Diaper Bag for twins and a toddler

[nathansmom]

Please help me find a diaper bag that will be big enough for infant twins and a toddler. I'm thinking I'll need to carry the following items......
2 diapers a piece for the twins and 1 for the toddler
bottles for the twins
snacks for the toddler
extra formula for the twins
a wipe container
toys for the toddler
and my personal stuff which isn't much.
ETA: Right now I have a Loom Marspiual and I tried packing it with everything I would need for the twins and the toddler and it was stuffed. So I think I need something bigger.
TIA

[Chelsey333]

If I had twins and a toddler, I would definitely want to use the Fleuville Mothership as my daily bag. I love love love my mothership bag, and think it is the most organized bag I have had. Congratulations!

[MamaKath]

Congratulations on the twins Norah! I often laugh that as my kids get bigger so do the diaper bags! I don't even have twins. ;-) I would look at a backpack of some kinds. You are going to need your hands free to chase the toddler, hold a baby, etc. I would look for something with open exterior packets to throw bottles or sippy cups into that you can grab easily. I don't think it needs to be a diaper bag at all though. I often use one made by Jansport. I like one from LLbean that is a daypack. I know there is one (actually diaper bag) at Lands End that is well liked, and also One Step ahead.

LLBean- http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=35230&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=3893&cat4=1098&shop_method=pp&feat=ssdpa1098
Lands End- http://www.landsend.com/cd/fp/prod/0,,1_2_52357_53689_89158_67605_5:view=-1,00.html?CM_MERCH=PAGE_53034&sid=4919085204292115020
OneStepAhead- http://www.onestepahead.com/product/27211/392/117.html

I have found that with 2, and as my first became an active mobile toddler that a messenger bag (my favorite is the Ameribag tote, very versatile with all the pockets) or backpack is a must for for keeping my hands free. I am not sure it would provide quite enough room though for you as you work out your must haves in the beginning (especially if the Marsupial didn't seem to have enough room). I do switch in between a few bags even when I try others, I keep coming back to my Jansport Backpack, Ameribag Baby Bag, and Ameribag Messenger tote. They are very functional which has taken priority since having #2.

HTH~

[laurajaney]

I'm really loving my Timbuk 2 medium messenger for my toddler and my infant.(I'm a heavier packer than you are -- burp cloths, bibs, change of clothes for the baby.) When I wear it messenger style, I'm hands-free -- essential!

Good luck!

:-)

[Ami]

Have a look at the Baby Sherpa www.babysherpa.com It has lots of room for gear plus a cooler for food, snacks and beverages. It is ergonomically designed and your DH will love it too. The change pad is huge.

HTH

Ami

[nathansmom]

Thanks for the suggestions. Now to think long and hard about what to buy. Thanks for the congrats too.

[stillplayswithbarbies]

I have the Baby Sherpa and while I like it for short outings like an airplane trip, I find that it really does not have a lot of room in it.

The compartment for diapers etc. is small since so much of the space is taken up by the cooler on the bottom, and the "padded video camera" section (which doesn't work for my video camera since then the whole space inside is taken up by the video camera. The side pockets are useless for much more than a sippy cup.

It looks huge, but there just isn't much room in it. Do you work for the company that makes it?

...Karen
DS Jake Feb 91, DD Logan Mar 03
http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/superpower.gif http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/borntobebreastfed2.gif

[stillplayswithbarbies]

The biggest roomiest diaper bag I have tried is the Whimsical Wears Windsor. I think she has another style that is even bigger.

There are 6 pockets in my Windsor. If I were packing your stuff, I would put the twins diapers in one pocket, the toddler diaper and wipes case in another pocket, one bottle and formula each (stacked on top of each other) in a pocket, snacks in a 5th pocket, leaving another pocket plus the middle section still free for the toys/books and your stuff.

...Karen
DS Jake Feb 91, DD Logan Mar 03
http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/superpower.gif http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/borntobebreastfed2.gif

[MamaKath]

I just looked through all the posts I could find from 'Ami' and they all read like a Baby Sherpa commercial. Although all state having used the bag, there are none with specific information really regarding use, just refering to features and details available from Baby Sherpa. I guess I find it odd, most folks give more irl detail, post in more than one area, refer to their kids at some point in time, etc.

Do you work for the company that makes it Ami?

[Ami]

No I don't and you will find I do have other posts on other topics also. Mariana just posted comments on Baby Sherpa also-I would suggest that we found a great bag that suits our needs for our family and want to let other active families know about it.

Ami

[stillplayswithbarbies]

Remember, the owner of Baby Sherpa was spamming and scamming here once before. So I am always suspicious when someone posts about it sounding like an ad rather than a sincere user.

In fact for that reason, I avoided buying one until I saw them on clearance at The Right Start. I wish I had stuck to my principles and not bought something from a company with such shady business practices as Baby Sherpa, even if it was cheap.

...Karen
DS Jake Feb 91, DD Logan Mar 03
http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/superpower.gif http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/borntobebreastfed2.gif

[minniemom]

Hi Karen,

Congratulations! I found myself in the same predicament when I brought home twins when my Lindsay was 20 months. My mom suggested using carry on luggage, plenty of room to pack all the baby/toddler necessaties and a big bonus to be able to pull it along instead of shouldering the bulk/weight. It worked out wonderfully! I never did look for a diaper bag once I started using our carry on :)
save your back and money at the same time!

Susan
Mom to Lindsay 35mo
Joey 14mo
Lauren 14mo

[stillplayswithbarbies]

um, I'm not expecting anything. Norah is. :)

please don't wish twins on me LOL
I'm too old for that. :)

...Karen
DS Jake Feb 91, DD Logan Mar 03
http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/superpower.gif http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/borntobebreastfed2.gif

[bubbaray]

I just have to say that I've checked out the Baby Sherpa in person, and was NOT impressed with the quality of the materials/construction. I think there are better bags out there, especially for the $$. Plus, the organization of the bag might not work for all - the cooler takes up a LOT Of room. If you are EBFg or not making full use of the cooler, you won't have much room in the other compartments.

I went with a well organized book backpack. It works great, is better made and fits better (b/c it was designed to carry heavy loads).

HTH
Melissa
Mom to Maya http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/binky.gif & Dog Mom to Bubba http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/dog.gif

http://www.babysfirstsite.org/newtickers/ticker/11089.birthday.png