Before we adopted Nova, we were looking at all the diaper bag options, and Jeremy vetoed all the cute ones I loved because he didn’t want to carry them. We ended up with a boring gray backpack that he LITERALLY never carried— even once. I carried my boring gray backpack (and purse) for a while, and then ended up just throwing the diaper stuff into bigger purses eventually.
I realize I am throwing Jeremy under the bus, but he deserves it. Haha. This time around, I didn’t even ask him what diaper bag he wanted I just got the ones I really wanted! I like a diaper bag that is cute enough to feel like a purse, or something I would maybe still wear if I wasn’t carrying diaper stuff. Here’s what I ended up with this time—I love them!
Fawn Design Original (in the color Sand)
This is THE bag. I love it so much. I was on the fence whether to get the original or the mini and I ended up getting both (both are useful— I’ll explain more below). If you are only getting one I would get the original size because it’s more suitable for travel. I’ve seen probably ten different women carrying these in airports and I always think they are so cute— so I had to get one! I really love the Sand color because I’m in a neutral-loving phase right now, but they have cute colors as well. The straps can be a backpack or a shoulder bag.
Fawn Design Mini (in Brown)
For everyday life, I like the mini size better since it feels more like a purse. I’ve been wearing it as my purse lately. It’s very functional and just the right size if you don’t have too much stuff. Nova is currently potty trained, so I only need a few toddler essentials with me at all times. In a few months that will change when we bring little sister home.
Twelve Little Diaper Bag and Twelve Little Kids Bag
These are another really great option if you want something that feels more like a traditional diaper bag (but still cute). Nova loves wearing backpacks and matching in general, so I have to hide these in the closet when we’re not using them so she doesn’t see them and demand we were them right then.
I love having a couple bags to swap between! When we adopted Nova at age 2.5 she wasn’t in diapers that long (around a year or so) but since we’re adopting a younger child this time we’ve got quite a journey ahead of us, so I’m glad to have a few options. I also have one or two really big totes I sometimes use, but I don’t like those as much with little kids because they tend to get into them a lot more. Zippers can be a moms best friend. 🙂
If there are any other baby great categories you’d be interested in me (or Laura) writing about let us know! I try to keep it pretty chill since I know this is a specific type of product for a season of life we aren’t all currently going through, but I also love to read blog posts about products people love so who knows. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
xx- Elsie
22 Comments
All these diaper bags are so cute and stylish. Love them!! Thanks for sharing, hope you’re having a lovely day.
-Kate
https://daysofkate.com/
Your diaper bags are chic af! Love them! 😀
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
This is sooo cute!!! I didnt even know these existed hahaha
dorky-and-weird.blogspot.com
xoxo <3
I totally agree! Cute diaper bags get a second life as purses when the kids grow out of the diaper phase. Choose something you love, and you’ll get much more use out of it.
Love these! My current fav is the Orchid Heats Milan, it’s full grain leather and similar to the fawn design.
We keep packing cubes with the essentials in our cars and just throw them in whatever large purse I’m using for the outing. It’s so much easier than dealing with a diaper bag. Just have to remember to pack drinks and snacks before we head out the door!
Love that idea!
Same! We keep two ready, one goes in the car and the other in the stroller
These are super cute; however, do you have any recommendations that are a bit more budget-friendly? $100+ is just a bit spend fir me. Thanks!
I loved the look of the Fawn design bag but was on a tight budget. I found this one https://www.amazon.com/MF-Store-Backpack-Organizer-Insulated/dp/B079M6NTPL/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?adgrpid=56159817516&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2Yf5ntuq4gIV1brACh1BIQumEAAYASAAEgIeHPD_BwE&hvadid=274897633678&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9029717&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6838782194742362714&hvtargid=aud-646675773986%3Akwd-367765972997&hydadcr=12164_10197800&keywords=miss+fong+diaper+bag&qid=1558376073&s=gateway&sr=8-5
On amazon and bought it. I’ve had it for over a year now and it’s held up so well with three little kids.
When we had our baby, we made a conscious decision to buy as little as we could get away with because London flats are tiny and we hate clutter. We bought only one changing bag https://www.silvercrossbaby.com/our-products/accessories/wayfarer-accessories/changing-bag-onyx/ – and it’s the only one we ever used. It’s still in great condition after extensive use for 2.5 years.
How tall are you? I am looking into a new diaper bag and want to get something with good storage that doesn’t look huge on my 5’3 frame.
These are cute! As a mom of a 9-month old, I really appreciate these kind of posts. I’d also be interested to see what you pack in yours for a typical outing. How old is Nova now? She is just darling! I think it’s so sweet that she loves matching you!
Maybe this needs to be a man bag diaper bag post….
These posts are really helpful for me because we are in the process of a domestic infant adoption. I don’t feel comfortable buying a bunch of things yet, but since things might all happen fairly quickly, it’s really helpful to me to do some ‘pre-shopping’. Thank you for sharing!!
I don’t even have a child, but I’m so obsessed with the Freshly Picked diaper backpacks that I bought the black one for everyday use to the office and for whenever I travel. My husband also doesn’t mind wearing it when we travel which is a huge plus, and it looks very high-end with all the pretty gold details!
https://freshlypicked.com/collections/the-diaper-bag-super-collection
Those look like they could easily be non-diaper bags too!
I love the matching, & that’s so sweet that Nova loves matching!
We use my old fjällraven kænken for everything baby. I bought a beautiful big leather bag but It’s not practical.
Honestly, I doubt any specific diaper bag can be better than the kanken, but I understand it doesn’t fit everyones aestetics.
As a first time mom-to-be, I am loving all these mama/kiddo posts. I never even considered having more than 1 diaper bag. Congrats on bb#2 and thank you for the style inspiration 😉
Backpack diaper bags are everything!! I don’t think I’ll go back to a regular purse until my kids are much older haha they’re so handy when you have other kids hands to hold
That diaper bag is a must! What a fashionable mom you are! Great job!
I’ve never been a big fan of a specific “diaper” bag, instead I prefer to adapt what I already regularly use to include baby items. For my first daughter, I specifically shopped for a purse that had two exterior zipper pockets and bottle pockets. I kept a extra diapers/wipes/cream in one zippered pocket, an extra change of clothes in the other and the bottle pockets would either carry her drinks or mine. I’d toss a pacifier in the “cell phone” pocket in the purse. For regular daily outings, this sufficed and when we would be out of the house for the whole day, or going on trips, I’d pack a day bag that we’d keep in the car or stroller. I don’t like to lug around a lot of extra baby stuff on a regular daily outing. For my second daughter, I found a clutch that also stores my phone and has a long strap for crossbody hanging. I toss the clutch in a more general tote bag that has all the baby stuff. I’ve liked this method a lot lately as I can just grab my clutch which has my necessities if it’s just me running out the door and when we all go out together, I toss it in the larger bag, which I usually keep in the car.