My wife (former doper crazycatlady) is ramping up her craft business in preparation for some festivals coming up this fall. Among other things, she makes quilted purses. (Her Etsy store, very much under construction, is here.)
Someone suggested that she modify them into diaper bags. That sounds like a great idea, but our collective diaper bag experience is just about nil. Last night we were brainstorming about what should go into a good diaper bag, and it just occurred to me that there’s no market research like a Dope thread.
What we’ve got so far:
–big, but not massive. The ones she has in mind are about 10" by 15" by 5".
–water resistant insides.
–lots o’ pockets.
I like diaper bags that have waterproof pouches inside, for stashing wet/soiled clothing in.
I kind of wish that our diaper bag had a cell phone-sized pocket on the outside with a button-down flap to keep the phone in, but I don’t know if that’s something most people would want; I could use it because I don’t carry a separate purse.
Based on my experience with The Monster, a well-stocked diaper bag should contain most of the following:
Several diapers
A small package/envelope of wipes
A travel sized bottle of baby powder
Ointment
A few toys
At least two bottles - one with juice and one with formula mix in it, but not prepared
A change of clothes for the baby
So, for some ideas for the construction: a single largish internal pocket, perhaps segregated, for the diaper things: diapers, wipes, powder, ointment and the spare outfit. On the outside of the bag, have two pockets sized to each hold a single standard bottle. A largish auxilliary pocket, either on the inside or outside, to hold the toys, teething rings, etc that I’d include.
I’d suggest an internal, zippered pocket that can be used to store some medications, as well. A prominent address/ownership label.
This is what I carry in my “diaper bag” (I actually use an LLBean backpack):
Diapers (2)
wipes & wipe spray in a little bottle
changing pad (which folds up into a flat, 10"x5" rectangle
snacks
bottle
usually a sippy cup or two
keys
wallet
cell phone (when I remember it)
various pursey stuff like lip balm
I like to have a separate pocket that zips to put dirty diapers and clothes in, which is separated from the food/drinks by a section or two.
It’s helpful to have a bottle-sized pouch on the inside to put a bottle so that it stays upright (I don’t have this, but I did in another bag and I really miss it).
Small outside pockets for the little things (keys, cell phone, lip balm) are good.
The strap needs to be long enough to hang over a stroller, but not so long that when the bag is hanging it hits the floor.
I also like backpacks so that I have my hands free, but this is a personal preference.
I would love to have two separate diaper pockets inside, because some of us have two babies in different sized diapers. Also, a changing pad that is longer than 24” would be nice.
Oh, and little pouches for a change of clothes for 2-3 kids would be helpful, too.
I’m on my third diaper bag, and it’s always a mess. I want all the junk organized.
I’m with MissGypsy - I want lots of pockets. Maybe a little clutch size matching bag that clips inside that you could put chapstick and aspirin and money in.
I know lots of people like those changing pads, but I always leave them at home. A folded blanket is much simpler, IMO.
Not for nothing, but I’m a minimalist. I only haul out the big diaper bag when we will be gone most of the day.
I ended up buying a purse style backpack that has 3 external pockets and the inside section can hold 2 diapers, a bottle, a pack of wipes and some regular purse stuff. Having it on my shoulders makes it much easier to deal with a baby, no falling off your shoulder as you lean over. If it had a plastic lining or pouch inside, it would be perfect, but I haven’t had many problems finding suitable trash cans.
Heck, I only dragged out the big travel stroller under duress. I love having a kid who’s legs work. Even now, having the bag over BOTH shoulders makes a huge difference.
Done and done to the upright bottle pockets. Currently, the bag has expanded to 7" deep, so there’s room for two bottles on one end. Pockets are on the outside for quick access.
On the other end is a similarly sized elastic-topped pocket for little stuff you want quick access to–toys or snacks or keys or whatever.
Mom suggested a small velcro-tabbed loop near the top to keep a pacifier handy, so you don’t have to dig around in the bottom of all the other stuff. What say the Dopers to that? Would a second loop to hand a keyring on be helpful?
Our stroller experience is even more limited than our diaper bag experience. How tall is the average stroller?
The current design calls for a 40" strap (giving it a roughly 18" drop), which should put the bag hanging around the waist/hip, like a purse. Is that long enough to hang? Too long? Would it be better to just put a big grommet in the bag so you could clip it to the stroller with a carabiner?
DoctorJ, you guys should take your prototype up to your local Target or BabysRUs and throw it over a couple strollers to test it. I’m not sure what the standard measurements for a stroller are and mine is in the trunk of our car, which my husband has at work. Another option would be to go online and look at diaper bags and see what their strap length is. Every diaper bag I’ve seen is made to be hung off a stroller. I’ve also seen diaper bags that have two loops on the back that snapped to the bag. These loops could be attached to the stroller handle. The bags that had this were messenger-style. I’m not sure if the grommet would work because diaper bags can get pretty heavy, so the weight needs to be distributed evenly across the handle.
I had a fabulous bag that you wore like a backpack but it had one strap that went across your chest. The strap had a cell phone holder and a pacifier holder and the bag had two outer bottle holders and two inner. It was black so it went with everything. The inside had the “grown up” compartment and lots of room, but it was still pretty flat.
Main thing I learned about diaper bags: I never ever went with the first one I bought.
The strap needs to be adjustable. Everybody’s shoulders are a different height from where the bag will bump against your hip, and strollers aren’t that standardized, either.
Put a belt buckle on it, or one of those backpack D-ring whatchamacallit things.
And I would advise that, if she’s making these out of quilted fabric, that she quilt them heavily enough that you can run them through the washing machine (albeit in a mesh bag) without having it disintegrate around the agitator. And double stitch all seams. Because people will eventually want to wash them, seeing as how they’re made of fabric, and it’ll help her word-of-mouth if it doesn’t come out of the wash looking mangled.
I have bought about…7 diaper bags so far and I haven’t found a perfect one yet. If she can do it you have your first customer! I want one that has a separate compartment for my stuff so I don’t have to take a diaper bag and a purse along, but I don’t want to dig through baby’s stuff to find my wallet.
Diaper bags are kind of personal preference, like purses. Could she make them to order or is she looking to mass produce? I would at least offer 2 sizes. I know I like to take a small one out with me when I just need to run errands and all I need is a diaper and a few toys and one bottle, then when I am out for the day or I need to leave a bag with him at daycare, I need a much bigger bag that will hold a day’s worth of diapers (4-8 depending on age of baby), several bottles, a change of clothes, a blankie and maybe a snack. Now that I am having a second child I will need an even bigger bag. Infants need a lot more stuff than older kids. Especially when they need bottles and baby food too. I have had some bags that have insulated compartments, that is nice but I don’t know if it is practical for your wife’s style bag.
I would recommend taking a trip to Target or Babies R Us to look at a few diaper bags. See what they all have in common. Usually they have one or 2 big inside compartments, and at least 2 outside pockets. The dual diaper / wipes pockets on the inside, and dual bottle / sippy cup pockets on each end. Most do come with a changing mat, as others have said.
Straps that adjust are a plus, at least make them long enough to throw over your shoulder. Nothing more useless than trying to hold a tote style bag when you need free hands for the kid.
The bags that are meant to strap to a stroller usually have separate loops for that purpose, to attach them close to the stroller body. You can’t plan on being able to hang a heavy bag off the back of a stroller, it can tip over (happened to me) and the stroller manufacturers say never to hang things on the handles for that reason. Bags are “supposed” to go in the basket under the seat. But strollers are different enough in style that one bag that fits fine on one kind will be too big for another one anyway. Again, might be helpful to go to Target and have a look at bags and strollers.
I would love a service that lets me custom choose my own diaper bag options. As you can see, I think about bags a little too much. I have the same issue with purses.
How about some type of more durable fabric on the bottom, maybe even waterproof? The quilted bag looks lovely, but I’m concerned about setting it down on icky floors.
I think a vinyl changing pad is a must.
Other than that, my preference is " the simpler the better." But then again, after all these years and numerous diaper bag incarnations (Lands End, Eddie Bauer, etc.), I just use a canvas tote bag. No compartments, no nuttin.’ So there might be a no-frills market you could tap, too.
You and me both. We did Disney with two kids in diapers and all needed supplies in a fanny pack. They were past bottle age - which made it easier.
I’d do two sizes - an infant bag where you can stick a change of clothes for baby and an extra shirt for you, half a dozen diapers, wipes, bottles, etc. And a toddler bag that is really a large purse maybe with a waterproof pad - once they outgrow bottles and spitting up, you need three diapers and a ziploc bag of wipes and you can be gone for hours.
