Ditching the Diaper Bag: What I Carry Now and Why It Works Better

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Why I no longer carry a diaper bag!

I was over it! I was ready for a new phase, and carrying a bulky diaper bag simply didn’t seem practical anymore.

As parents, we grow and evolve, navigating various phases with our children. Here’s my journey of ditching the diaper bag and how I adapted my approach to parenting gear.

Embracing Change: Why I Ditched the Diaper Bag

When we welcomed our first child, we participated in the typical baby shower and registered for a diaper bag. Check out our Diaper Bag Here.

Do I regret it? Not at all!

It served its purpose and still gets some use, but I quickly realized it wasn’t a necessity for every outing.

From the start, I wasn’t the type of parent who felt the need to lug the diaper bag everywhere. For quick trips—like grocery shopping—I would often just grab a pacifier and head into the store. It felt unnecessary to take a full bag in for a short stop. Over time, we even cut back on bringing the diaper bag into restaurants and church.

Have you noticed how often parents are hauling around those large diaper bags, only to use a couple of items from them? I found the diaper bag to be too big and bulky, often filled with distractions and rarely used items. It became clear: I didn’t need this item everywhere I went.

Learning From Experience

My sister, a seasoned mom of three, rarely relied on a diaper bag. As she added more children to their family she seemed to carry less and less.

I believe her van serves as her diaper bag for any and all supplies she may need.

It got me thinking about what I, and most parents, really need. Diapers and wipes if you are in that phase and food based on your baby’s age.

My New System

So, what do I do now?

Well, I have a purse backpack. It is 80% my stuff with 20% kid essentials. I always keep 2-3 diapers and a small package of wipes on hand.

My bag is similar to this one here: Backpack Purse.

On occasion, I will throw a baggie of animal crackers in as a snack.

If we need to pack a large snack or a meal we will use a lunchbox.

I find a lunchbox is much easier to clean out than a diaper bag. Have you ever discovered a forgotten snack lingering in the depths of your diaper bag three days later? Not fun!

So, what do we do with the old diaper bag? We keep it fully stocked in the family car.

We keep it on the floorboard under where our 2-year-old sits. They are rear-facing so it doesn’t bother them at all.

It has additional diapers, wipes, backup clothing, and medications that our children could need.

Knowing When to Go Big

There are some situations where you may still need that large diaper bag. Maybe a full day at the fair or zoo. Maybe you are in a potty-training phase and accidents are likely to happen.

Ever Changing Phases

Of course, your children are going to grow, and their needs are going to evolve. Certain phases require more or less gear.

For example, with our newborns, we didn’t need the entire diaper bag because I breastfed. I would place a burp cloth and my nursing cover in the car seat with the baby when going into a restaurant and be just fine.

Once we introduced foods we started using the lunchbox.

Right now, with a 2 and 4-year-old that basically never has accidents. I don’t need all that much with me.

Once the little one starts getting potty trained, I may need to evaluate for a while. Extra clothing will become essential.