1. Size. How many baby items do you intend to carry? On a regular day, you need diapers, wipes, change of clothes, burp cloths, and a blanket. If you're bottle feeding, you need bottles, water and milk container. You might want to add an extra shirt for you, in case of accidents. Aside from the baby items, do you plan to put yout personal stuff in there, too?
Personally, I used bigger baby bags when my son was below 1 year old. But as he gets older, I can manage using a 9 x13 x 5 inch length bag for a 2-3 hour trip outside the house.
2. Straps. Are you comfortable using regular shoulder handles or you want it crossbody or longer ones. I like both. There are baby bags with adjustable shoulder straps. So you have to option to shorten or lengthen it. My hubby likes long straps because he has broad/wider shoulders. Whether you prefer long or short straps, make sure the strap is thick enough to support the weight of your bag and all the baby items in it. Carrying your baby around is already heavy enough, you need proper support for your baby bag, too.
3. Pockets & Compartments. These help you organize your stuff. You want to be able to fish out the baby items fast and with ease. It'll be nice if your bag has 2 big compartments to separate food and non-food items. Then you need the small pockets for small items like binkies.
4. Bag Closures. I prefer and recommed bags with zipper closures. You have a lot of baby items in there and the last thing you want is your items falling out of the bag when you accidentally trip it somewhere. I've seen a lot of baby bags with open tops and just magnetic closures and they really turn me off no matter how nice the design or how right the size is.
5. Color & Design. I would recommedbd gender neutral bags in terms of color and design especially if you and your husband might be using it alternately. If you really want that pink bag for your baby girl, just make sure you have a spare black, blue, or gray one for your hubby to use. Some husbands may not mind the color and design, but some do, too. So better to be on the safe side
6. Material. Nylon? Canvas? Leather? The lightest ones are the nylons. They are easy to clean, too. Canvas are light, too, but usually easy to get dirty. Although, there are coated canvas too that repels dirt and easier to clean. Leather are not common just because they are heavy and may not survive spills and liquid splashes.
7. Price. There are a lot of brands and options in the market. You'll find a large, roomy, and sturdy enough baby bag between $30 - $80 (Carter's, JJ Cole, Skip Hop). A mid-level branded baby bags from $150-$400 (Kate Spade, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Coach, Michael Kors). Or luxury baby bags for $800 and up (Gucci, Prada, Burberry). Regardless of your budget, you have a lot of options out there.
So what's my diaper bag?
For now, I have 3:
1. Rebecca Minkoff Knocked Up Diaper Bag. It retails for $345. But I got it on a good deal at Amazon for $120 November last year. Now, it's up on its regular price again. What I like about this is that it's simple, but with gold hardware. It has a long adjustable thick strap, a handle that fits my shoulder and extra stroller straps. I like that it has small compartments inside and it also has a changing pad. It's made of nylon with leather trims, and comes with zipper closure. It has side pockets for bottles, too. The only downside on this bag is that it is a bit heavy than I would have wanted.
2. Juicy Couture Nouvelle Pop Nylon Baby Bag. It retails for $248, but Juicy Couture offers a lot of sale and promos that I got it for around $70 only. It is made of nylon, light weight, has adjustable thick straps, zipper closure, a changing pad, and enough room for me.
3. Lesportsac Deluxe Everyday Bag. It retails for $80, but I got it a discount again and end up around $50 only. This is not a baby bag, but somehow its compartments have been useful for my baby stuff. It's small, just enough for a short trip to the playground, playgroup, or running errands with your kid. There are 2 major compartments. One I use for my son's diaper and wipes, and extra set of clothes. The other one is where I put his water bottle and snacks. The smaller pockets in front is where I put my keys, sunblock, hand sanitizer, and other small stuff. There's another pocket at the back where I sometimes put my small wallet or other personal stuff. I can carry it crossbody or as a shoulder bag. I let my hubby use it too when he takes my son to the park. It is very useful, easy to clean, washable, and lightweight. It comes in a lot of design, too.
In choosing your baby bag, it's really up to your need and preferences. Sometimes it takes a couple of misses before you find the right bag for you. You just have to know what your need is, so that you'll find the right one to fill that need.
