Hello everyone! What diaper bag would you recommend to a new mom?
Hollywood stars have made designer diaper bags famous: from Rachel Zoe's
Alexander McQueen black tote to Sandra Bullock's c
ustom-made Louis Vuitton Speedy for her son Louis. I think we all agree, however, that spending one grand or more on a diaper bag is not within everyone's reach. There is also the issue of whether, should you have the money to buy a designer bag, you would really spend it on a diaper bag, rather than go for that Celine handbag that would last you a lifetime, and definitely well after your kids are out of diapers.
A diaper bag is still one of the essential items a new mom needs. This is why it is the first thing I concentrated on when I was getting ready for my baby boy's arrival (all right, in small part it was also because I am a bit, just a bit, obsessed about handbags). When my son was born six years ago, I had not realized how much the diaper bag would have become part of my daily wear. I chose a cheap one, and by the time I realized that I really loathed to be seen in public carrying it, my son was a bit older, so it seemed silly to invest a lot of money to fix my original mistake. Hence I bought another cheap diaper bag. Before you know it, I think I bought at least four cheap diapers bag, and I did not like any of them. They thus all ended up at the local consignment store as soon as I bought the first pair of training diapers for my son.
As I started afresh with our new arrival, I think what I have learnt can help you as well. Let me begin by saying that strictly speaking you do not need to buy a diaper bag. Any bag you already own that fits your needs will do the trick. A couple of things to consider before you convert your Louis Vuitton Neverfull into a diaper bag though. First, you should not worry about the outside or inside of the bag getting stained -- which will likely happen sooner rather than later (think about that baby bottle with a too-loosely-screwed cap you will eventually throw in). Second, at some point that insulated pocket may come in handy. (Just saying)
There are a lot of "frilly" baby bags out there. When I looked for buying a new diaper bag, my challenge was finding one that could be mistaken for a regular bag -- one that does not scream mommy, and that will not embarrass you even if you bump into your boss or childless ultra-fashionable best friend at the grocery store. I knew that the diaper bag wad going to hang mainly from my stroller, but that I would have not carried a regular purse most of the time so that my wallet, keys and cell phone were going to fit in there as well. I considered Rebecca Minkoff Knocked up Baby Bag and Marc by Marc Jacobs Preppy Nylon Eliz-a-Baby Bag (both available through
Shopbop). I also reviewed many mid- to high-end diaper bags such as those by Emporio Armani and Cavalli available through
Children's salon. I have to confess that the price tag was the main deterrent in all these cases. As much as I knew I was going to use it a lot and for at least a year, I could not bring myself to spend 350$ or more on baby bag.
That's when I stumbled upon the Holy Graal: the
Skip Hop Versa diaper bag (pictured above), priced at about 80$. Its sturdy, waterproof nylon and golden hardware give it a quintessential Tod's feel. It is also functional: it has five front pockets (two of which are insulated), one back zippered pocket with a changing mat, and four internal pockets for all your knick knacks. If you live in Montreal, you can go and check it out at
Thyme Maternity and
Kido Bebé. Otherwise you can order it online through
Amazon.
P.S. More new-mom essentials
here.
