or something and those can take up some room!

Where do you purchase this from? I would love to keep something like this in my bag for DD.
post #9 of 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by curiouscanadian View Post
redvlagrl - I'm afraid you lost me with that abbreviation, what's a PPB bag? And I really must have too small a purse, a prefold would pretty much fill up my purse with my wallet and cell phone, never mind the other stuff! But at least we're on the same page of WHAT needs to go.
Sorry for the unintelligible abbreviation. PPB - Petunia Pickle Bottom. The one I have is much like this one: http://shop.petunia.com/shoulderbags/granadanights/
The flip out change pad/wipes/dipes storage is soooo great and more convenient (IMO) than one you have to unfold. It's also wipe clean fabric and doesn't seem to show the wear. It's a bit spendy, but I love it, esp for cloth diapers.
post #10 of 18
Gbailey:

I got it from Whole Foods! It smells so good and it's not the funky antibacterial stuff I hate.
post #11 of 18
I struggled with this for awhile before realizing that for everyday errands all I needed was a sippy, snack and one diaper with a ziploc baggie of wipes which I can keep in my purse. For extended outings (more than three hours or when visiting friends or family) I pack a messenger style bag with a few toys, several dipes and wipes, snacks or a meal and my med kit (clippers, ointment, motrin for emergencies. When DS was little this had a lot more in it).

I've got another on the way and have started shopping for a bag more suitable for two in dipes, although I'm hoping DS will be out of them by August.
post #12 of 18
Due to a recent (few months ) lack of interest in being held over a toilet, I'm adding a folding potty reducer to our bag as soon as my order arrives.

We also bring:
water bottle
snack container
wipes (used pretty much never but sooo important when they are needed)
couple changes of diaper (add in more for longer trips)
couple changes of pants
rags (mostly for my nose, but also great for small messes that aren't worth using the disposable wipes)
plastic bag or two for laundry, trash, as needed

and then pretty much anything we shed during the course of events ends up in there and gets cleared out weeks later.

The bag is a cute green tote bag I found at Goodwill once. The handle is long enough to wear over my shoulder comfortably, but short enough that if I need to carry it in one hand it works.

I've gone through every size of diaper bag from a regular purse to a back pack. I like this current size because I have room to put library books too.

And I've tried changing size of bag and contents based on the day and what we're doing and I end up driving her home with no pants on or lugging 5 diapers for a month after a big trip when we're only going on hour long trips. So now it's set up for a basic 2-4 hour trip to the Children's Museum near our house and I just replace things that end up in the laundry bag.
post #13 of 18
I don't bother putting a change of clothes in my diaper bag. I keep a bag in my trunk with a couple of changes for each kid. If I need it I can run to the car and grab a set, but I'm not lugging it around everywhere I go.

My diaper bag consists of a couple of diapers, wipe bag, wetbag, sanitizer. I tend to leave it in my car though, unless we are going to be at a place for more than an hour. I have a little backpack for each of my boys that has toys and things to entertain them, and we bring those in restaurants or doctor's offices, so I don't have to keep their things in my diaper bag.
post #14 of 18
Thread Starter 
sapphire_chan - Very helpful, thank you! Sounds like I should try to find an appropriate tote bag somewhere. (I was seriously thinking about just getting a larger purse, but I think DH would have issues with that when he has to take DS somewhere alone. )

Quote:
I tend to leave it in my car though, unless we are going to be at a place for more than an hour.
Biscuits & Gravy - I tried that, but we're PLing/ECing and DS has picked most inopportune times recently to call "potty?!" Twice now I've got him to a toilet on time, but had to take off a wet diaper (from earlier, apparently) and didn't have the diaper bag with me to put one back on him. It was very awkward. Once we were just heading home from the movie store so I suggested DH get us home fast , but the other time we were running errands (so in and out of strip mall stores) and I had to diaper him in the back seat of the car while it was snowing... Ugh.
post #15 of 18
Lina's pretty consistently on a 2 hour pattern now, so I'll leave the bag in the car if she's just peed and we'll definitely be whereever for less than that. So no diaper bag into the grocery store, but diaper bag in the library.

Oddly though, I usually walk her to the park with no diaper bag. :
post #16 of 18
I'm currently carrying a Vera Bradley bag - messenger style. I've been using it since DS was 2. It's fashionable, goes with everything that I wear and just the right size to hold a change of undies, pants or shorts, my wallet, cell phone, sanitizer, and snacks for DS. I will be using the same bag when the baby is born.
post #17 of 18
I've never been one for hauling around a diaper bag. So I found a bag big enough for everything we'd need for DD and we keep it stowed in the car.

Although, as DD has been out of diapers for over a year, its not really a "diaper" bag anymore.

We have a wide array of items because we're are frequently out of the house and busy busy. We take a ton of day trips, go hiking, head to the beach, visit the grandparents, etc. I like to make sure we're covered for all contingencies. So this is what we have:

  • Two extra pairs of pants; one jeans and one comfy, like cotton knit or velour
  • Three extra shirts; two long sleeves, one short sleeves
  • Two undershirts
  • Four pairs of panties
  • Two sets of jammies; one footed and one two-piece
  • Three pairs of socks
  • Zip-up hoodie
  • A pair or shoes
  • Slippers
  • Swimsuit
  • A first aid/toiletries bag with first aid supplies, meds, homeopathy, inhaler, toothbrush, lotion, sunscreen, hairbrush, rubberbands & clips, nail file, nose spray, chapstick, arnica gel & calendula gel.
  • A snack bag containing trail mix, "energy" bars, dried fruit and maybe some crackers or something non-perishable
  • Water bottle
  • Ella! (This is DD's stuffed security dog. We bought several and I keep one in the car/diaper bag at all times.)
  • Wipes
  • A small blanket
  • A towel
  • Crayons
  • A small toy or two
I know it seems likee ha lot of stuff but like I said, I rarely schlep it around. We just keep it in the car. And we are prone to spontaneously stopping and staying the night somewherere and there, so I prefer to have everything DD would need at a moments notice.
post #18 of 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommariffic View Post
Gbailey:

I got it from Whole Foods! It smells so good and it's not the funky antibacterial stuff I hate.
Thanks! I'll check for it on my next trip there.
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