Backpack diaper bag or...

[momneedscoffee13]

I'm trying to decide what would work best, mostly for our upcoming Disney trip, but also any vacations, zoo trips, etc. Does anyone use a backpack diaper bag (jeep, eddie bauer, fisher price - really not looking to spend the money on a dadgear). Or would a regular large backpack suffice? Pros cons? I have a 1yo and a 4yo - of course, the 4yo doesn't need much these days!

Thanks!

 

[misscmac]

I'd probably just use a regular backpack and use big ziploc bags to try and keep all the stuff inside organized!

On our last few trips I actually just used a Vera Bradley tote and left it hooked on the stroller; inside was diapers, wipes, extra outfit, bottled water, snacks, etc. Then I had a small crossbody bag that I wore with my wallet, phone, etc. It was small enough that I didn't even have to remove it during most rides.

 

[set1208]

We gone as simple as a draw string back pack. It was nice and lightweight and we'd hang it on the handles of the stroller.

 

[MandiC]

I didn't bring it to Disney (our younger two didn't come with yet, they stayed with grandma and grandpa, which for their age was just as exciting ) but I use a regular backpack for my 'diaper bag' on a daily basis and have for years. I have a Real Tree brand but I am sure any quality backpack would do. I have a purse organizer in it and as someone else said use gallon size ziplocks for wipes/diapers, change of clothes, or anything else I want to be easy to grab

 

[merina888]

We have always had a backpack diaper bag. With my older son we used a Columbia backpack diaper bag. We now have a Fisher Price one that we bought at Babies 'R Us and I think it's the best one. It's stood up to a lot of wear and tear. It's quite roomy, has quite a few pockets, including a very small cooler area. Here's a weblink: http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...443.3242082.2255980.2256157&parentPage=family

It fits both kids stuff in it without a problem. And it has survived numerous family trips (we like to travel, not just to WDW).

 

[iluvwdw_2002]

Hi there! I was given a Vera Bradley backpack for Christmas, and I love it! I use it as my diaper bag and it's soo lightweight! If you have a stroller, you can buy one of those hooks (some have a lock as well) and hook to your stroller when riding rides. I wear a crossover purse that has all my valuables but the backpack just has diapers, wipes, snacks, cups, etc.

Good luck!!

 

[SweetMissy]

While pregnant with my 3rd, we didn't want a traditional looking diaper bag, so I bought a cinch bag and love it. Mine's from thirty-one, I still use it even though he's almost 3....with a regular diaper bag, you really can't use it for anything else. So that's my suggestion.

 

[Chelley00]

I used a Baggalini and still use it to this day (it's just not as packed now!)

 

[lucyddr]

I have lots of diaper bags, but the one I chose for Disney was my Vera Bradley Backpack Diaper Bag. It was perfect! It fit comfortably in the stroller basket, was easy to carry, lightweight, and held everything we needed for our twins!

I think backpacks of any style are far superior to totes!

 

[stargazer2892]

Our everyday diaper bag is actually the backpack we bought for our honeymoon at WDW. It's a LLBean one that is water resistant and lightweight, but has held up amazing, it was about 40$, they've redesigned it but its called a stowaway pack. We use the ziplock bag method so we have a gallon bag of diapers, and an extra set of clothes, plus a spare for dirty clothes. Then quart bags for first aid and extra meds. and of course with a 2.5 year old and a 9 month old LOTS of toys get thrown in there. The outside water bottle holders hold two bottles in one and of course a water bottle in the other so it works quite well. We used a traditional messenger style diaper bag at first with DS but hated the unbalanced feeling of lugging him and the bag around so the backpack is kind a set it and forget kinda thing. And at WDW you can always fit extra family stuff in there as well.

 

[VbChristy]

We are traditional backpacks as diaper bags people too! The one we bought an likes was from target- I think on the Swiss army family. But it is so easy.

 

[puffkin]

For Disney, I use a bag with as few pockets as possible. Saves a lot of time/hassle going through bag check. I like bags that have a straight zip at the top....easy to open one handed and reach in and grab what I want without stuff tumbling all over. I usually hang my bag from handles or set in stroller basket. I organize everything inside in ziplocs to make grabbing easy (spare outfit, diaper changing stuff, toys, feeding stuff, etc get their own bag). I don't want things hanging off of me so I only do bags that work with a stroller.

 

[KristalJ]

Check out Thirty-One Gifts totes and bags. Great quality and perfectly tailored for vacations! View the catalog at mythirtyone.com/kristaljohnson and let me know if you have any questions.

 

[purrpletulips]

I bought a very lightweight daypack from LL Bean for use as a diaper bag when we went with DD. We still use it now as our regular diaper bag for our second. It only has one big pocket but I used gallon sized ziptop bags to organize everything and like that I will be able to continue using it once everyone is out of diapers. I purposefully bought a very light bag because kids stuff can get heavy.

 

[Ava]

We use a regular Jansport backpack, and a Skip Hop portable changer. The changer holds a couple of diapers and a travel-sized pack of wipes, and folds out into a changing pad. It fits into the large compartment of the backpack but can also be carried alone and has everything needed for a diaper change. Works great anywhere you need to change in a public bathroom. We put more diapers/wipes, changes of clothes, snacks, etc into ziploc bags to keep everything separated & dry in the backpack.

 

[AspenLL]

I have the Fisher Price Fastfinder Backpack and love it. We're going to use it for our trip in a few weeks.

 

[TravelingTotMom]

We bought a regular backpack to use for a diaper bag on our last Disney trip (usually use a more traditional diaper bag). It has three zippered sections, as well as a mesh outside pocket and water bottle holder, and it worked perfectly. Easily accessible hand wipes in the outside pocket, sunglasses/cell phones/teethers (things we would constantly need through the day) in the smallest section, just diapers/wipes/changing pad in the middle section (so we didn't have to worry about anything else falling out in the bathrooms), and everything else in the largest section.

Also, I was trying not to spend a ton of money on something we would only use every so often for trips, and I found a lot of the diaper bag backpacks to be expensive or lower quality/less space (would have spent more if using all the time). We ended up finding a sturdy, great sized regular backpack at Gander Mountain for under $20 on sale.

 

[KingofJapan]

I'm trying to decide what would work best, mostly for our upcoming Disney trip, but also any vacations, zoo trips, etc. Does anyone use a backpack diaper bag (jeep, eddie bauer, fisher price - really not looking to spend the money on a dadgear). Or would a regular large backpack suffice? Pros cons? I have a 1yo and a 4yo - of course, the 4yo doesn't need much these days!

Thanks!

Get the dadgear backpack. We have this and it's the best. Not very girly like the giant pink coach diaper bag we also use. Has a lot of compartments and very well organized. I tried the drawstring deal with ziplock bags along with a regular backpack with bags but it's nothing like the dadgear. The ziplock bags have to be removed if you need something from the bottom and take up a lot of space since you are piling stuff on each other. With the dadgear You don't even have to open it up all the way to get to most of the compartments. We got the billboard backpack since it's made out of recycled material and very unique. Also keep in mind these backpacks are made in the USA (not like many of these drawstring bags and backpacks that are made in China )