Diaper Bags Compared

Backpack Diaper Bags For Men

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:11:53 +0000

Let’s not leave all the work to the women here. There are lots of able and willing fathers who are happy (or ok, perhaps obliged) to sometimes take on the heavy lifting and carrying of baby supplies as the family goes around town.

And if that is the case, the guys would certainly like to avoid having to carry a pink flowered overstuffed bag around their shoulder all day. Sure they can handle it, but why be stuck with that look, when there are lots of great alternatives for men that look stylish and fit the part a whole heck of a lot better?

Diaper bags for men - also known as backpack diaper bags - are a trending item in the baby marketplace. These are usually marketed as a messenger or backpack style. The colors are more subdued in general, with greys and blacks dominating the scheme. There also are more masculine patterns on some of the bag offerings. In line with the popular Afflicted and Ed Hardy style men’s t-shirts the last few years, a number of these bags carry that theme with camoflauge, royal markings, understated logos and accessories.

A personal favorite that is economical and stylish among friends of mine is the Diaper Dude line. The Orange Lion Diaper Bag is in the messenger style. It has a very wide strap for slinging over a shoulder. The look is just right on a guy and has garnered good head nods and nice comments from others when wearing. And at under $65 it is something that can be purchased and felt good about when your guy is strolling down the street, out of the car, or in the neighborhood.

For the true businessman who wants to play it really straight or perhaps fit in a more urban and city center setting, there are some really interesting offerings from a company called Petunia Pickle Bottom. It’s a unique name and it’s a unique product. The Scout Journey Pack comes in grey and black and looks very much like a Tumi computer bag or a stylish piece of minimalist travel luggage. Yet it still contains all the necessary features with large interior pockets, changing pad, magnetic straps and exterior detachable pockets. What’s more, this bag comes with monogrammed plastic wipes in a coordinating color. A bit over the top? Perhaps, but this bag is aiming at a certain group of people who will definitely appreciate these small but thoughtful touches.

I think you’ll continue to see a number of backpack diaper bags for men products that appeal to a more masculine aesthetic and that can be worn be a guy without any worry of girliness. Some guys are perfectly comfortable with their masculinity and have no problem toting around a big flowery bag or more purse-like carrier that their wives use. But even for them and for the rest of a number of men, there’s little doubt that they’d be happy to have their own look and bag as well.

Don’t Buy a Large Diaper Bag That’s the Wrong Size and Fit!

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:35:02 +0000

The diaper bags market has really exploded in quantity and quality over the last five years. Companies are really trying to stand out to a wide range of tastes and budgets by making bags that mimic purse looks, that are super functional and remain stylish, and by coming up with creative engineering tricks to fit every conceivable baby item needed for a trip in one large product.

But that is the catch. How do you know what size is best for your needs? You should probably look at a couple of factors at minimum.

Firstly, what size are you? There is a very large range of sizes in these bags. A 5′2” woman is not going to be able to wear a very large bag without looking like she is drowning in it or that it could contain not only her baby’s, but the woman’s entire wardrobe as well. If you’re 5′7” and above, then you can probably feel and look more comfortable with a very large size diaper bag.

Finally, you do have to like the overall look of the bag. It’s something that you’ll have with you for at least a couple years. It has to feel just right. So don’t be hesistant to try out a number of bags in the store. Put them on your shoulder, walk around with them a bit. Open them all up and play with the zippers, straps, clasps and pockets. They’ll become close knowledge to you, so you’ll want to see how they will stack up for your everyday use in advance.

Secondly, you need to look at the outer material. As everyone knows, babies are a lot of fun, but a lot of work too and that means a lot of mess at any given time. That leather designer bag you have your eye on may look wonderful and go fabulously with your clothing collection, your stroller, and your high chair, but it probably isn’t going to clean up so well (review this website for thorough high chair reviews). A bunch of little spots on it may detract from the look sooner than you would like.

Going with an easily wipeable fabric like microsuede or vinyl, or choosing to protect the fabric with a stain-resistant product may offer a better chance of the bag standing up to the rigors of day-to-day use.

Thirdly, think about what you really need to fit in the bag. Sure, it would be nice to put everything that you might need in there. But the more you try to stuff in, the more weight you have to carry around each day over a long distance. It can add up in wear and fatigue for your body.

Diaper Choices – Plastic Disposable, Cloth, or Hybrid?

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:03:29 +0000

All this talk about diaper bags is because, well, you’re going to be putting diapers in them. And a more common debate in the last few years among couples has been to question what type of diaper to actually use. There are traditional plastic disposables, there are the old traditional cloth diapers, and there are now new hybrids which combine an outer cloth or more permanent diaper with a disposable inner material.

I read a statistic recently that stated over 1% of all trash in landfills is disposable diapers. Is that something or what? Here are some other interesting facts to note: Over 27 BILLION disposables are used just in the US alone per year. According to Wikipedia, that translates to a possible 3.4 million tons of used diapers that go into landfills every year. Hmm. That’s not a pretty thought now is it.

It’s also known that the plastics, sticky tabs and chemicals used in the disposables can irritate a baby’s skin. So there are clearly multiple issues to think about for those who want to make an educated choice. What are the best choices for new mothers considering all this information?

Cloth diapers have the advantage of being washable and thus reusable. They are typically made of thicker cotton, or more recent offerings also have hemp and bamboo. The baby will have no real reaction to such a diaper. The drawbacks to some parents are that the cloth diapers will require more changing, as the material simply won’t absorb as much waste as the shaped plastics. Though, some parents may see that as a plus, because the diapers are not really a personal toilet. They probably should be changed and washed as soon as they are ‘used’ , eh? The other drawback from an environmental perspective is that a lot more detergent will be used. And thus more chemical waste into the environment. Although in reality, my guess is that this is still a substantially better environmental alternative that endless amounts of plastic used diaper balls sitting in a field.

Should you be interested in going fully natural and retro with traditional cloth diapers, be sure to know about all your options. There are many different strategies to keeping them clean on a consistent basis which you can research. Ways that can minimize your laundry time and still keep diapering efficient for you and the baby.

An interesting alternative for the parent now is the so-called hybrid diaper. A couple brands exist at this time. One known as g diaper has a flushable inner liner with a reusable shell. The flushable piece degrades in water (though with the help of your ’swishstick’ usage to break it up a bit before the flush). 7^th Generation also has a diaper that really is more in the disposable category. However, they are much less material than a typical plastic diaper, have none of the chemical irritants or fragrances, and therefore when disposed, will take up less room and do less harm with chemical leaching into the ground.

So choices abound now for those who want to think a bit more about what is going into and out of their diaper bags. And ultimately what is going (and staying) in our environment.

Celebrity Diaper Bags

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:23:42 +0000

The choices are indeed amazing now. Top brands include OiOi , Fleurville , Kalencom , Skip Hop, Mia Bossi, and JP Lizzy among others. Designer fabrics such as custom prints, full-grain leather, and buckles just like a Kooba purse are standard on a lot of designer bags.

Take for example, a very high end product such as a Mia Bossi Diaper Bag. Just check out this list of bag features from their website. We’re talking about a machine washable changing pad, zip-in and zip-out inside lining with an additional insert for computer or briefcase even available! Hello, this is seriously an ‘I mean business’ kind of bag! But there’s more. A cell phone holder, a keychain holder (so you aren’t fumbling for your keys in the bottom of the bag. And believe me, sometimes you’re NOT putting the keys in your purse, but rather they end up time after time in the diaper bag! ) A baby wipe holder, private zippered pocket for personal belongings, and straps that are adjustable and detachable to strap around a stroller. Whew.

These are good looking items. I guarantee you will get multiple compliments about your bag should you be able to pick up a good looking bag from designers such as these. Who knew? But you certainly don’t have to spend a bucketload just to get the style you want with the function and practicality that you need. Some bags can go for $150 – $500. But you can absolutely get an amazing bag for 65 bucks as well.

The Kalencom line has some great colors like Baby Blue and Avocado. It’s got adjustable shoulder straps, outside pockets, insulated bottle bags, a big padded changing pad that folds out easily, and has a super handy magnetic strap to close the top. Always a welcome addition when you’re hands are plenty full with baby activities! This line of bags is really nicely priced between $50 to $75.

The OiOi line is in between these price ranges of the bags already discussed. It’s become a very hot item in the mom community as well. These range from $110 to $250. They come with some great looking patterns and styles. Being from Australia, these bags have a little difference influence and it shows in the dynamic color choices. Big bold prints help give this brand a distinct look. If you are a mom or parent with a little more flair and want to be bold, these bags may be for you. They offer many of the same features as the truly high end bags, but without the sky high prices.

So whether your incliniations lean more toward conservative tones and practical hues, or bold colors with dramatic design and eye-catching looks, there is a bag that has your name on it!

Benefits In Owning An Affordable Diaper Bag Versus A Regular Bag

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:59:12 +0000

Are you a new mom or new parent who has got the itch to get a new bag? Or are you just trying to figure out why in the heck you even need one to start with? You say, can’t you use that old gym bag or that big backpack or satchel you have stored in the closet for a while? Well, it’s doubtful. And I’ll tell you why.

If you’re a first time pregnant mom-to-be, and especially if you’ve hit that stage 3-6 months in where you suddenly HAVE to have everything done and ready for baby preparations, then you’re really wanting to know bag details. Let’s take a look at some affordable diaper bag options.

A diaper bag is specialized for its usage just like any other niche item. It’s going to have pockets in just the right places that fit items that babies need. And you’ll need it when you’re out and about on the town, whether in the car for a short errand or running around the whole day.

There’s pockets for a certain number of diapers. There’s side zippers and snaps for little food bags and wipes. There are protected layers for clothes changes, hats and booties. There are liners to make sure the creams and lotions you may use stay separate and are less likely to leak on other items should they come open.

It’s much like a great piece of travel luggage. For those of us on the road quite a bit at one time in our lives, we understand the value of a great suitcase. It’s a time saver and a peaceful feeling to quickly grab needed items and put papers, clothes and other essentials in a secure location each and every time.

Now at first, we may not have thought we needed such a detailed item. I know I thought I could do ok with a basic cloth suitcase that simply had space. And I guess, you could get by. But for the slight difference in price in stepping up to a functional and stylish suitcase, I suddenly had many more options and conveniences. Well the same holds true for a diaper bag, believe it or not!

The great part is that you do NOT need to spend much money! For all this extra convenience, you can find a very stylish and functional bag for $60. The Kalencom line has a variety of bags in the $50-$75 price range.

So know you understand a bit behind the reasoning in choosing to purchase real affordable diaper bags versus any regular shopping bag you may have in your possession. Do you know how many stylish and designer bags are now on the market for an economical price? It’s quite incredible. You simply do not need to sacrifice fashion for function any longer. Additional articles will focus on the wide range of colors and styles that will go great just like a purse with your stylish mom self! Be proud and confident to be a mom!