Let's talk diaper bags &/or purses

[jackie011]

Expecting #1 in about 7 weeks.  I already have a Skip Hop Duo Deluxe, but obviously haven't used it yet.  If you have that diaper bag (or similar) do you also usually carry a purse?  Do you have a different bag/pouch for your things that fits into the diaper bag?  (I already have 2 larger, zippered make up cases from Thirty-one that I received as gifts and thought I could use for my things, inside the diaper bag)  I usually carry a pretty good sized (heavy, leather) purse and have been hearing nothing but warnings from everyone around me that "that's going to change soon."  I honestly can't imagine needing less stuff while out and about with baby. 

Debating whether I should keep the diaper bag for daycare but then get a bigger tote style purse for me and baby stuff or if I should just use the diaper bag all the time and downsize to a cross body type bag for me.  Decisions, decisions!

[Deleted]

When I'm out with the baby, I don't carry a purse. I put the Jew things I need in the diaper bag. I carry much less me stuff than I used to.

I just got the Skip Hop Grand Central. While it's huge, I love the mom compartment.

[lillioness]

Feb 16, 2014 10:02:57 GMT -5 swizz said:

I have the skip hop duo and that's all I use. I keep my wallet stuff in a little zipper clutch and just throw that and my phone in the bag when I take it out. I just switch those two things back and forth bt my work bag and the diaper bag. I only use a purse on rare occasions now.

I had extras of little stuff (lotion, Chapstick, etc) that I keep in the diaper bag permanently.

Pretty much this exactly, except in have a different diaper bag. I use my purse so rarely it seems like a waste!

[osulori]

Like swiss, I have a small zippered bag that I keep my wallet stuff in and just switched that between the diaper bag (a Kate spade messenger bag) and purse as needed. But lately I've just been using my big purses as usual and throwing a plastic bag with a few diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes in my purse if were just out running around (will still use the diaper bag if we're going to be out all day though)

[jackie011]

osulori That's kind of what prompted this. I had a parent volunteer in my class this week and she has an 8 month old. Her sitter was meeting her at school, right before she got started and she just had her purse (a larger tote style purse) with a ziploc of baby stuff inside. It just seemed so simple! I'm sure it's not quite like that in the beginning, though.

[Deleted]

I don't have that diaper bag but I still keep my purse and diaper bag separate. At first I tried to combine them but the amount of stuff/digging/weight etc. started to drive me nuts. I like my own space for junk tyvm..ha.

I usually bring both a long and leave one in the car. For example I don't need my diaper bag in the grocery store so I'll leave it in the car and take my purse. In a restaurant I need my diaper bag so I'll slide my wallet in. If it's just a quick Target trip, I'll slide extra underwear and a diaper in my purse and go.

Basically, it depends.

I also like that I can keep my purse stocked for and her diaper bag stocked for DC that way.

[browneyedgirl9]

I don't use an extra purse, just my diaper bag. I just keep my stuff in a little clutch and throw it into diaper bag.

[ladygrey]

Since having a baby, I only use a real purse when DH and I go out alone. The rest of the time, I just stick my wallet and other necessities in the diaper bag (I have a Skip Hop Duo and it's great).

[redheadbaker]

It depends on what we are doing. If we're, say, going to the mall or zoo or something, I'll throw my wallet, cell phone, keys, chap stick, etc. in a zippered side pocket of our diaper bag (a Moby backpack). If we're going to hang out at my mom's, I'll bring the diaper bag and my purse.

[sent]

I also usually carried a leather purse with me pre-baby. I bought the Kate Spade Stevie after all the chatter about this bag on here. It has been our main diaper bag, but recently I felt like I needed something else, something smaller. I didn't want to carry 2 bags. The only things I really need are my wallet, phone, and keys and I didn't like that I can't throw these items in a front pocket on the Stevie.  Not a fan of putting them inside the bag either because it seems too big for our short trips to the doctor or to the store (when we can start going to stores).

Yesterday I got a Skip Hop via Messenger bag. I will use this for my daily errands when I go out with the baby and keep the Stevie for when baby goes on overnight trips to grandmas or somewhere.

My baby isn't heading to daycare anytime soon so I don't know what kind of bag I'd need in that situation.

When I go out without my baby, I either take one of my leather bags or my backpack.

[chicago]

Well, she's not here yet so I'm no expert, but I got a Marc by Marc Jacobs elizababy bag. I figured I can use it for traveling or what not down the road. That said, I'm realizing it's pretty big and I hope I'll like it.

I bought a MBMJ medium sized pouch off of EBay to put my own stuff in within the diaper bag.

[jackie011]

Sounds like I should plan on scaling back and use the zippered pouch that I can slip into the diaper bag. It's true, all of my errands and such will change and I'm sure I'll have far less spur of the moment shopping trips!

[rex]

I use a large leather tote as my
diaper bag (I have yet to find something I actually like for under $300). inside I have a clutch with my own items that I can just take out if I need to.

[Deleted]

Feb 16, 2014 10:56:54 GMT -5 swizz said:

Feb 16, 2014 10:04:51 GMT -5 @libgrl said:

When I'm out with the baby, I don't carry a purse. I put the Jew things I need in the diaper bag. I carry much less me stuff than I used to.

I just got the Skip Hop Grand Central. While it's huge, I love the mom compartment.

Jew things, eh? Baby menorah?

Bwahahahaha! This made me lol for reals.

For the record, it should read few not Jew.  (hot)

[sporklemotion]

I do separate bags, but it's a pain. I will probably scale down soon. I was worried about forgetting my wallet when I am out without the baby.

[teatimefor2]

I always planned on just using my diaper bag, so one similar to a purse. Love it and I don't have to worry about extra bags! Less is more!

[spk926]

I have a few diaper bags (Skip Hop Duo, Skip Hop Versa, Skip Hop Dash and JJ Cole Satchel) and the one I use by far the most is the Skip Hop Duo. I love the magnet closure as it's easy to open with one hand but is secure enough to hold everything in; even when tipped upside down. I put my phone in one of the front pockets and just pack my wristlet in the main part of the bag. So I am able to have everything I need for me AND baby in one bag. By far my favorite bag!

[osulori]

Feb 16, 2014 10:55:08 GMT -5 swizz said:

Feb 16, 2014 10:12:29 GMT -5 jackie011 said:

osulori That's kind of what prompted this. I had a parent volunteer in my class this week and she has an 8 month old. Her sitter was meeting her at school, right before she got started and she just had her purse (a larger tote style purse) with a ziploc of baby stuff inside. It just seemed so simple! I'm sure it's not quite like that in the beginning, though.

Unless it's a quick errand or something (in which case I have diapers/wipes/change of clothes in the car) I think a diaper bag is a lot easier. They have so many pockets I don't really have to dif to find stuff and I'd you're alone trying to change a diaper on a squirmy baby in the Macys bathroom, you'll appreciate having really easy access to everything you might need. Also easier if someone else needs to find something in there bc most things have their own pocket. I'm not really a fan of someone else digging through my purse.

I don't know, I've found that keeping the necessary stuff in a gallon ziploc bag is easier for me because if I need to change him while I'm out I can just hang my purse on the hook and grab the ziploc bag out of my purse.  jackie011, in the beginning I felt like I had to have all the things all the time-blanket, burp cloths, diaper cream, diapers, wipes, changes of clothes, etc.  Then I realized that for day to day stuff I didn't need all that...plus my everyday purses are huge anyways

[osulori]

Feb 16, 2014 20:58:41 GMT -5 swizz said:

Feb 16, 2014 20:48:11 GMT -5 osulori said:

I don't know, I've found that keeping the necessary stuff in a gallon ziploc bag is easier for me because if I need to change him while I'm out I can just hang my purse on the hook and grab the ziploc bag out of my purse.  jackie011, in the beginning I felt like I had to have all the things all the time-blanket, burp cloths, diaper cream, diapers, wipes, changes of clothes, etc.  Then I realized that for day to day stuff I didn't need all that...plus my everyday purses are huge anyways

Change of clothes is always necessary! I had to take C home in just a diaper in freezing weather last week because she pooped into the entire leg of her sleeper at the doctor's office. Thank goodness I have a jj cole car seat cover!!!

We were at dinner with my parents when AJ decided to shit up his back, and of course I hadn't brought extra clothes.  Thank god we had stopped at BRU before dinner, so I sent my mom to the car to grab one of the 18 month onesies we'd just bought

[holly116]

When I had just one kid, I used a small jjcole messenger bag like thing and carried my Kate spade purse separate. The diaper bag didn't really have a separate part for a wallet or anything.

Once I had 2under2, I upgraded bags and every bag I've used since then has had a section that closes tight and lends it to what I would carry in a separate purse - mainly keys, a large wallet, lip gloss, sunglasses and a ridiculous amount of receipts that I should just really throw away but collect anyway. So now I just carry a single bag. I love my PPB satchel satchel. If I squint and tuck away the backpack straps, it's almost just like a big purse.

I need a diaper bag though, where do you put sippy cups in a purse? Plus, I'm not digging Teddy Graham crumbs and melted crayons out of my nice purses!

[niq]

We use a swag bag msniq got at a lawyers' conference. I swear the thing was designed to be a diaper bag.

I want to plug the Summer Infant change away pad. You can use the pouches in it for wipes, spare outfit, and diapers; if you use disposables, you don't even need a separate bag in the early stages. But we CD, and the diaper bag gets used for other baby things like bottles, nursing cover, toys, snacks, etc.

[MadamePresident]

I have a JuJuBe Bff (its a great bag, despite the silly name). It has a "mommy pocket" on the front. I keep my wallet and a smaller bag with a few of my things in that. Since it's winter I can pull them out and put them in my jacket pocket. Well actually I usually leave the bag in my car and just bring my wallet in with me.

I also have a purse that I use on the rare occasions I leave the house without my daughter. Its worked pretty well so far, but if I were to be leaving my daughter places without me often, I would probably keep a small purse in the diaper bag.

[h]

I just carry a big purse and stick a changing pad, diapers, and wipes in it.

[grosnl19]

When she was younger I put everything in our Skip Hop Duo (wallet, cell, inhaler, kleenex, make-up items) pockets. Now I carry a cross shoulder bag on me and the Skip Hop on the stroller. It was easier to have my own bag and I felt I needed to be more of a women and less mom :-)

[redheadk]

I keep Chapstick, a pen, and tissues in each purse then just move my wallet and key to whichever I'm using (or to the diaper bag if I'm with dd). I switch purses a lot anyway, though, so nbd.

[sookie]

Feb 16, 2014 10:05:35 GMT -5 lillioness said:

Feb 16, 2014 10:02:57 GMT -5 swizz said:

I have the skip hop duo and that's all I use. I keep my wallet stuff in a little zipper clutch and just throw that and my phone in the bag when I take it out. I just switch those two things back and forth bt my work bag and the diaper bag. I only use a purse on rare occasions now.

I had extras of little stuff (lotion, Chapstick, etc) that I keep in the diaper bag permanently.

Pretty much this exactly, except in have a different diaper bag. I use my purse so rarely it seems like a waste!

Same with a different bag.

I keep everything in the diaper bag organized within zipper bags: diaper changing supplies (minus the rolled up mat), spare outfits/drool bib/burp cloth, extra supplies for her, and a small bag for my extras like above.

[gibbinator]

I don't know what that diaper bag looks like, but when I finally consolidated my purse and diaper bag it was life changing.

[huskymom]

Feb 16, 2014 12:18:37 GMT -5 chicago said:

Well, she's not here yet so I'm no expert, but I got a Marc by Marc Jacobs elizababy bag. I figured I can use it for traveling or what not down the road. That said, I'm realizing it's pretty big and I hope I'll like it.

I bought a MBMJ medium sized pouch off of EBay to put my own stuff in within the diaper bag.

I just wanted to share that I've had this bag for 2.5 years and seen very few with it, and still use it! At this point, it stays in the car and I just throw a pull-up in my purse, but plan on using it full time again with the new baby. Yes, huge, but came in very handy for the first year. I kept my wallet in there wen we went out.

[leonard131]

I never used a diapaer bag.  When he was really little I used a large men's coach cross bag thingy with tons of pockets so I just threw my stuff in one of the large pockets.  I didn't carry a lot of stuff in a purse anyways so it worked will for me.

Now I use my Neverfull but not really because of his stuff but because normally H gives me crap to hold or we are going multiple places like the gym and then brunch so I need to put different stuff in it i.e. water bottles and sweaty  gym clothes  :-)

[yoteach]

On recommendation from 212, I got the Marc Jacobs Elizababy bag. It's perfect as both a(n oversized) purse and diaper bag. It holds everything. But the bag itself is nice and lightweight and it contours your Sid when it's not stuffed too full, so I don't feel like it's too big. It has lots of pockets, so I have one dedicated to my wallet, phone, keys.

But...I had two kids in cloth diapers for a minute there. Which requires a massive bag.