So I was one of the Skip Hop Duo haters. I hated it because there is no zipper on top and I don't like taking public transit with what's essentially an open tote. I also did not like that it was pretty narrow and stuff got lost in the bottom. I now own the Skip Hop Forma, a backpack-style bag that is leaps and bounds better than the Duo (for me). www.skiphop.com/product/diaperbags/formadiaperbackpack.html A backpack style isn't for everyone, of course. I just like it and it hooks onto my stroller no prob if I'm wheeling my DD. So Skip Hop bags are not universally bad. Just the *#&!ing Duo.
I splurged on a Kate Spade Stevie diaper bag that I love! I still use it even though he's 3! I swear I need more stuff for him now than when he was really little ;-)
I use it as a purse/pump bag during the week without the insert part. On weekends, when I'm with the kids, I put the insert part in and it has diapers, wipes, etc in it. Love.
Love my Skip Hop Bento. It's big enough for everything and has lots of useful pockets to compartmentalize stuff. We have a smaller clutch we take for short trips now that he's older and requires less, but the big bag will be useful on long trips for quite a while.
My objection to the Duo is the open top. whoever thought diaper bags don't need a zipper on the main compartment is an idiot. No one wants to chase diaper cream across a parking lot.
We are using an ll bean book bag. Love all the pockets. Easy to find what we need and holds everything well.
We use a backpack I got for $20 at Costco. I tried a few things with #1, but I hated them all. Too hard to find things. This backpack remains perfectly organized.
But I don't care about diaper bag fashion at all. This bag is for the baby, DH can carry it without looking ridiculous, and it has lasted for years of pretty heavy use without falling apart.
hbomdiggity @charky I just looked at the Skip Hop site and it looks like the newer version of the Duo has zippers, so you lucked out. (Weird because my DD is just a few months older than yours, charky!) The zipperless top was such a design fail of the old Duo.
I haven't been using it for too long yet but I really love my Timi & Leslie Marilyn bag. It looks like a purse but T&L is a diaper bag line. It's super functional thus far and meets my needs. H has not left the house with O on his own yet but he has a designated back pack that will be his diaper bag.
Post by waterchurch on Aug 13, 2015 11:04:31 GMT -5
I really like both my Perry Mackin Zoey and my okiedog sumo. Lots of interior pockets, multiple carrying styles. The sumo can turn into a backpack which has been handy on occasion.
I have two. This one is beautiful and I use it as my work bag. It is heavy since it is leather. It fits two medela coolers, pump parts plus all my normal work crap. Doesn't look like a baby bag.
I haven't had the opportunity to use it yet, but I had been wanting the Tom Bihn Parental Unit since before I was pregnant! I have it and am working on packing it for the hospital! Their bags last forever. Both DH and I will carry this one without any problems.
I will give you one that I do NOT recommend. This Eddie Bauer. I bought it so it could be neutral for DH and I. I ended up abandoning it for an old backpack that we had lying around that we still use.
Post by lenticular on Aug 13, 2015 11:46:48 GMT -5
I have a Sherpani Nuvie diaper bag. It has plenty of pockets, including two on the side for bottles, a changing pad, and a plastic bag for dirty diapers or clothes. I've only been using it for 5 months, and it's held up well. It stays with the baby - swapping stuff between two bags is too difficult for us. We have it in black, and DH didn't think it was too girly for him.
Post by carolinagirl831 on Aug 13, 2015 11:50:50 GMT -5
I technically have 4 diaper dude- DH uses or we use it for travel- messenger bag style
Petunia Pickle bottom- downton tote- love this one! I just got it, it is glazed canvas and has pockets all around the sides and a zipper. Cute enough to not look like a diaper bag, but very functional
Kate spade stevie- love this one, use it all the time and it can be stuffed. I like the shape because things don't get lost in a deep hole- i've used it since DD1
Skip hop dou- it's ok, I got it when DD1 didn't need as big of a bag as the stevie. Its too small for 2. mine does zip, whichI know is a complaint for many people
Post by oceanstbride on Aug 13, 2015 12:04:29 GMT -5
I've used a couple of different ones.
Started off with the Kate Spade Stevie, which I really liked bc it holds a lot and looks very much like a purse. When DS became a little bit bigger and I was carrying him sometimes, it was annoying to have that bag on my shoulder and him on the same hip.
Decided I wanted something that I could use crossbody and picked the up the Skip Hop Duo. Nice bag, smaller than the Stevie. Mine unfortunately had a defect, but Skip Hop was great and sent me a credit for a new bag.
Ended up finding a KS bag similar to the one @this posted (mine is a little wider like a tote bag) and it's been working out perfectly. I love having the option to wear it crossbody and that strap is easy to put over the stroller handle too.
But now I'm looking for a backpack to wear now that we don't always use a stroller.
I wanted a bag I could use as a work tote as well, so I got a Longchamp Le Pliage. Sands Point Shop had the best prices I could find after signing up for emails and waiting for a sale. Still trying to find the best organizer to go in there, but there are lots out there that fit.
Honestly if you can I would wait until after the baby arrives and see what you end up carting around so you can find a bag that works best for you. I just used an old tote up until now and organized things in zip locks.
We have a Skip Hop duo that stays hooked on to the stroller. That's for anyone who uses the stroller to use- DH, nanny, occasional babysitter, me.
I have a diaper bag backpack (I forget the brand, maybe Graco?) that I use if I'm wearing DS in a carrier or going on a train, plane or car with DS. Basically, if I have to carry it (as opposed to having it hang out on the stroller), I'll use the backpack. It's so much more comfortable and also fits more stuff for a full-day outing or for a long plane ride (snacks, toys, etc.).
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my JuJuBe bag! I tried a few before I kept one and this one was my favorite. I have the BFF. It is great because it has a good shoulder strap so I can wear it cross body like a messenger bag. You can also wear as a backpack, but I took those straps off and don't use them. It opens up really wide so you can easily find stuff in it. Tons of pockets which makes it really easy to organize. I feel like it is a perfect bag designed by a woman! And comes in lots of cool prints. It was more money than I would normally spend but I love it. I also got it from Buy Buy Baby and was able to use a 20% off coupon, so that helped.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my JuJuBe bag! I tried a few before I kept one and this one was my favorite. I have the BFF. It is great because it has a good shoulder strap so I can wear it cross body like a messenger bag. You can also wear as a backpack, but I took those straps off and don't use them. It opens up really wide so you can easily find stuff in it. Tons of pockets which makes it really easy to organize. I feel like it is a perfect bag designed by a woman! And comes in lots of cool prints. It was more money than I would normally spend but I love it. I also got it from Buy Buy Baby and was able to use a 20% off coupon, so that helped.
I also loved my Ju-Ju-Be BFF, although I only ever wore it as a backpack. (They were also a former client of mine, but I started working for them after I was already a huge fan of their bags. Great company.)
The bag is also machine-washable, and it has great resale value when you're done with it.
I started out with a plain black old school KS messenger bag but found it to be smaller than I would have liked so I got a KS Stevie and love it. I'm going to be keeping the bag @this posted in the back of my mind for if/when I birth Junior 2.0 though, that's really cute!
Post by cricketwife on Aug 13, 2015 13:02:58 GMT -5
I splurged on the Kate Spade Stevie. Love it! I'm not fashionable at all so this was a big splurge and I'm so glad I did. It's a fabulous bag. It's my "all the time" bag. It's a diaper bag when I'm with DS and just my regular bag when I'm not. I get compliments on it all the time. Some people complain it's too big and I don't get that at all. I had an infant who was a spitter and also ended up needing to be bottle fed, so between the bottles and burp rags and extra clothes , etc, it was never too big. If anything, sometimes I felt it wasnt big enough. Now, I don't carry so much for him but it holds its shape if it's partly empty, so NBD.
I'm a diaper bag junkie. I have a lot of them and have tried a lot of different bags. And I'm all about organization within my bags.
I'm not a fan of the Skip Hop Duo bags. They're essentially a black hole where you'll have to dig for stuff. I had mine about 2 weeks and got rid of it.
PPB bags are the same way for the most part. The Touring Tote is okay as it's longer than it is deep and makes for better organization. I have a Weekender and Sashay Satchel, both of which I've mostly retired as baby bags and just use as travel bags.
I loved the Jana bag but I don't love the pink so I'm selling it. It has tons of organization and I like that it has a space for a laptop. It also has several strap configurations.
Right now I'm using a JJB BFF. So far it's my favorite. It has the mommy pocket in front for wallet, sunglasses, cosmetics, etc. A specially-lined phone pocket, 2 exterior bottle pockets and 4 interior pockets for anything else. The interior of the bag is a great size and the way it opens makes it easy to find everything. It also has a messenger strap and backpack straps. And it's on sale right now on Amazon. If you're wanting a smaller bag but like the JJB features, a Hobobe is a good option.
DH has a black backpack he takes when he has the kids.