Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Don't know about their diaper bags specifically, but we buy a lot of
    stuff from Land's End, and have been very happy with the quality and
    service. Their policy states (and they adhere to it) that if you are 
    *ever* dissatisfied with one of their products, for *any* reason, they
    will refund or replace it for you. So basically, you'd be buying a
    lifetime diaper bag for $30. 
    
    Freddie

When we outgrew the Diaper Bag, we migrated to a duffle bag (with pockets
and handles that comfortably fit over my shoulders and around the handles
of the stroller) ... and we're still using the duffle bag!

As for Land's End, we have been very pleased with their products, too ...
but I still prefer to see/touch/feel/test purchases vs. catalog ordering.

Dottie

    I was thinking about getting the Land's End diaper bag for future
    babies.. it looks great.
    
    The best diaper bag I saw was at Raschel's in Westboro (MA) for about
    $19.00 a year ago.  It was large, had great compartments/pockets, an
    adjustable strap, a nice (large and soft) changing pad, and came with a
    small "portable" bag for quick trips out where you didn't want to bring
    a large diaper bag.  I gave it to my sister-in-law as a shower gift..
    she rec'd 3 diaper bags for her shower and has not touched the other
    two.
    
    My first diaper bag came from Lilian Vernon and did not hold up well
    and was too small so maybe you shouldn't consider them.  If my daughter
    was younger, I'd go with the Land's End..  If you do, let us know how
    you like it.  
    
    Mary
    

We have the Land's End Diaper bag.  It holds as much as a good sized diaper
bag - just lots more compartments.  Its red with navy piping made out of nylon.
It cleans up well and doesn't get dirty as quickly as the canvas type.  Maybe
it will last longer......

I bought it because my husband hesitated everytime I asked him to hold the
big pink diaper bag we had before.  For some reason its okay to carry the red
one.  


Rochelle

>I bought it because my husband hesitated everytime I asked him to hold the
>big pink diaper bag we had before.  For some reason its okay to carry the red
>one.  
    
    My diaper bag is called a daddy-bag or a husband-bag. It looks a lot 
    like the Land's End bag. It was designed so then men wouldn't feel
    "funny" carrying it. (Their idea, not mine!). It's held up very well
    and it's very convenient. I may use it as a work bag when it's finished
    with its current duty. Unfortunately, I don't think that they're made 
    any more. 
    

    I have an APRICA that I got as a shower gift & I'm sure my sister paid
    big bucks for it at Tiny Totland in Manchester, NH.  However, after
    about 3 months the plastic inside started to rip along the seams.  Now
    (8 1/2 months) the bag's liner is completely seperate from the outside.
    I called the APRICA 800# (which is almost always busy) & they told me
    to send it back w/ the receipt or copy of birth certificate & they
    would decide if it were repairable (which it is not) or they would
    replace it.  I must send them the bag - they will not send me one
    first.  I felt that this is a little absurd as I need a diaper bag to
    use everyday.  I also have to pay for shipping back.
    
    I've also seen another APRICA similar to mine w/ the same problem.  So
    I wouldn't recommend this brand.  They are very nice looking.
    
    Good Luck,
    Sonia

I have twins, so decided not to even bother getting a diaper bag since they
don't really come large enough.  We opted to buy a gym bag at Bradlee's
when they were on sale.  Best $11 we've spent on the kids.  I didn't want
something with lots of small pockets, so I got a bag with one large 
compartment and a small compartment on either end.  I put all the eating
related stuff in one end pocket (I could get an ice pack with 3 large bottles
in there when they were on bottles; now I get 2 sippy cups plus 4 jars of
baby food, 2 spoons, 2 bibs, washcloths, nipples, and rice cereal and I've 
still got room leftover), and I put all the changing/medicine related stuff 
in the other end pocket (ipecac, 2 bulb syringes, powder, desitin, changing 
pad, q-tips, anbesol, tylenol etc.).  In the large compartment, I always 
carry 2 thermal blankets, 2 complete changes of clothes, an extra changing
pad, diaper wipes, a dozen diapers, 4 burp cloths, plastic bags, toys,
and pads for the stroller. I have yet to go somewhere and not have something
that I need. 

I'd look at various kinds of gym/equipment bags as well as diaper bags.  You
may find a better bag that meets your needs but isn't designed to be a
diaper bag.

    
    Holy Cow!!!!
    
    	You carry all of that stuff with you everywhere?!! What a pack mule
    you must feel like!
    
    
    	We have worked out a slightly different situation (although we 
    only have one baby compared to your two)
    
    	We have a baby sitter's bag that containes the things he needs to
    go to the sitters (change of clothing, a clean bottle, bib, and toys)
    
    	Then we have a short trip bag that has one diaper, wipes, a spit
    cloth and some toys.
    	
    	Then we have the long trip bag which has everything listed above as
    well as formula and food.
    
    	It may seem like a nusiance to have so many bags, but when I'm only
    going to the store, it's much easier to carry a small bag than to carry
    a larger one that has everything in it.
    
			Wendy

I don't consider that a lot of stuff, and it's not that heavy (I just hang
it on the back of the stroller).  And they eat every 4 hours, even on 
solids, so we're always out when a meal is due, so I always have to bring
food.  The only place I've ever been able to cut back was on the diapers,
but that was only for the 3 weeks they were both in a size medium.  With
Brad in a medium, and Jessica in a large, I've got to have both varieties
(same thing applies for clothing).  I can't imagine only needing 1 or 2
diapers.  

Sort of ironic that when AJ was born I had just about everything I could want,
excpet a diaper bag!  I finally ran out one afternoon when he was at UMMC to
Bradlees at White City and picked one out.  It was grey vinyl with dozens of 
little pockets and compartments and a fold out (attached) changing pad.  The
greatest intention I thought, we'll use it until he doesn't need it and maybe
turn it into a bag to take things to the beach.  Wrong!!  It worked for a
while and well vinyl is only so strong, and started ripping everywhere.  At 
that point I picked up a plastic lined canvas tote which really seemed to work
the best. It was designed to be used for kids, it had a bear or something
painted on the outside, and a few inside pockets.  As he got older and more
independant we progressed to a kids size backpack.  We're on backpack #2, and
heading for #3 soon and this works quite well.

The contents have stayed pretty much the same, excpet when he was a small infant
which is a full change of clothes, usually a set of sweats which can double for
PJ's if we stop at the gramparents on the way and do dinner and bath time, at
least two sets of underwear (which used to be diapers of course) now we put in
diaper doublers because he still has an occational accident, a pair of sox and
a small pack of some kind of snack (the lunch size grammy bears for instance)
since we frequently will get stuck in traffic or doing errands on the way home.

just my contribution...
Lyn

    I think I got mine from right start; they come in blue or black flower
    print ? I've been very happy with it and have even used the convertible
    strap feature and used it as a backpack.
    
    I saw them recently at the Baby Place in Sherwood Plaza in Natick. $54
    is a lot of money but so is 3 x $19.99. I've had mine a relatively
    short time...6 months...but have carried it through airports on my back
    with a case of formula in it !

    I vote for the gym/duffle bag.  When schlepping food, I tend to
    keep it in a separate plastic bag/insulated cooler anyway.
    
    I also vote for the small bag for short trips.  Even if we're
    just going to the supermarket, I don't go without a diaper for
    Hollis and a bottle of juice.  You never know when/where you're
    going to get stuck.
    
    I found a diaper bag in the $16.99 range at Toys 'R Us when
    Hollis was still a newborn.  It is vinyl with gray pinstripes.
    Big inner compartment and lots of outer/end compartments, plus
    a changing pad.  I packed all her stuff in it for the four-day
    Thanksgiving holiday and was pleased with how much I was abloe
    to cram into it.

Hi,

How about a backpack?  I have a friend who swears this is the only way to
go.  You can get these in just about any size and they are easy to carry 
with Baby.

Just a thought,
Jill

    I like the idea of a backpack.  But how would it work with the
    stroller.  Could you hang it over the stroller like you can a
    long handle?  I don't really need a real diaper bag.  I have the
    changing mat in my current diaper bag that I can use.
    
    Thanks for all of the good suggestions.
    
    
    			Mary

    We went the diaper bag route, when Joshua (now 6.5) was born. It wore
    out by 10 months. At that time we were preparing for a plane trip from
    central NY to Arizona, and wanted one bag to carry everything we'd need
    on board. My wife picked up a largish canvas tote bag. It is extrememly
    well made (*heavy* canvas, straps sewn on the whole length of each
    side), and it was $5! We are *still* using it daily, and the only wear
    is a tiny bit of fraying around the edges of the handles. We regularly
    carry not only diapers and accesories for 2 children (the 2 youngest),
    but also our Bibles and kids' Sunday school stuff, etc.  I would guess
    the weight would be about 20 lbs.  Absolutely the best bargain *we*
    ever took advantage of!
    
    --dave--

    I confuse awe at the replies to this note :-).  Although I was given a
    diaper bag before my first son was born, I typically throw a spare
    diaper and small pack of wipes in my purse. If we're going anywhere for
    any length of time I use an LL Bean bag and pack food etc.
    
    Ryan, now 3 1/2, uses the diaper bag as a pretend school bag and drags
    it around the house, usually stuffed with animals.
    

As I read the last couple, about "stashing things for emergencies" like diapers
and wipes in the purse, I realized it really doesn't stop as they get older!

I still carry a complete change with me, in *my* workout bag.  Since my bag
stays in the car almost all the time.  Initially it was because he would stay
in the babysitting room while I worked out.  I would work out, and we got special
permission to take a swim together afterward, then we both would shower and 
change clothes and then deal with dinner on the way home.  But now he's 5 and
the Y puts a halt to kids in the locker room over 5 so I've been doing without
mostly. 

Right now it's there "just incase" it's needed and we need a change of clothes
quickly or unexpectidly.

Lyn

    The other thing is the bags are great -- even for older kids --
    if you're going to be gone for most of the day, i.e., to the
    pool, an amusement park, even Grandma's.  Even a 7 or 8-year-old
    can spill food all down her/his shirt, get carsick, etc.  
    
    When we went to Disney World a couple of years ago, we took
    James' duffle bag with us.  I packed sweaters and sunscreen
    	for all of us,
    plus the usual "baby stuff," along with non-perishable snacks
    like raisins and graham crackers.  (For the day(s) we spent
    at Disney World, I mean.)  Plus the bag was very handy for
    schlepping souvenirs and so on.
    
    Another thing that I really like is a waist pack or fanny pack
    for me.  This fastens around my waist and holds money, keys,
    tissues, a pacifier for the baby.  It's good for short trips and
    best of all it keeps my hands free.

    We like our lands end bag.  Got it to fit two kids stuff into.  
    I however am a very small purse person...
    
    Adrienne