BAGS BAGS BAGS!
Going anywhere with kids means you need to bring supplies for all types of adventures. And, that means you need bags to carry those supplies! Here are my favorite durable and helpful parenting bags👜
As your Type A Mom friend I am here to share ways to make the behind-the-scenes work of parenting easier by applying my Type A personality and penchant for research to different parenting issues. Basically, I’m here to save you from having to do a bunch of extra work so you can spend time being with your kids as opposed to spending time focusing on logistics!
One thing people never talk about in parenting is HOW MANY BAGS THERE ARE! Right from the start there is a huge focus placed on diaper bags and then the amount, and style, of different bags needed just keeps going and going – bags to go to baby class, bags to go to the park, backpacks for kids when they start school, lunch bags and snack bags, bags for family trips, bags to go to play dates, and so much more…
One key thing I realized early on is that a “diaper bag” isn’t really that handy. My first son was born in 2014 and I coveted the Marc Jacobs diaper bag (lol right?). When I got it I realized it was not helpful because it was really big and there were times when I needed to just have a few things on me at a time. Plus, my husband hated carrying it around which was not helpful for me to share the load (literally).
So, after trying out a few ways to tackle the bag situation, the system that works best for me is that I have smaller bags (clutch size or a Hefty zip plastic bag) that has items in them (diapers, clothes, medicine) that go into a larger bag. That way, when I need to go somewhere I can just grab the smaller bags and put them into whatever size and style of larger bag I want to carry with me.
Since figuring out the best bags for each parenting situation is something I’ve been testing and figuring out for over a decade, I thought I’d share my findings here. Hopefully these ideas can save you time and also save you from having to buy a bunch of bags that won’t fit your needs!
This is my criteria for including a bag in this newsletter:
Durable - I’ve used it for at least a year with zero rips, zero tears, and zero stains I can’t get out
Classic and Stylish - looks cute and not too much like a “mom bag”
Functional - easy to carry and still manage babies and kids, easy to put things in and take things out, easy to clean
Not Too Fancy - bags that can be put on the ground, won’t scratch easily, and can be wiped clean
Here’s the list of the bags I use and highly recommend for the baby years through elementary years:
LL BEAN TOTE BAG
I love this bag. The price point is great, they last forever, they are washable, and there are many ways to personalize it (different colors, different sizes, different handle lengths, monograms). For most of my LL Bean Tote bags I opted for the long handle zip option so it can fit over my shoulder and so I can zip it to keep things from falling out. I use the XL or L for park days and travel days, and the medium for kid play dates, after school activities, and if I’m taking just one kid to the park.
LONGCHAMPS BAG
The Longchamps bag is an elevated version of the LL Bean tote bag. This bag is functional with a large zip top and a lot of space, it’s durable, and it’s classic and lovely to look at – it’s not a typical “mom bag” which makes me feel more like a whole-human than “just a mom” when I carry it😉 I discovered this bag in my mid-twenties and used it often then because it was a durable nice carryon and work bag. I love how well they’ve held up throughout years of travel and now years of carrying baby/kid gear!
BACKPACK
I use my backpack for travel, theme park days, museum days – basically for days where I need my hands free but I can’t put my bag down somewhere and leave it. I love my Patagonia backpack because it has lots of helpful compartments and places to stow things inside the compartments, it has water bottle holders on each side of it, and it’s comfortable! I’ve had mine for at least 8 years so it’s super durable.
My kids use their backpacks for school, for travel, for playdates (if they need to bring gear with them like swimsuits or toys), and so much more. My oldest son N(10) loves his Patagonia bag (he’s had it for 5 years), my daughter C(8) loves her personalized Stoney Clover Lane Bag (she’s had it for 2 years), and my youngest son A(5) loves his bag from Hanna Andersson (he’s had it for 3 years). All of those backpacks fit their lunch bags plus homework folders inside of them.
PLANETBOX LUNCH BOXES & BAGS
We’ve used PlanetBox lunch boxes and bags since my oldest son was 2-years-old. They have lasted for 8+ years and can be cleaned in the dishwasher! We have the snack size for snacks on the go, and the lunchbox size for lunches. The boxes use magnetic labels so I have a few lunchboxes that I then add the magnetic labels to in order to personalize the lunchbox for each kid.
CLARE V. MESSENGER PURSE
As my kids have gotten older the amount of “stuff” I need to bring to play dates has decreased a lot! For those times I’ve found it liberating to carry an actual nice purse instead of a tote. I love this style of larger Clare V bag because it carries water bottles plus my wallet, phone, sunglasses, sunscreen stick, small wipes pack, and keys easily. Plus I can wear it crossbody or on my shoulder, and the woven material is very durable (it doesn’t show scratches easily so I don’t have to be precious about it).
I also love Clare V’s smaller crossbody for the same durable and stylish reasons as the larger style, but the smaller size is great for my essential valuables which I can wear when running around after the kids on the playground/at the park because it’s hands free when worn as a crossbody.
FANNY PACK
The fanny pack is a new addition to my “mom bag” arsenal. I started using it once I had three kids and really needed my hands free to run around after them at parks, theme parks, and while traveling. This Stoney Clover Lane fanny pack is small enough where I barely feel it but it still carries my phone, thin wallet, earphones, keys, hand sanitizer, and sunglasses.
CLUTCH
I use a small zip top clutch as a way to organize what is in my bigger bag. I keep what’s inside it consistent so I know what I’m grabbing when I grab it (I usually put medicine/epi pen, Purell, and Band-Aids in one). This set of small bags has a clear side which is so helpful when grabbing the bags out of the big bag!
HEFTY ZIP TOP PLASTIC BAGS
I’ve found that the Hefty bags are much sturdier, and the zip is much easier to use, than the Ziploc zip top bags. The items I put in these are ones that need the plastic protection or can be used later for dirty items. I put extra clothes in one so I can put the soiled clothes into the bag and zip it and it won’t get anything else dirty, I put diapers/changing items in one and can zip up old diapers and throw away, and I put sunscreen in one because sometimes they can leak.
MEDIUM SIZE ROLLER BAG SUITCASES
I love to color-code my kids’ suitcases so I know whose bag is whose. It helps me when packing and unpacking them, and it helps the kids because when they see their bag they know their stuff is with them and it calms them down during hectic travel times. I use a medium size roller bag for them and once they’re 6-years-old they can usually push it themselves – it’s a big help!
THE NORTH FACE DURABLE DUFFLE BAG
I love the durable duffle bags that are also backpack from The North Face. They’re great for packing any outdoor gear (like ski clothes/ accessories or camping items) because they’re waterproof so can be on a snowy or rainy tarmac, or muddy campground. I’ve had a couple of mine for over 20 years – that’s how durable they are! There is a carryon size that’s great, and then the large is wonderful for longer trips (and for carrying ski clothes plus helmets and other bulky items).
SOILED DISPOSABLE DIAPER BAGS
I had to address the “poop bag” issue – no post on kid bags would be complete without it! So many poop bags are difficult open right when you need it to be ready to put a poop diaper into it! The best ones are the “Sassy” diaper sacks with a slight fresh scent and that have “handles” so you can just tie those handles together (double tie – I learned the hard way!!) and throw it away. The poop bags that are like the grocery store vegetable aisle plastic bags that come on a roll where you have to tear them off, open them, and then tie a knot are a hassle and can get messy - yuck!
TIPS FOR HOW TO USE THE BAGS
Park Days
On park days I will pack the LL Bean tote bag with a clutch bag filled with Band-Aids, sunscreen, epi pen, a lunch box with snacks or lunch, and Hefty zip bags with extra clothes (or diapers when my kids were younger) for messy play and one for sunscreen. So that I can run around with the kids but not have to carry a big bag with me, I will also bring either a fanny pack or a crossbody small bag that has my important essentials in them (keys, phone, wallet). That way I can have my hands free to play with the kids and I leave my big bag on a bench or with my picnic blanket and not worry about any valuables being left there.
Diaper Bags
When my kids were in diapers I’d use a medium LL Bean tote with long handles and a zip top. I’d fill it with either a set of bags with a clear side (so I could see what was inside or a few Hefty zip top bags. Inside those smaller bags I’d separate them into a bag with diapers and changing pad, a bag with bottles and formula in another (tip: if you’re using glass bottles wrap each one in paper towels before putting into the small bag so they aren’t hitting each other glass to glass), a bag of extra clothes, a bag of snacks, and a bag of medicine/creams. Then I’d add all the other items like wipes, teething toys, blankets, loveys, hats, etc.
Carryon Bags
Packing carryon bags well makes a trip with kids much easier. I think of it like if I’m as prepared for things as I can be, then whatever craziness is thrown at me I will be better able to handle since I have already set up myself for success with bringing what I could with me. I wrote an entire newsletter about how to pack carryon bags for traveling with kids - click the link for ideas for your next trip with kids: https://typeamom.substack.com/p/packing-carry-on-bags-for-traveling
I hope that all my years of research and experience with different bags helps you as you figure out what bags will help you in whatever season of parenting you’re in! As always, please reply with any questions - I’d love to chat!
❤️, Amanda, your Type A Mom friend
love this. obsessed with bags and always looking for the next best one.