Toddler Bag (When We Have Outgrown the Diaper Bag)

I just purchased a small backpackers from the infant section at Walmart. It was cheap but durable (not vinyl/plastic). I keep a change of clothes and a pull up in case we are traveling late. I used to keep a sippy cup, kid sized silverware and a bib. Now that he is older and can use regular cups and silverware, we only have an extra bib. We keep some snacks and a small juice box, small first aid kit and a thin jacket. Seems like a lot but it's not compared to what was in the diaper bag.

My husband had a wrap around shoulder bag that clipped diagonally around him. Simplest "daddy" bag I have ever seen. It had a few compartments and a place for a bottle/silly cup. We got it from Amazon for about $20.

HTH and good luck!

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I just got a big purse with lots of pockets - I never liked carrying the big diaper bag around. In fact, with the 3rd and 4th baby I never did a diaper bag even toting cloth diapers. Just threw what I needed in my purse and went. When I am in the middle of potty training I keep an extra pair of pants in the car, but I don't carry them with me. I've also stopped taking snacks with me places b/c I realized they were eating b/c they were bored not b/c they were hungry. Matchbox cars though and a pen to color with are always at the bottom of my purse!

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Backpack. Any backpack. I ditched the diaper bag a long time ago in favor of a small backpack that can still fit a changing pad in a pinch, a few diapers, a change of clothes, a snack, a toy and my purse. Go out there and find a nice backpack that you like or that your child will wear (we have a tiny one for her little things that she loves to wear and feel "big" with). I personally like one with a water bottle holder that I use for a drink holder (sippy cup, juice box, etc) but you don't have to. If you like compartments, consider a bag geared for campers or college students.

When kiddo outgrows the need for so much stuff, you can still use it for overnights to Grandma's, etc.

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I have not needed a specific bag for my 3 year old. I put a snack in my purse and have a change of clothes in the car. If we are going on a longer day trip we bring some type of bag but it's usually a reusable grocery bag. I would say be thankful you don't need to carry a bag around anymore :)

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I got a tiny backpack and let her carry it. She was so excited to do so.

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What we do: regular backpack. Insulated lunch box inside (he uses it at preschool) for food; ziplock bag of extra clothes. Pack whatever else you need. I prefer the backpack because we bus/walk everywhere and I don't like having a shoulder bag for what we are doing (usually hauling library books or groceries).

All that to say, consider what kind of outings you go on with your son and decide what you need from there.

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Both of my kids got their own backpacks and I just stock it with diapers/pull-ups, wipes, snacks, and drink (if necessary) to take to preschool, grandmas or church. It is awesome that they can carry their own stuff now and they enjoy doing so. If we are going some place like the zoo, pool or children's museum, then I usually carry a bigger bag to carry these items in. I have a huge Lancome bag I found at a garage sale that I use.
HTH,
A.

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Since you like the back pack diaper bag, why not just continue using it?

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For me: I actually recently switched back to my old diaper bag to use myself as a purse. I was having TMJ issues and one recommendation was to distribute the weight of my purse with a backpack purse. So anyway - I have a black backpack (It's technically a diaper bag) with one large zippered opening, 2 zippered side openings, 2 netted pockets, and two other small openings. And on the inside of the large space, there are 3 inner pockets for organization. One of the side openings has insulation in it. So anyway - I love it. I can keep my hands free to hold my child's hand. And everything fits inside (an extra pair of underwear, shorts, and socks in case of emergency). In another pocket I keep snacks and a hankie and other things for my son. It's great. Just google or amazon search 'backpack diaper bag'. Or go to Walmart and find the backpack that's small but with lots of pockets.

For my son: I got him a miniature backpack to keep a change of clothes in plus a snack (peanutbutter crackers). A sippy cup. If I could remember, I'd always pack an extra hankie/rag, a sanitizing wipe (Chick-Fil-A has some single-use ones I grab when I go there), and a bowl or cup.

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i ditched the diaper bag as soon as i could :) i was so happy! lol.

i just put things in my purse. a small snack in a ziplock bag, an empty cup, an extra change of clothes (that's only for longer trips - just for running errands i rarely carried so many things). sometimes i would use the re-useable grocery bags, and put my purse stuff in it, if it was easier. i didn't buy a particular bag - just used what i had on hand! enjoy the freedom!

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I have just used larger purses with side pockets. I would find cloth ones in Target or Walmart so that I could wash it. I would keep a change of clothes, sippy cup (full or empty) and some snacks that didn't need to be kept cold.

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I started using a tote bag I found from Avon when my son got older. Basically all I had in it was a change of clothes, a couple of toys when my son got tired of carrying them, and my wallet. If we were going to be somewhere a long time, I would throw a cup and snacks in there.

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When my daughter no longer needed the diaper bag we went to a small child's backpack. It has Dora on it and is sized just right for her to carry which can help when hands are lacking or when loaded up with lots of other stuff.

In it is: Anti-bac hand wipes, small pack of reg. wipes, two complete changes of clothes, a pull-up (just incase we are going for a long ride since she still doesn't wake to go and sometimes has accidents when sleeping), and a snack (crackers, granola bar, cereal bar, cereal, gummies, etc.).

It's light enough for her to carry. If we are going for a really long trip (like a whole day trip), I usually put in 3 changes of clothes just to make sure. You never know and I always like to be over prepared. She rarely has accidents and usually it is due to her falling asleep on a long drive. She usually needs clothes to change into because she made a mess eating or drinking, LOL! :)

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http://www.rei.com/product/805258/rei-nikole-day-bag-womens

I'm a fan of backpacks (borderline addicted to backpacks -lol). I liked the one you were talking about at well... but this one (link above) is my favorite bag (I use it for EVERYTHING too). It is small, but fits all sorts of stuff in it. One thing I always keep in my bag are wipes and toilet seat covers...

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I always just used a purse with lots of compartments, and that was wipeable or washable. In fact, I was never a diaper bag person, so I got away from that as soon possible.

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Congrats, no more diaper bag! Go out and get yourself a stylish bag (for you!) that is roomy enough for a bottle of water, wipes and from time to time extra clothes, that's it! Happy New Year!! :-)

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I just use a regular purse that is big enough what my son needs. He needs the following: a water bottle, gummy snacks, a small pack of cookies, a granola bar, a toy car, and a couple organic lollipops. Unless we are going hiking, I am not going around with a backpack.

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Gave up a bag completely and threw an extra change of clothes in the car for a little while. I did carry a small size set of plastic silver ware in my purse for restaurants that only have the giant size stuff.

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Okay, I feel like a dummy. I'm on my second child and have always just used a diaper bag until i got sick of carrying it. Are we supposed to use toddler bags to make life easier?

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I use a toddler sized Thomas the Train backpack :-)

Our daughter was in daycare and so she had a backpack. She knew it went wherever she went.

It was automatic that she grabbed it and took it to the car and brought it into the house and placed it on the Bench we had next to the front door.

My daughter has been carrying "her" backpack since she was 18 months old. We got the SkipHop backpack (she has a penguin, but there are LOTS of other animal ones), and we put in snacks, a sippy cup of water, and a change of clothes. I keep an old diaper bag in the car with some "extras" just in case, but she loves carrying around her stuff.

So, get yourself a bag that YOU can use, and get your toddler their own bag! :)

I like the Ameribag Healthy Back bags in distressed nylon, they come in sizes and I used either a medium one for day trips or as a purse I used the small one (which is still plenty big). I always have water and snacks and tissues and wipes in the car and for day trips in the bag. Kids carry their own little backpacks with a toy and coloring books and crayons and a stuffed animal. I like them better than a backpack since I do not have to take it off in order to get something out of it, you just sling it to your front. I always hated having to take off a backpack to get something.
http://www.ameribag.com/classic-healthy-back-bag/

I keep my former diaperbag in the car with a change of clothes, crayons, coloring book, juiceboxes and non perishables snacks for those "just in case" times. I don't bring it inside unless there is an accident and I don't worry about how it looks because it just sits in the back of the car for the most part.

My son has a Skip Hop monkey backpack. They are small but just the right size for his clothes and some little toys.