diaper bag - unisex or two?

[Anonymous]

About to be a first-time mom.

Any advice on whether or not I should get one unisex diaper bag or if it makes sense for hubby and me to each have one?

If unisex is the answer, any recommendations on where to look? Is there a much better selection online that I will find somewhere like Babies R Us?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We used just one - a Navy/Black backpack style. It was great for both of us. I could throw it on my back or it had straps that could hook on the stroller handle. I did receive a much larger cutsie diaper bad that we packed with diapers, extra clothes, etc and sent to daycare.

[Anonymous]

Just get one. If your DH is anything like mine, he will consider himself completely incapable of actually packing a diaper bag. I found it a TON easier to just hand him mine when he was taking DS out alone. (That said, DH is a great dad. Packing a diaper bag is just something he won't do. But he does a ton of other stuff).

[Anonymous]

Another vote for one diaper bag. At first, there's so much crap that you'll want in there, and you don't want to think about double-packing. We bought a nice backpack at Maclaren (I think you have to order online).

By baby #2,, I realized that there is nothing I need other than a burp rag, diaper and wipes and I shove it all in my purse. DH can carry the bag if he's going out alone.

Like with all things baby, you will be lured towards all the beautiful, fancy things without thinking of the fact that this bag will sit on a bathroom floor, hold poopy diapers and leaky bottles, etc. One year out, you'll feel ridiculous for spending on a fancy diaper-bag. I know a woman who had 2 Kate Spade bags for her first baby and carried a regular old backpack by the 2nd one.

[Anonymous]

Hear Hear! Regular backpacks make the best diaper bags, no need to spend money on something that will be gross after six months. I am still amazed at the stuff I thought I needed for the first one. PP is exactly right, by #2 I was shoving it in my purse.

[Anonymous]

Definitely unisex, definitely backpack. I figured out the unisex before baby was born (got plain black), but it took me actually having the baby to figure out the backpack part, and I just switched to a hiking day pack I already had. Getting myself, my child, a breast pump, my work bag AND a shoulder bag out the door in the morning was merciless. I just didn't have that many hands, and switched to the backpack out of necessity. Now that I work part-time and chase around a super-active 1.5yo, I still swear by the backpack, so I can have my hands free to snatch him from the certain doom he seems to seek out everywhere we go!

[Anonymous]

Ours was a black packback style too, because I totally EXPECTED my husband to carry it as much as, if not more than, me. And I wanted him to be comfortable with it, not hold it out away from him as if it were toxic. I never liked the cutesy ones, anyway, so this was not a hard choice.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to disagree - I view my diaper bag as a temporary purse so what is most important is that I like it.

[Anonymous]

We found a nice unisex diaper bag at LL Bean. You can order online or check them out at the Tysons Corner Store.

[Anonymous]

If you like to carry a purse and are "into" bags..I would get two. Otherwise, just go for the one that your husband might carry. I like the Skip Hop bags for that purpose. They even have a couple at Target for like $30.

[Anonymous]

Never use one! I just stuff a diaper in my purse. I got one and it was a hassle to transfer my wallet and other stuff and I soon found out I didn't want to carry a purse AND a diaper bag. I use a burp cloth for a changing pad, etc. We keep a bunch of extra stuff in our stroller and/or trunk. Sometimes when I need to carry more stuff I just put in into a Whole Foods Bag.

[Anonymous]

15:00 here...i should have added that I just put my wallet and stuff in the packback...carrying a purse too would seem to defeat the purpose of simplifying for me.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for just one. While DH is more than happy to carry our backpack diaper bag, he is incapable of refilling it or checking to see that it has been refilled before we leave the house.

[Anonymous]

My DH and I each have our own. His is smaller and he just carries diapers and wipes. Mine is larger, and I always bring diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes. I us mine as my purse, so I bought a nice one. We use his for quick trips, and mine for longer outings. But my DH was really funny about wanting his own bag. He really, really wanted his own, so that's why I bought a nice one for myself.

[Anonymous]

I originally thought I'd get just one, but I've decided it's better for us to have two. Part of it is that there are times I want something a little dressier than most unisex bags, and DH thinks the ones more suitable for dress up occasions are too feminine for him to carry. Also, like the PP, DH is really excited to have his own bag.