Please help me find a new diaper bag?

How about heading over to an REI or whatever your outdoor sports equivalent is and find a nice Marmot/North Face backpack? I've been using a little daypack from North Face and it works fine. The other thing you might consider using is one of the family size toiletry bags from Land's End - they work well.

**Guess I should've read your post in it's entirety before responding...**Looks like you've explored all my suggestions already...

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:LOL That's too funny! (Your DH's reaction that is.) I haven't been able to check out the Kelty bag IRL. Funny thing is, when I see it online, I find that bag a little too sporty. Yes, I realize the irony since the North Face bag is on my short list. I might just be partial to that since I have a yellow car! :LOL

Erics - I went over to my local REI and the guy almost laughed at me when I asked about diaper bags (Eagle Creek had them listed as a retailer). He then proceeded to show me a bunch of other bags w/ the bungee cords all over them that looked like they were ready for an expedition.

Seems like the current vote is for a backpack and not necessarily a diaper backpack. I already have a regular backpack that I can make do with. I was just looking for a possible change of pace.

Silliest - For some strange reason, though, something inside me keeps telling me to get something w/ more compartments. My last bag had a number of compartments that I actually used - maybe too well. (See note about rotten grapes) When I've used a normal backpack like I'm doing currently, everything just tends to get jumbled together. And forget about what happens when DW packs my bag. Then I really have no clue what's going on in there.

Now my head is spinning!! :LOL Here's what I already have and IMO, none of them would work as a diaper bag: 1) A laptop bag - backpack style and all, but I'm thinking it's a little big and heavy. That's at 15X12X8. 2) I also have an attache style bag, but that's a little too structured. Serves me well for work ... but as a diaper bag, I don't think so. 3) A traditional backpack - 1 front compartment and 1 main compartment - that's all.

Just went to Sport Chalet and found a pretty nifty looking Columbia bag w/ tons of compartments. A little boring looking and big, though.

Silliest, I was just at Wal-Mart the other day and didn't see anything resembling what you described. It was all plain old backpacks, bags w/ kiddie or surfer graphics, or worse even, those bags w/ wheels. Funny that you mentioned the notebook sleeve as that was the main selling point for me when looking at the Eagle Creek bag.

I think I'm a lost cause. There are just too many options!! To help narrow things down a bit, for those w/ 2 or more kids, how large/small of a bag do you feel you need? Maybe I'm just used to the needs of a 3-year old and forgot how much stuff you carry w/ a newborn, because all the bags I see are just so big and/or boring. I'm finding myself really attracted to the styling and size of the North Face bag now but am afraid that it might be too small.

Yes, I need to be put out of my "misery".

Well, it was a few years ago :-/

I guess styles do change.

I have an almost-5 and almost-3 year old, and when we go out, we carry... well... varying things. A fairly typical load is:

sling
bottle of water for mom (20oz?)
two sippies with ice-water (8 oz?)
additional refill bottle in bag for everyone to share.(1/2 gal?)
box or two of crackers, and/or a few bags of veggie sticks or other snacks
change of pants for both girls in case of accidents
cloth wipes
"wet bag"
usual purse stuff: keys, wallet, sunglasses

when #2 was new, I'd add one diaper per hour of intended outing and a spare outfit or two (usually only needed half of what I had, but that's okay. You only have to need the extra stuff once to make it worthwhile) and more wipes, but that was about it. We NIPed as needed, and she rode/napped/ate in one sling while I had the other in the bag as a backup in case of spillage from either end.

Wearing a two-strap backpack with a sling was a lot easier for me than wearing any of the one-shoulder styles with the sling because I could carry it over either shoulder, or by both straps as needed.

Your preferences may change once you start using the stuff anyway ;->

This thread caught my eye from the main forums page.

I just ordered this one for my dh as he was using an old backpack that really needed replacing:

Grand Adventure Daddybag

Gotta love that price tag! I hope you find one that suits your needs

Amydidit - I saw that bag a while back. Looks promising. Since we've received some gift certificates from BRU, I'll have to check and see if they're sold in the stores since it's not like we can pick up too many other things there.

Pepper - I forgot - I also have something similar to that. I thought the whole one strap backpack thing was cool at first and used it on outings w/ DD. After a while, though, I resorted back to my regular backpack as it was much easier to access.

Here's the current short list:

1. Timbuk2 small messenger bag. Just found out that BIL might be able to get a discount and I can't pass up a very well-made, decently sized bag that I can customize w/ colors I really like. Because it'll last for some time, it'll also make a nice bag to carry around after its diaper bag use.

2. LL Bean Custom Heatwave. Again, I really like the color options and it looks like it'll have multiple uses. DW also loves the monogramming options and knows that I'm a color freak. (I'm Asian and DW is getting tired of me complaining about how I never see mugs, novelty license plates,etc. w/ my name on it. :LOL )

3. Last year's Eagle Creek backpack. I've seen it on sale for $30 and as mentioned earlier, I like the changing pad sleeve.

This all could change if I decide to burn a BRU gift certificate on the Sierra bag or just decide to make do w/ my traditional backpack.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!!!

chuong (the seemingly schizophrenic, diaper-bag-searching dad)

Hmmm, I'm sorry I can't offer much advice as I'm still searching for the perfect diaper bag, myself! I must have gone through ten so far and DD is only 3. But I just wanted to say it is so cool to see a Dad who is as bag-obsessed as me!

I can tell you I do NOT like the Land's End "do-it-all" diaper bag. It does not have an outside compartment for parents' stuff, it does not have external pockets for a water bottle, and most importantly the straps are to small to easily go over the shoulder, especially if you are wearing a jacket. It does have separate, divided compartments which is cool and the reason I gave it a try.

My main requirements for a bag are external pockets for mine/DC's water bottles/cups (so frustrating when the usual "bottle pockets" are sized for narrow baby bottles and won't hold my water), an adjustable shoulder strap, a nice section for my "purse type" stuff, and , the REALLY hard one to find, DIVIDERS in the main compartment so we can separate clean clothes/diapers, dirty clothes/diapers, toys, and snacks. WHY do diaper bags always just have one big compartment to throw everything into? (even if it has mesh pouches around the inside it isn't the same as actual dividers.)

I'll be following to see what you find, wagodog!

Jen

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Thanks! I don't know what's come over me w/ dc#2, though. I made do w/ whatever was around w/ dd. I guess I researched most everything else the first time around and this was all that was left over? :LOL

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I checked that one out online as well. To be honest, it really didn't do much for me. Based on its dimensions, I also felt that it was too much of a "roll" bag - not really what i was looking for.

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While I would like the addition of an external compartment for water bottles and the like, I've gotten so used to bags w/out them that it wasn't high on my list of requirements. So long as the contents of the bag are easily accessible, I'm fine. Also, since my personal belongings normally consist of keys, a wallet, and my cell phone, I didn't really feel the need for too much in terms of a "parent's compartment". I totally agree w/ the requirement for dividers, though. That was what was pushing me away from a number of bags - in particular, the Eagle Creek backpack. As much as I liked the idea of having 2 hands totally free, I'd much rather be able to compartmentalize things to some degree and not just throw everything in there.

I went to REI tonight (No, not a separate trip to REI just to check things out) and was able to check out the Timbuk2 bag in person. I have to say that I'm absolutely sold on it. It's about the size that I was looking for. It seems to be extremely well made, and as I'll be ordering a custom bag, I'll be able to add a center divider and a grab handle on top of the bag. It does not have exterior pockets, though - only an internal organizational flap and pocket. Again, a custom color choice certainly helps.

If BIL really is able to get the discount, that's what I'll be going w/.

chuong

those are all pretty nice, i can't choose!

keep in mind, you can convert any standard "messenger bag" into a diaper bag, all you have to do is go to a home improvement store and buy two of those "carpenter's aprons" with the two rows of pockets. cut the ties off of them. then get Velcro tape that's self-stick, and cut off 6 squares. peel the paper on one side and adhere the velcro squares (both hook and loop will still be stuck together) to the pockets at the corners and middle. then pull off the paper, and stick the pockets into the bag and press down on the velcro squares. voila, your velcro is in the right place.

you might want to test it a few times before you take off the paper, to see how it fits. messenger bags have great pockets on the outside, for cellphone, keys, pens, all that stuff. and with the carpenter's aprons, you now have 6-12 pockets on the inside perfect for dipes, wipes, bottles, toys. throw in a few large ziploc bags for wet stuff, and you're ready to go.

ETA: i learned this from my friend who did this to a Jack Skellington messenger bag from Hot Topic, she didn't want her boyfriend to not be able to carry the diaper bag

check these out... this is a great website for baby stuff that's hip.

www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com