Need help with diaper bag - food allergies

[val01]

Hi All -

I have a 21 month old son with severe food allergies. I end up carrying his milk (soy, very allergic to cows milk) because it's not offered out and about. He can drink a lot of milk so I normally end up taking a seperate cooler bag that contains a bottle of milk (16 ozs) and 1-2 straw cups and all his finger foods (again afraid of allergens). I need to be able to keep his milk cold in the heat here in VA. I also would like to carry a change of clothes, diapers, wipes, his epipen and a few toys. This bag is going to be my 2-4 hour outing bag and I will keep a full diaperbag in the van.

I was looking at a few options including the Baby Sherpa (with the insulated cooler) or maybe a Skip Hop bag that I can drop one of their cooler bags into. I would like to hang this on the back of an umbrella or my MB Swift.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Valerie

[DrSally]

I used to carry all of DS's food around with me when he was milk allergic. He did drink soymilk, but didn't need it all the time, so I just gave it at home and water when out and about. Do they sell single serving soymilk? I know it doesn't taste very good warm though. If I needed to keep something cold, I just used a bottle cooler bag and an ice pack.

[mackmama]

I suggest the Ju-Ju-Be BFF bag http://www.shopjujube.com/Product.aspx?l=00080000000000000000&p=JJB01327

With their cooler http://www.shopjujube.com/Product.aspx?l=00080000000000000000&p=JJB01306

All mashine-washable!

[MamaKath]

Fellow food allergy mama here, though mine are past diapering days. We dealt with dc 1 having dairy issues (since outgrown) and now dc 2 has been dx'd with numerous food allergies that are serious. We ended up utilizing 2 systems that worked (and still work). We live in a similar climate also [SoMD], so my experience should help there also.

#1- Baby Sherpa- Love it! Have both the Sherpa and Shorthaul Sherpa. I found that they were/are great for afternoons and days out. I always would freeze some water bottles to keep everything chilled. What I loved about these... they stack the weight of the stuff in the bag. My back was always killing me from having to carry food plus the rest of the stuff and it all landing at the bottom of a backpack on those 2-4 hour outings. The Sherpas put the food on the bottom and the other stuff at a higher level like a tactical daypack would. If you are talking about outings where you might need to carry the bag the whole time, this works well. It has lots of pockets to organize stuff, though no place built in on the strap for a cell phone. There are hooks and you can hook a cell pouch/keys right on. The bag is sporty which may not be the first choice for many moms, but it definitely has a life long beyond babyhood. Ebags (http://www.ebags.com/brand/baby-sherpa) has great pictures to show the size and what they hold. There are some others that might work as well- the Mustard Sprout Marshall (http://www.babyminestore.com/themustardsprout-themarshallbag.aspx) has a removable food pouch (haven't seen irl) and the Outside Baby Cooler Backpack (http://www.outsidebaby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3&products_id=76) both come to mind. These are also sporty, the outside baby one also stacks the weight and they have strap phone pouches.

#2- A lunchbag with another bag. There are lots of options for this. LandEnd (http://www.landsend.com/ix/overstock-liquidations/School-Uniforms/Backpacks-Gear/index.html?seq=1%7E2%7E3&catNumbers=679%7E1135&visible=1%7E1%7E1&store=ov&sort=Recommended&pageSize=72&tab=8)makes backpacks with a spot to hook on a lunch box and then lunch boxes with a clip to attach them. ThirtyOne Gifts (http://catalog.thirtyonegifts.com/page1.html) makes bags or totes and coordinating lunch totes that can be personalized. Vera Bradley (http://www.verabradley.com/product/Lets-Do-Lunch/154875/defaultColor/Buttercup/p/154875.uts)has lunch bags and all kinds of other purses/other bags. I found that once my kids got to the point of needing more than just a sippy or bottles (if you use them), allergies caused us to carry more than what a bottle bag like the JJB Fuel Cell would hold. Earlier on, a small lunch bag worked (LE has some nice ones pretty cheap), now for snacks and such we use a 31 lunch tote and longer stuff/picnics I got a 31 picnic bag along with a matching tote and blanket. This works great if you aren't having to carry it more than from the car to the building, doesn't work well if you are walking around carrying it for long periods. I ordered from 31 partly so that I could personalize it. I figure it helps my dh/teacher/sitter/kid identify ours and know what is safe. I also got a pouch monogrammed to carry the tons of epipens, inhalers, meds, etc. that dc2 needs. This and the food tote can go with child/stay in the stroller, the main bag can stay with me.

[val01]

I want to thank everyone for your suggestions.

Dr Sally - they do make single serving soy milk, but it's in vanilla or chocolate only. We are a plain family here :(.

MamaKath - I feel your pain. Zachary is 21 mths and is allergic to milk, eggs, anything 'orange' - sweet potatoes, carrots, etc, and all berries so far. I am really hoping he grows out of this. But, my husband is very allergic to the same stuff, as was my daughter so I am not hopeful. I just have to figure out how to carry it all around!

I am going to investigate the options that you guys have suggested. I really appreciate your help.

Valerie

[MamaKath]

Zachary is 21 mths and is allergic to milk, eggs, anything 'orange' - sweet potatoes, carrots, etc, and all berries so far. I am really hoping he grows out of this. But, my husband is very allergic to the same stuff, as was my daughter so I am not hopeful. I just have to figure out how to carry it all around!

:hug: Valerie, I'm sorry for the loss of your dd. Your family's allergies sound a bit like us, dc2 and dh are very allergic to similar things, though dh is actually less severe. Dc2 can't have abunch of fruits and veggies either, glad to hear I'm not the only mom in that boat.

I am thinking that the Marshall might not work (thinking the food section would be too small) in that situation though, but haven't seen one irl. The other two backpacks hold more food. For milk, we used to get rice milk for dc1 since we could get plain in that.

Here are a couple others that might work...
http://www.ebags.com/product/dakine/coast-cooler-pack/207133?productid=10117207
http://www.ebags.com/product/picnic-time/zuma/85409?productid=10029926 Doesn't look great, but a possible option.
http://www.ebags.com/product/kelty/duo-pack-12/147861?productid=10011598&rlid=detail&rcode=res11033017993610271715377
http://www.kelty.com/p-296-duo-pack-12.aspx

HTH~

[val01]

:hug: Valerie, I'm sorry for the loss of your dd.

Thank you. I miss her terribly.

I am trying to visit BB more often. I took a hiatus for awhile. I like this board - very helpful in some aspects, but very hard in others.

I appreciate the help with the bags. I was thinking that the allergy list was short above and I also forgot peas (which gives me a huge concern for nuts). I am soo tired of carrying two bags and my purse.

Valerie

[DrSally]

Valerie, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.
I applaud you that you are able to get DS to drink plain soymilk! I guess, mine started out with the sweet and were never able to go back.

I'm hoping you find something that works well for you and your DS outgrows his allergies.

[bubbaray]

I am so sorry about your loss. :hug:

What about a small, hard sided cooler in your van/car for most of the milk and perishables, that way you can always restock but not carry it all with you. I found this approach really helpful with diapers and also food (both my DDs have food allergies).

ETA: a bag like a T2 messenger would allow you to add a small soft-sided cooler.

[val01]

Valerie, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.
I applaud you that you are able to get DS to drink plain soymilk! I guess, mine started out with the sweet and were never able to go back.

I'm hoping you find something that works well for you and your DS outgrows his allergies.

Thank you DrSally. She passed away in August 2010, so we are getting used to our new 'normal' which has been very hard.

Funny about the soymilk - since DH and DD were very allergic to cows milk I didn't have high hopes for DS. My DH is not a shining example since he will still drink milk and cough and hack for hours. I transitioned DS to soy milk at a year old without any issues. We always get him the unsweetened organic silk from BJs, or in a pinch we will use 'regular' - not flavored. He doesnt' know what vanilla or chocolate is and I am trying to keep it that way for a little while. :)

Valerie

[val01]

I am so sorry about your loss. :hug:

What about a small, hard sided cooler in your van/car for most of the milk and perishables, that way you can always restock but not carry it all with you. I found this approach really helpful with diapers and also food (both my DDs have food allergies).

ETA: a bag like a T2 messenger would allow you to add a small soft-sided cooler.

Thank you very much for the virtual hugs. I can use them.

That's an interesting thought. It's really hot here in Virginia in the summer. We had a car charger cooler for my DD since also had to carry her milk. We quit using that when she went over onto a feeding pump. I honestly forgot about it. We are in the process of moving (twice in 12 weeks) so I will have to locate it. My Sienna doesn't have a hot car charger (when you turn the van off, it goes off). I wonder if DH can convert that to run all the time. Hmm.

I am going to check out the T2. Thanks for the suggestion. I really appreciate your help!
Valerie