Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Fancy Diaper Bag When You Find Out You’re Pregnant
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Here’s a fun question for you guys: what would you tell new moms NOT to buy? What did you buy that was a waste of money or a mistake for your family? For me, the big answer to this question is a fancy diaper bag — I now advise all of my friends to NOT buy a fancy diaper bag when they find out they’re pregnant.
(Pictured: a lovely $1400 Burberry diaper bag to consider if you don’t want to listen to this advice!)
All of my friends and I made this mistake: the second we found out we were pregnant we started looking for fancy diaper bags. Resist the urge to do this! At least until after the kiddo is born and you’ve been using a diaper bag for a little bit of time and have a better sense of your needs (and the level of grossness that often comes with babies).
For example, the one that I bought (a very nice Rebecca Minkoff one that’s still available) I ended up hating, because I didn’t want a two-handled tote bag — one handle would fall off my shoulders, and I felt like the whole thing threw my balance off further, particularly if I was babywearing. It also didn’t fit neatly over the stroller handles (or underneath in the basket) — in short, I used it about three times.
The truth of the matter is, you may not NEED a diaper bag, at least at first — I wound up just using an old Le SportSac Everyday bag (formerly my office gym bag!) for the first several months of my son’s life; other women just use backpacks or totes (or keep supplies in your stroller or car). If you’re breastfeeding, you don’t need to cart any food or snacks for the first six months. When they’re very little you don’t need many toys, either.
So the main things that you need to bring with you are 1-2 outfit changes and your diapering supplies. If you’re traveling with a breast pump (which is a whole other ball of wax), odds are good you’ll just want to shove the diapering supplies and outfits into the same tote. I don’t think I used an actual diaper bag until my son was about a year old, honestly.
(If you DO want to make a purchase, these are some of our favorite diaper bags for working moms:)
Our latest favorite diaper bags for working moms include classics from SkipHop and Petunia Pickle Bottom, as well as some options from brands we love for work bags, including Dagne Dover. For affordable options, check LAND or Amazon seller RUVALINO.
(Here’s what I eventually saw as the best way to stock a diaper bag; the pics were taken when I had two kids under 4, both in diapers!)
Furthermore, your diaper bag isn’t really going to be “yours,” at least not in the sense of your other bags — your partner is (hopefully) going to carry it occasionally and will likely take it on outings. Your nann(ies) will probably do the same.
So, for my $.02, hold off on buying the diaper bag — at least until the kiddo is born, and just prep a regular tote bag, backpack, or messenger tote until you have a better idea of your needs.
Ladies, are you with me in being against fancy diaper bags? How much did you spend on the diaper bag you eventually loved? What else do you recommend newly pregnant mamas NOT buy?
Social media image credit: Pixabay.
Sales of note for 5/14/25
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Beauty Deals up to 25% off (ends 5/17)
- Ann Taylor – Suit Yourself! 30% off suiting (ends 5/16) + 25% off your full price purchase (ends 5/18) + extra 60% off sale (ends 5/14)
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 25% off
- Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything + extra 60% off sale + $1 shipping on all orders
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off long-weekend styles + 50% off select swim and coverups
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 50% off clearance + extra 15% off $100+ + extra 20% off $125+
- M.M.LaFleur – Lots of twill suiting on sale! Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 40% off all markdowns (ends 5/18) + 30% off dresses, skirts, accessories, and shoes
And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!!
- The concept of “backup care” is so stupid…
- I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
- I’m thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?
- I’m now a SAHM and my husband needs to step up…
- How can I change my thinking to better recognize some of my husband’s contributions as important, like organizing the shed?
- What are your tips to having a good weekend with kids, especially with little kids? Do you have a set routine or plan?
I have jujube backpack. That was gift that o
will be useing this time but i am packing for s new born and a toddler
I disagree with this. A new mom will need a diaper bag. You will regret not getting one. Now getting one. Now a 1400 diaper bag???!! Maybe not. But get a diaper bag.
Amazon Prime is really a huge game changer for the whole ‘what should you buy when you’re pregnant’ conversation. We didn’t have it back in my day! (I said that in an old lady voice, but it’s true). Worst case scenario you deal for MAX a couple of days (maybe even just a few hours based on where you live)
I didnt buy a diaper bag since i received some from my baby shower with my first child. They all ripped off in time and in itself theyre already heavy for me without its contents! I use ordinary back]ack with lots of pockets which way more cheaper than diaper bags. Moms also dont need to buy bottle sterilizers cause a big pot is okay to sterilize baby bottles etc. Also diaper pail theres no need for it
i am happy that I purchased a baby bag before I had my child. I took the time to see what was available and figure out what I needed. I chose a smaller messenger style bag (Storksak Jamie). It has been a great choice for me. I wanted a gender neutral bag, that had an insulated section for bottles, and could organize the diapers, etc so that everything was easily located. The bag I selected easily fits in the basket up under the stroller but is small enough that it is not inconvenient to carry when I am without the stroller.
i would say don’t buy:
– more than 1 or 2 packs of diapers b/c you don’t know whether what you pick will work (esp w/ #1) based on size/shape and being stuck with a case full of diapers that don’t hold up to heavy wetting or blowouts is both expensive and frustrating (this is why i’m not a fan of diaper showers, among other reasons)
– baby shoes b/c you have no clue what size feet baby will have when he/she gets to the point of actually needing shoes
– more than one stroller — buy what you think you will use the most based on your lifestyle and wait to see how it works out before you get more than one b/c then you have time to see if (1) you really do need more than 1 and (2) what you love/hate about your first stroller so you don’t repeat the same issues with a second
– i would buy a moby or similar wrap as an entry-level baby carrier rather than a soft structured carrier (ergo, beco, etc) b/c the latter are almost impossible to use at first if you have a c-section and you will still want a way to carry baby with hands free
First time transplant over from the main website. Hoping to get some commiseration/hear your own experiences as I’m struggling. I’m 12 weeks pregnant and already in need of maternity pants/belly band. I’m wearing one tonight. I know that, in the grand scheme of 40 weeks, I’m hardly showing, but I’m having trouble letting go of the comparison game (e.g., mother-in-law telling me she didn’t show until 20 weeks, my own mother only gained 20 lbs, etc.) I know my belly growing is a sign of a healthy growing baby, and I’d like to get a grip on my negative self/body image before I really start growing. I wasn’t super comfortable with my weight prior to getting pregnant (hormones, changing medications, etc.), and it’s only going up from here. How did you handle your changing body and/or conquer the comparison game?
I had a Jujube for my third, and I really liked it. It’s machine washable, has little holes to let crumbs out, could be carried as a backpack, shoulder bag, or by the handles, had some anti-microbal lining, lots of great pockets. It was kind of expensive, and you have to get past the crazy prints, but for practicality it was the best I found.
I’ve had a few diaper bags — first one didn’t have a zip closure, so stuff was always falling out, second one was pretty good, but then started feeling too big & heavy once I didn’t need all the extra clothes/burp clothes/bibs. I switched over to a small kid-sized backpack, which typically holds a few diaper + wipes + disposable chaging pad in a baggie, snacks, and entertainment. Currently in toilet training mode, so I have a folding potty seat shoved in there and I try to rememebr to keep extra clothes in the car.
I’d like to be diaper bag free and just toss a few things in my purse — but I’m too much of an over packer (extra clothes! entertainment! snacks!) and my purses never seemed right. My bigger ones are all shoulder bags that just don’t stay on my shoulder when kid-wrangling and my crossbody bags are too small.
My unicorn bag is a crossbody that’s jusssst right, so I can carry some of the stuff and kiddo’s backpack can be light enough so that she can wear it without tipping over.
I’ll be the voice of dissent here. I bought a gorgeous black nylon Burberry diaper bag when I was pregnant with my first, and a full 5 years later, it is still going strong. I spent about $750 on it at the time, but it is basically the only bag I carry outside of work or special events, so I wanted it to feel sufficiently purse-like that I wouldn’t mind hauling it around with me all the time. Since it is nylon, it’s lightweight and wipes down easily, and has worn like iron. We’re getting ready to have our third, and I full expect that even once we finish our baby/toddler years, I’ll still be using it as a weekender. In this case, the cost-per-wear works out to pennies, so I have no regrets.
When my LO was a newborn/infant I carried around a diaper bag with all sorts of stuff – extra changes of clothes, diapers, some toys, etc. It was a Skip Hop and completely fine but I never loved it. Now I loathe carrying around anything beyond basically a diaper pouch that someone gave us. It fits diapers, wipes, cream, and can fit in my large purse or I can throw it under the stroller. Also, I don’t baby wear all the time, but do so a lot more in the winter (since we take more subway rides instead of walking everywhere) and I hate carrying a bag on my shoulder when I wear my kiddo.
Basically, my point is: don’t spend a lot of money on a diaper bag and get a backpack if you plan to baby wear at all.
I love my storksak noa bag because it also works as a purse for me (I was a longchamps le pliage person pre-baby but I like the storksak bottle pocket). My husband has his own diaper duffel bag. I also have a stroller diaper bag pre-packed for shorter walks, that I can throw into a backpack for baby wearing. This means that I have 3 travel wipes containers (one in each bag), plus an extra change of clothes and diapers in each bag, but I also don’t stress about having baby stuff handy.
For baby number 2 (now 10 months old,) we bought a Kanken backpack to use as a diaper bag. I organize it with a see-through mesh pouches that hold the necessities. I can fit my phone and wallet in the front pocket. Its helpful for my hands to be free and my husband doesn’t mind carrying it. Interestingly, a few years ago I splurged on a leather Minkoff knocked-up bag to use for work. I love the size, the pockets, and the durable lining. However, its quite heavy–even if I don’t have it loaded with a laptop and papers so I haven’t used it as much as I thought I might.
My husband sews and made us a diaper bag with a matching changing pad. Naturally I was contractually obligated to adore it. It was pretty good, although a bit big, and I never liked the changing pad (too hard to fold/unfold 1 handed). I received the Skip Hop changing pad clutch thing as a gift, which is great and I recommend. But I liked having a bag ready to go with diapers, wipes, cream, nursing cover, at least 1 change of clothes, toys, etc. at all times. When my son got a little older I started using an old backpack more with the Skip Hop clutch inside and more stuff we would want at the playground – toy cars/diggers, sidewalk chalk, small ball, nonperishable snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, water bottle, extra clothes, Potette during potty training – I think of it as my playground go bag. We live in the city, and the playground/park is our yard, so it really makes it easier to get out of the house relatively fast. I also have a separate bag of sand/water toys I can grab in the summer.
Speaking of diaper bags, I need to pick one out soon. I want something that is durable, not hideous, and less than $150. Any suggestions?