The Secret to a Stylish Diaper Bag
When I started blogging a few years back, I always thought I'd do a "what's in my purse" post, but I never got around to it. Maybe I felt like it was a tad played out, or perhaps it was because the actual contents of my purse weren't exciting or pretty enough. Either way, it never happened. But now! Now I'm a mom and find the contents of my new daily bag a much more interesting discussion.
Here's a mom truth: you want your diaper bag to resemble Mary Poppins' carpet bag. Full of anything you might need at any given moment. There's no greater glory than nipping a meltdown in the bud by whipping out the calming elixir to whatever's got your little one in a snit. Angels sing, rays of light emanate all around you, and everyone in a five-mile radius breathes a collective sigh of relief.
Choosing a diaper bag is a 'thing.' They're like the clogs of the bag family - functional, user friendly, but you have to squint to make them attractive. True, some are pretty nice like this Rebecca Minkoff one and this lovely leather number. But on the whole, not for me. I was cautioned against piling baby stuff into a designer tote 'cause babies be messy, so I went a-Googling and found a solution I'm sharing with you today.
Meet the Tote Savvy.
For the fashionably inclined, this is a game changer. The Tote Savvy, in their own words, "(combines) the inner lining of a diaper bag with your very own handbag collection." Made of wipeable, water resistant nylon, it features 11 different pockets of various sizes to accommodate all your baby gear, from small pacifiers to bulky bibs and burp cloths. There's an insulated pocket for keeping bottles or pumped milk cold, and I can speak from experience when I say it does keep our coveted milk cool and safe for at least a couple of hours.
Included is a mat made from the same nylon that you can fold out for on-the-go diaper changes. I live in fear of public baby changing stations but sometimes you don't have a choice, so I always put Harlow on her mat prior to laying her down on the table.
Mmmm hmmmm. It holds A LOT. Here's a rundown of the gear I keep in my TS at all times:
Diapers (at least 5-8)
Pampers Sensitive Wipes (individual packs sold at Target for around $2)
Pacifier and all-natural pacifier wipes
Bottle or pumped milk
Milkscreen test strips (in case I've had a drink and need to nurse)
Doggie bags for storing dirty diapers when trash cans aren't around
Hand sanitizer
Burp cloth (these Aden + Anais musy squares are the BEST! One of my top baby registry essentials)
Lightweight blanket for comfort, sun coverage, nursing privacy, etc.
Diaper rash cream
Spare change of clothes
Play and teething toys
Aquaphor
Oversized sunglasses (#mommystiredeyes, #baglady)
KIND bar or quick snack
Keys (attached key clasp included)
Like I said, a lot. The Tote Savvy keeps all of that organized, leaving additional room in my bag for my wallet and a small cosmetic pouch to store lip gloss, gum, a pen, coupons, hair ties, and whatever else I may need on any given day. Bottom line: moms carry everything AND the kitchen sink but the Tote Savvy keeps it all in check, leaving extra room for additional items you need on the fly.
The Life in Play company knows their customer incredibly well. Their FAQ page tells you how the Tote Savvy fits into fashionista faves like the Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM and GM, and the Longchamp Le Pliage Large Tote. Knowing that all of my stuff is contained and protected, I have no qualms about using my Neverfull as my diaper bag when I want to carry it. That's the beauty of it: you can make any tote bag your diaper bag. You can actually make your diaper bag coordinate with your #OOTD. Wishes do come true!
I ordered a winter and a spring tote from Zara to carry for everyday use. They cost a whopping $30 each. Since they're Zara, they look more expensive than they cost and they're made well. Each one came with a zippered pouch, giving me even more storage. The white bag with blue tassel (pictured) is the one I bought for spring; sadly, it's sold out now but it's available in navy. Also, this croc embossed bag is just like the one I carried this winter but in a different color. It's a designer dupe, FYI.
On our trip to Lake Oconee last weekend, I simply switched my TS from my diaper bag to my beach bag and off we went! I couldn't love this product more, and I think so many women would love it, too. Clearly I bought the black version, but it's available for pre-order in soft gray, coffee, and red. Since I bought mine, they've come out with a mini version to fit a standard sized purse like a bucket bag. I could see myself getting this when Harlow is older and I don't need quite as much gear.
I'm sure my diaper bag contents will change as we move through stages of life, but I really believe the Tote Savvy will always accommodate my lifestyle. I can still shop for cute new bags (to my husband's great chagrin), or carry old favorites like my Pashli (it fits in the large Pashli if you unzip the sides).
Hopefully expectant or new moms found this helpful! It's all about sharing experiences, advice, and recommendations, right?
With love,
Brooke
PS - This post was not sponsored or supported by Life in Play in any way. Just me and my two cents xoxo