Moms with 3--Best bag for the parks?

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Great question. I'm a mom of 1, but have to bring in some extra supplies for myself as well. I need to find a backpack I can use as a diaper at at home and a park bag for Disney. The cross body bags cause me back and neck problems. Keep the recommendations coming!

 

[asmit4]

This got me to thinking and researching. I'm thinking of getting a Derek Alexander bag- it's a midsize bag and looks like a larger purse with lots of pockets. More like a day bag of sorts. It is a cross body. We have 1 child and I need to fit:

3 diapers
wipes
change of clothes for him
sunscreen
bottle of water
2 iPhones
Glass case
advil, baby ibuprofen, band aids
car keys- we drive
$$$, CC cards/insurance cards etc

What else do you- as parents- bring for your kids into the park? I know some bring snacks. I might pack a breakfast bar or something but otherwise we will eat in the parks.

 

[Meldev]

I've got 4 kids they'll be aged 2-10 on next trip, our first family trip was with 3 aged (2-4-6), my DH carried backpack for cameras. I had regular purse that I could sling over stroller handle.

My plan this time is similar a utilizing stroller areas when possible, one has food allergies so I carry Benadryl and other first aid type meds in an insulated lunch box of sorts - all will be at stroller bottom. My other 'purse' are the shorts I just searched high and low for - finally found cargo shorts I liked for women (ll bean)! I ordered 5 pairs! Great for any little necessities in my pockets - slip tissues/ etc in pockets for ride wait times, holds phone easily, etc!

 

[DYOBL0305]

Good info on this thread!

My oldest will be 6 by the time of our trip, my middle one 3, and my youngest 1, we always bring a backpack to parks because of all the stuff we need to carry with us (snacks, change of clothes, sunscreen, water bottles, etc).....adding ponchos, diapers, wipes, and first aid bag to the mix, I'm figuring our best bet is to bring 2 backpacks on this trip, but if I can squeeze everything into one I'll be VERY happy.

 

[4leobeans]

http://www.babysherpa.com

We just used our diaper bag when we went last year in February. I use a baby Sherpa short haul backpack, which I like as it holds a lot, and my hubby will carry it too.

We had a 2 and 5 year old, so carried diapers, wipes, spare outfit for each, hats, sunscreen, jackets, snacks/drinks, a small camera...and maybe other small odds and ends. It holds quite a bit, and is rugged. The bottom pocket is lined to keep things cool.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Embrace the idea of no bag at all.

 

[tndisney5]

Embrace the idea of no bag at all.

Oh, I would love to have no bag, but it just never seems to work out that way.

I'm going with a Kipling backpack for now. It has lots of good padding on the shoulders and a draw string closure so it should be easy to get thing in and out.

Where can you buy the small misting fans? I am going to have to get some of those!

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

I was also going to recommend the 31 Explorista. It's a new bag this summer and is very versatile. I usually carry a Baggallini but I may take the Explorista next time. If you want to see pictures, let me know mi can share some.

It also can clip right into the back of a stroller, which will be nice with kids.

 

[MandiC]

I had a baggalini messenger bag, it fit everything we needed. I only had my older two kids with, we had a guide book, snacks, a water bottle to share (And refill, it was a filtered water bottle), autograph books/passport books, lanyards and a few other things. Ponchos on the days it was supposed to rain. I wouldn't bring it again, just because as someone who is 5'3 it just didn't fit right, I have heard this is typical of them though, they just fit taller people better.
I'm still on the lookout for bags for our next trip. I might just go with a backpack but I refuse to be a pack mule our older kids will be 11 and 9 on our next trip and they will most certainly have some kind of bag to carry their own things and my bag will purely be younger kids, snacks and adults stuff.