Just Buy a Non-Diaper Diaper Bag

Knowing he wouldn’t want to carry a typical diaper bag, I originally bought my husband anall-black Patagonia Black Hole tote/backpack. Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang used the same one with her eldest child. But we both got frustrated by its lack of structure, slippery nylon fabric, and extra deep inner pocket that made it hard to find wipes or a pacifier fast. Then I found this backpack from LeSportsac and it quickly became my favorite bag forcarrying both diapers and work essentials. It’s really comfortable to wear on my back but also has tote-style handles. It has two bottle-shaped outer pockets and four inner mesh pockets that I use to corral everything from my computer charger to diaper cream and snacks. It’s also very stylish and streamlined, so I feel put together even if I am not.

With her first child, Strategist lead editor Lauren Levy, who has a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, used a Telfar shopping bag as her diaper bag. The long straps are perfect for hanging over the handlebars on the back of a stroller, and Telfar shopping bags come in three sizes and over 40 colors, so you have lots of options. The medium size has an internal laptop pocket and two inside zip pockets.

[Editor’s note: Because they are so popular, Telfar bags sell out frequently. But the brand restocks on a weekly basis and often announces details onInstagramahead of drops.]

Baggu’s sport backpack has the same trapezoidal shape as my LeSportsac tote-pack, which Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens, who has a 2-year-old, says makes it feel like budget Prada Sport. Both she and her husband carried the black version instead of a diaper bag. Because the bag is boxy with a wide drawstring opening at the top, rather than a tall and slim, it’s a lot easier to see what you have inside. And it has really nice long straps, which make it especially good for tall parents and wearing over winter coats. Strategist senior writer Lauren Ro, mom to a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old, has also used this backpack as a non-diaper diaper bag.

When her older son was a baby Ro carried his essentials in a Fjallraven Kånken backpack, which she says fits a surprising amount of stuff, is basically rain proof, and — if you get it in a darker color — doesn’t show stains. “I have it in navy and you can’t tell how dirty it is,” she says. Her family still uses the Kanken as a stroller bag for their nanny. The Kanken is unique in that, when unzipped, the entire front panel flips open like a suitcase. This is key for parents like me who hate blindly digging around for snacks or whatever. It also has tote-style handles in addition to shoulder straps.

If the Kanken backpack above is too small, Herschel’s Retreat backpack, which Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio used with her first child, is similar in shape but has roomier side pockets, padded straps, and a top drawstring closure covered by a flap withfauxbuckles and straps (there are easier-to-close snaps underneath). She likes that the bag comes in “mini,” “small,” and “standard” sizes; the “small” is just slightly larger than the classic Kanken backpack. The potential drawback of the larger standard size is a more cavernous main compartment, though, so you’ll want to use pouches to organize it accordingly.

Pretty much every parent I know has a stash of reusableBaggu bagsfor days when they don’t need to pack a full-on diaper bag. I frequently use a standard Baggu bag for carrying extra clothing, diapers and wipes, toys, books, and lunch when out with my son. In the summer I keep several in the bottom of the stroller; I’ll use one for chalk and other messy stuff, another for a towel, sunscreen, and a bathing suit, and a third for snacks and water bottles. They weigh almost nothing, fold down flat, and can be thrown in the washing machine. They are also perfectly sized for hanging across twostroller hookson the back of a stroller.

Strategist senior editor Ailbhe Malone, who has a 3-year-old daughter and lives in London, used a version of this Roka nylon backpack as her diaper bag and still carries it today. “I bought one, then my mom bought one, then my brother stole hers to use as a diaper bag for his son,” says Malone, noting that it has a specific umbrella pocket at the bottom that’s waterproof to keep your stuff dry on rainy days.

A portable changing mat comes in handy when you have to change a dirty diaper on the go and don’t want to get poop on your car seats or lay your child on damp grass at the playground. I’ve also found it especially handy because my child is deathly afraid of the fold-down changing tables in public bathrooms.

Instead of unfolding, this diaper change kit from Storq has a small mat inside that’s easy to whip out at a moment’s notice. It’s by far the nicest-looking one I’ve seen, with several bold patterns to choose from. It also has a conveniently placed loop that makes it easy to carry on your wrist.

I bought these stroller hooks after my nanny recommended them. They are essential to my weekends for hanging bags of all types.

Baggu pouches came up over and over again during my chat with other Strategist parents. They are great for storing potentially messy things like creams, sunscreen, medicine, band aids, chalk, and snacks.

For less messy things you want to keep separate, I prefer packing cubes like these colorful ones from Away’s new kids’ travel collection. I use them to hold sneakers, extra clothing layers, bibs, stuff for teething, diapers, and toys.

I have been using Skip Hop’s insulated cooler bag since my son was around 5 months old — to store bottles of formula or breastmilk, baby food, snacks, and water plus an ice pack. It’s machine washable and has a convenient handle with a buckle that makes it easy to hang on a stroller. It also has an inner pocket for cutlery or wipes.