Why Choose a Diaper Bag Backpack?
There are many different types of diaper bags available, and most of them are designed like a large purse or regular tote bag with extra organizational compartments. However, carrying a bag either over your shoulder or with your hands can be awkward. Using a backpack diaper bag allows you to be hands-free.
Take Note
Traditional purse-style or tote-style bags can also cause neck or shoulder problems. When you carry a heavy bag or sling it over your shoulder, you unknowingly adjust your posture to carry the load, which can lead to tension on muscles, joints, and tendons.
Using a diaper bag backpack allows you to spread out the load in an ergonomic way, which can relieve your neck and shoulders from the burden of carrying a purse-style shoulder diaper bag. (1)
You're already carrying a car seat, pushing a stroller, and toting a child-you need your hands free, and your back needs all the relief it can get. A diaper bag backpack is a perfect solution.
Can't I Use a Regular Backpack?
While it might be tempting just to use a regular backpack that you already have around the house, the chances are that it doesn't contain waterproof pockets or insulated compartments.
These are handy when you're carrying soiled clothes home from a playdate at the park, or need to bring milk or baby food for your on-the-go travels. Plus, as we saw in the list above, you're going to want individual pockets to keep all of the necessities organized while you're out and about.
Remember
Not only is it practical to organize your backpack contents, but it's also healthy, too. A poorly-packed backpack with haphazard contents can actually cause injury due to poor ergonomics.
Using a bag that's designed to carry multiple specific objects helps spread the weight and load appropriately, making it not only more functional but more comfortable.
How to Choose a Backpack Diaper Bag
You'll need to consider your lifestyle and choose one with features that fit it accordingly. Think about things like:
If you have multiple children or are gone for hours at a time, you may be best served by a larger-sized bag. Conversely, a smaller-sized bag may be adequate if you only have one child or don't leave the house frequently.
Depending on your strength and stature, the weight may be important. Some bags (and all their features) can tip the scales at over 2.5 pounds-and that's before you even load up your gear. If you're concerned that the weight may be too much for you, pay attention to the product description and choose a lightweight model.
Diaper bag backpacks come in a multitude of designs. Some are sleek & modern, some fun & flirty, some are even camouflaged to look like a regular backpack. Choose one that fits your personality but isn't so “on trend” that it'll be outdated in a few years. And if daddy will be carrying it on occasion, make sure you check with him about whether he'd prefer a gender-neutral color or design.
A water-resistant exterior can be easily wiped down in the event of a spill. Between bottle mishaps, sticky post-snack fingers, and diaper blowouts, your bag is bound to get dirty. Pick one that's convenient to clean.
Since you're carrying a million things, you might need a million pockets. Evaluate all the things you'll be putting in your diaper bag and identify your specific storage needs to keep everything neat and organized-and not a giant, jumbled mess in the bottom of your bag that you have to dig through every time you need something.
Even if you're not pumping milk, it's still nice to look for insulated compartments. The day will come when you'll be carrying baby food or sippy cups filled with regular milk, and the ability to keep them cool will be incredibly useful.
You don't want to be carrying your diaper bag all the time, and you don't want to take up all the storage space in the stroller with your pack. If you choose one with built-in stroller straps, you won't have to buy them separately, AND you'll be able to easily access your bag while it hangs off the stroller without having to take it off first.
