Diaper Bag Questions

[starryfish]

FTM here....just trying to decide how to do this....do you combine your diaper bag and purse into one bag? Do you carry two separate ones? I think I really want to carry just 1 since I will also have a work bag with laptop, pump stuff, lunch, etc. If you did combine, did you just have a wristlet inside the diaper bag for your wallet and stuff?

For those with daycare, do you leave the diaper bag at daycare or bring it with you? What do you bring/leave at daycare each day? I know bottles, but what outside of that? I am assuming I will already have a stash of other items there for her like diapers, wipes, extra outfits. 

I will most likely be dropping off and my DH picking up from daycare. Just trying to figure out the logistics of the diaper bag here and what I need in the diaper bag. Thanks so much! 

[bex]

I still used my main purse for work, but used my diaper bag for all weekend outings etc. I just threw my wallet in there, lip gloss, anything else I used regularly from my purse.  With both kids, I used the diaper bags a LOT for the first maybe 6 months, and then I gradually used them less and less and so by a year I just threw extra diaper and change of clothes into my main purse.

I never took my diaper bag to daycare. I used a regular tote bag with a small cooler bag inside for the bottles. When we used cloth diapers, we carried those back and forth every day along with the bottles. On Mondays we would bring in sheets, any extra clothes they needed, etc.  

[starryfish]

Nov 17, 2016 6:49:54 GMT -5 bex said:

I still used my main purse for work, but used my diaper bag for all weekend outings etc. I just threw my wallet in there, lip gloss, anything else I used regularly from my purse.  With both kids, I used the diaper bags a LOT for the first maybe 6 months, and then I gradually used them less and less and so by a year I just threw extra diaper and change of clothes into my main purse.

I never took my diaper bag to daycare. I used a regular tote bag with a small cooler bag inside for the bottles. When we used cloth diapers, we carried those back and forth every day along with the bottles. On Mondays we would bring in sheets, any extra clothes they needed, etc.  

Thank you, this is very helpful!!!

[felicity]

I use a Longchamp Large Le Pliage with an insert for organizing everything. I put diapers, extra outfit, toys, etc in ziplocks and take them out when I go to work or out without DS. I have always preferred carrying large purses though so I don't mind carrying a tote all the time. It comes in handy to have a lightweight bag big enough to for just about anything I need.

[felicity]

Also I would recommend waiting until after your LO is born to figure out exactly what you find yourself carrying around, then find something that fits. At first I just used an old canvas tote as a diaper bag and it worked fine.

[Mrs.flang]

I only use the diaper bag when we're out on the weekends and I use one of the outside pockets for my wallet and phone. I usually grab my regular purse too just in case but leave it in the car. I don't really like my system lol.

For daycare I use a reusable grocery bag for supplies and diapers. I leave it there, they put everything away and I take it back home at night.

ETA- or, exactly what @mrsbex said.

[boiler717]

I have my wallet that I transfer from purse to diaper bag. I only use the diaper bag on big outings. Otherwise I just have some diapers and wipes in a be quick that I grab and put in my purse. He doesn't need much any more.

[ellipsis]

I have a small-ish crossbody bag that I'll throw in the diaper bag when we go somewhere. For daycare I put bottles in a soft sided lunch bag cooler (daily) and anything else in a reusable grocery bag (diapers, wipes, etc as needed).

[spk926]

Nov 17, 2016 6:28:17 GMT -5 starryfish said:

FTM here....just trying to decide how to do this....do you combine your diaper bag and purse into one bag? Do you carry two separate ones? I think I really want to carry just 1 since I will also have a work bag with laptop, pump stuff, lunch, etc. If you did combine, did you just have a wristlet inside the diaper bag for your wallet and stuff?

For those with daycare, do you leave the diaper bag at daycare or bring it with you? What do you bring/leave at daycare each day? I know bottles, but what outside of that? I am assuming I will already have a stash of other items there for her like diapers, wipes, extra outfits. 

I will most likely be dropping off and my DH picking up from daycare. Just trying to figure out the logistics of the diaper bag here and what I need in the diaper bag. Thanks so much! 

You don't need to bring your diaper bag, and purse, and work bag at the same time. I have a wallet and my phone that I transfer between the diaper bag and purse. My phone case holds my ID and credit card so that's all I really need to transfer between a purse and diaper bag. If I want cash or my other cards then I move my wallet too. I keep chapstick, lipstick, and anything else in the diaper bag and purse all the time so there is no transferring of anything else. If I'm out with DS though I don't even bring my purse. There is nothing in there that can't fit in a diaper bag so I don't see the point of carrying two things.

I do not leave a diaper bag at daycare. There really is no point IMO. I bring bottles to daycare daily and that's it. Diapers, extra clothes, and anything else stay there all the time. You don't need a diaper bag for the drive home, it's just one more thing to bring and take home so leave it at home and save yourself the time and headache of remembering one more thing.

[CloudBee]

Early on I had a separate diaper bag and still used my purse. But as the weeks and months went on, the diaper bag stayed in the car fully stocked, and I kept a diaper or two and snack or bottle or whatever in my purse. If we were going into the mall, a restaurant, doctor's office or someone's home, I would bring the diaper bag in. Otherwise it usually stayed in my car. I really didn't like carrying the diaper bag everywhere. It was so bulky.

Now my diaper bag lives in the trunk of my car with spare snacks, water, a pack of wipes, and a change of clothes. DS is 3.5.

[pooh8402]

I have my purse (a large leather tote) for when I'm without my kid. But when I'm going somewhere with my kid, I just transfer my wallet and keys to the diaper bag. I carry a Jujube BFF, which had this awesome "mommy pocket" to hold my stuff. There a some small pockets in there where I keep a chapstick and hand sanitizer.

When E was an infant, we did not bring the diaper bag to daycare (well we did at first, but quickly learned it was unnecessary). I had an insulated bag that I carried his bottles back and forth in. His diapers, wipes, and spare clothes are kept at daycare.

[osulori]

For the first 9 months or so, I kept my purse essentials (wallet, keys, work ID, lip balms etc) in a medium sized clutch in the diaper bag (I had a Kate Spade Stevie so pretty big and looks like a purse anyway). Eventually I made the transition to keeping a couple diapers and some wipes in my purse, but I'm a big purse person to begin with so there was plenty of room.

[bluelikejazz]

I have one of those silicone card holders on the back of my phone. I keep my main credit card and my ID in that. When I go to work, I use my purse, but anywhere with DD, I just throw my phone in the diaper bag and keep my purse at home.

[numbers]

Diaper bag: We only use it for weekends/outings, not daycare. Sometimes I throw my wallet/phone/lipgloss in there, but mostly I prefer to wear my personal items in a small crossbody instead.

For daycare: We use a Skip Hop backpack for transporting backup clothes, diapers, etc. and a separate insulted bottle bag. Baggu reusable grocery bags are also great for bringing extra stuff back and forth (love the bright colors so they're harder to lose).

[thebreakfastclub]

I am simple. I used to carry stuff to and from daycare in a reusable grocery bag. I put the bottles in a big ziploc baggie. I'd mix up my formula the night before and have a day's worth in the big baggie overnight in the fridge. Unless you have an extended commute to daycare, it's not going to get warm in the car.

I am not a diaper bag enthusiast and stopped carrying it around 12m anyway, but I also drive most places and could keep spare stuff in my trunk.

We had a Lands End diaper bag. No complaints. I did really like the big diaper bag hook that they sell at Target, so you can clip the bag to your shopping cart strap.

[midwest07]

I will be the odd person and say that we do leave a diaper bag at daycare. We have a bottle cooler that we stick in the main bag and then throw the bag over our shoulder. Give the bottle cooler to the daycare staff, and then we leave the diaper bag with the infant seats. Used to be literally left it in her infant seat, and now just with the infant seats.

I do this because we don't keep stuff in our cars, such as diapers/wipes/extra clothes, and we each do a drop-off or pick up. So I drop her off, leave the bag, DH picks her up, gets the bag. If he needs to run a quick errand after work with her, then he has the diaper bag with stuff in case. it also has a few snacks, etc.

On the weekends, I then put my stuff into the diaper bag. If I don't have DD, then I just carry my regular purse. So freeing! I am now transitioning to not using the diaper bag as much and instead using a large purse and putting DD's stuff into my purse. I worry less now (DD is a year) about having lots of extra diapers and clothes. It's rare I even do diaper changes now if we are out just for a bit, and rare she would spit up.

[midwest07]

Nov 17, 2016 7:00:03 GMT -5 felicity said:

I use a Longchamp Large Le Pliage with an insert for organizing everything. I put diapers, extra outfit, toys, etc in ziplocks and take them out when I go to work or out without DS. I have always preferred carrying large purses though so I don't mind carrying a tote all the time. It comes in handy to have a lightweight bag big enough to for just about anything I need.

What kind of insert do you use? I have the large too and would like to carry it more on the weekends, but it's kind of a dumping ground inside and I can't find stuff. If I can make it work and not buy a new bag that has more pockets and such, that would be nice.

[starburst604]

It actually took me about a year of trial, error, and forgetting a lot of shit to finally figure this out. I really only carry the diaper bag on weekends or when I take her somewhere other than daycare during the week, like doctor's appointments. During the week I carry a work laptop bag and I also use my gym bag during the week and on weekends. So as you can guess - transferring my wristlet, keys and makeup bag between bags meant I was often missing something. Finally I bought a small crossbody bag that fit all of those things and I carry that everywhere. It has been the perfect solution for me.

Depending on where we are going, sometimes I skip the diaper bag now. I have a shopping bag in the trunk of my car with a few diapers, wipes and a change of clothes for her. If we aren't going to be out long sometimes I just stick her epipens in my little bag and rely on the backup bag if I need it. 

[starryfish]

Thanks all! This was super helpful!!!!

[felicity]

Nov 17, 2016 11:24:22 GMT -5 midwest07 said:

Nov 17, 2016 7:00:03 GMT -5 felicity said:

I use a Longchamp Large Le Pliage with an insert for organizing everything. I put diapers, extra outfit, toys, etc in ziplocks and take them out when I go to work or out without DS. I have always preferred carrying large purses though so I don't mind carrying a tote all the time. It comes in handy to have a lightweight bag big enough to for just about anything I need.

What kind of insert do you use? I have the large too and would like to carry it more on the weekends, but it's kind of a dumping ground inside and I can't find stuff. If I can make it work and not buy a new bag that has more pockets and such, that would be nice.

I have this one:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ZNCEPQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

The dimensions are perfect for the large and I like the number and size of pockets it has, but the dividers for the pockets are not sewn down on the bottom, so small things like chapstick or keys slip under the dividers. I also got a black one which I would not recommend because it's kind of a black hole. But, I do really love the tote + organizer better than a bag with pockets built in because it is so much more flexible. I keep meaning to find a better quality organizer that is about this size, but just haven't gotten around to it yet.

[hbomdiggity]

Having a baby did not change my purse situation. I still use the same smallish crossbody.

The diaper bag generally stays in the car unless we are going to be out and about for extended time (wondering around the mall, etc). For a trip to target, even a long walk around the neighborhood, it stays in the car/house.

I am also a minimalist with the diaper bag - diapers, wipes, a toy or two, bib and water cup. when he was younger I did a change of clothes, but not now.

I leave extra diapers/clothes at daycare - no diaper bag.

I had a small tote for the pump, but eventually I just left the pump at work during the week.

[lostarz]

In the morning I have my work bag (which holds my purse), lunch bag, and another lunch/tote bag with DD's bottles for daycare. I never pumped at work but that would have been another separate bag.

I have a wristlet/wallet in my purse that I'll toss into the diaper bag depending on where I'm going but I don't necessarily bring the diaper bag into stores with me or on walks around the neighborhood.
I don't even bring the diaper bag in the car with me when I take her to daycare...I might want to just in case lol. I have a separate changing pad that holds wipes and diapers that I leave in the car.

I leave extra outfits and packs of diapers and wipes at daycare and replenish as they run out.

[macmars45]

If I'm out with DS by myself I throw my wallet, phone, keys & an extra pair of glasses (pretty sure Mr grabby hands will break my glasses before his first birthday) in the diaper bag. If I'm out with H and DS I usually take both purse & diaper bag. I asked for a phone case to hold license/credit card etc for my birthday as my wallet is on the bigger side.

As for childcare I can only comment as far as church childcare on Sundays. We leave the diaper bag in the infant room so I take my purse as well. 

My DS is 6.5 months old fwiw.

[aliciar6]

I only use my diaper bag. I can fit what I need in there. I have lots of little organizers in it.

When I had to run into the office, I did some part time work from home, my laptop went in my backpack. That made juggling easier.

If we had done daycare, I'd use a separate bag, no way my diaper bag was being left there, it was my super mom splurge.

When I did pump and we traveled (I drug around a symphony) I used a larger shoulder bag I got from a store purchase.

Eta DD is nearly 20 months