Travel with Children - Diaper bag or backpack?

Hi guys!

Just wanted to find out people's opinions about diaper bags versus backpacks for carrying baby's supplies on a long haul flight. What would you recommend? I need something that I can stuff a lot in, but that will fit most standard carry on requirements. :)

I solved the question by purchasing this:

http://www.amazon.com/Kelty-KIDS-Diaper-Daypack-Black/dp/B000PI6VGE

Best of both worlds!

I solved the question by purchasing this:

http://www.amazon.com/Kelty-KIDS-Diaper-Daypack-Black/dp/B000PI6VGE

Best of both worlds!

+1.

I've found diaper bags as highly overrated. I have a large enough purse to stick a few diapers, wipes, recieving blanket, change of clothes and a bottle. The only time I ever use a real diaper bag is when we will be out all day. Even then, a regular backpack will do just fine as well. I've never used those silly diaper pads that come with the bag because they simply aren't big enough. For diaper changes in public, I put down the soft blanket we always carry, put the recieving blanket over for any spillage (very rare), and change the diaper.

For a long flight, why not just stick the supplies in your regular carry-on and keep one diaper change in your purse? That way you have what you need with you and you don't need to rummage through a large bag to find anything.

We used a diaper bag for one main reason: not once were we questioned about exceeding the carry-on limit with it. I'm not sure we would have been so lucky if we had tried to carry on an extra bag for the infant that didn't obviously look like it was infant-related.

Most airlines allow an extra carry-on bag for lap babies (of course babies with seats have an allowance anyway).

I used a backpack but not the standard sized ones. I went to a luggage shop and bought one size up. It goes to my knees when placed on the floor (I'm 5'8 1/2" lol!) It actually doesn't look that much bigger from the outside but inside, it really makes a difference. Both of mine expanded well and had extra pockets and drink holders. I also found they were more comfortable to wear. Some pad the back and distribute the contents better. The shoulder pads were also thicker and it was easier to take off and on (probably because there was more room from the top to the bottom of the shoulder straps).

I used a diaper bag too when I have more than one child in diapers (please don't remind me that I did do a flight once with three children still using them...) The diaper bag had the back-up supplies, as well as the changes of clothes (which I strongly recommend bringing, even for a short flight). But I really don't think a diaper bag in addition to a backpack is necessary if you only have one child in diapers, even on a long flight.

Walking through the airport, the diaper bag hung off the car seat (on a wheeled cart or the SnS) and the backpack went on my back.

Another tip is to get rid of your purse. Pack it in checked bags and only take out what you absolutely need for the flight, like the wallet, cell phone and tickets. I put them in a small string purse or ever-fashionable "fanny" pack ("bum bag" for our British friends). The checkbook, address book, etc. can go in checked bags or left at home.

The big vote for a backpack over a diaper bag is that it has a long, long life. My son just took a trip with one that used to carry his diapers. They have lasted absolute ages!

Most airlines allow an extra carry-on bag for lap babies (of course babies with seats have an allowance anyway).

Yes, but we frequently wanted to take more than 6 bags carryon, so having a diaper bag allowed us to get to 7 without question.

We also both already had over-the shoulder computer bags of our own, so additional backpacks weren't really an option. Finally, we've found the backpack-style carseat carrier to be quite helpful---this is doubly the case when there are more than one kid/carseat involved.

Hmmm... I was leaning toward backpacks too, but I do like the different compartments that some diaper bags have to help with organization. Something like the Kelt diaper backpack that one pp recommended looks good, though! I just need to make sure whatever I get can hold a lot cos I'm going to be travelling for around 20hrs if you can believe that!:eek:

I've done trips of that length or even a bit longer before with one in diapers, too. In my opinion it's less about the bag you use and more about the strategy for packing it.

I actually found it helpful to make sure there were several diapers readily on-hand, and then I packed a lot of the spares at the top of some of the other carryons. I figured once we went through the first several, I'd probably be happy to get out of my seat and replenish the supply for the on-hand bag with some from the reserve.

Also, call me paranoid, but I always feel like I need to have a little of everything spread out in several bags in the event that one gets lost, so that was an added factor. If there is a person who's going to forget the diaper bag and/or the bag with all the baby formula, etc. in the airport restroom, that person is me. Sigh. Spreading items around helps with that. It also means you don't have to have a MAMMOTH bag at your feet. Keep a stock right on hand that will get your through, say, 6 hours, and then resupply from there.

Word to the wise: Bring several large, plastic zip-top baggies. You never know when you'll have an unfortunate diaper incident and need to keep the soiled clothes away from everything else until you get to your destination.

P.S. To actually answer your question about diaper bag vs backpack: I am a fan of being hands-free to the greatest extent possible, so I like backpacks.

I am also a big fan of backpacks for getting on/off the plane- the shoulder diaper bag swings easily and can result in smacking other customers. Of course, for long haul that is a minor part of the overall trip, but while also toting a car seat, child, etc, it is helpful!

Another backpack fan here. I have cloth/mesh travel organizers I can use to organize within the backback so I can easily just pull out what I need and keep the various categroies of things separate (diapers, baby clothes, toiletries, feeding supplies, soiled items, my items).

Thanks everybody! I think I'm offically on the backpack side. :) Daregale, what kind of travel organizers did you use? I really like that idea!

I was surfing online and came across these two convertible backpacks. Which would you guys pick? (They are youtube videos, if you have a sec to watch them.) :)

eBags eTech Weekender Convertible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQqslINVC30

eBags Mother Lode TLS Weekender Convertible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy12s2vEwg8&feature=related

Or am I going overboard??

Those certainly seem like nice bags. I can't hear the audio on this computer, but the first one with those little compartments looks nice EXCEPT that I question the true practicality of digging through all those little bins and getting the bag fully out from its storage spot in order to dig through the bins while 35,000 feet up and crammed in among the rows. So on the one hand it looks like a nice bag and seems really organized, I am not sure you'll be able to capitalize on the convenience of it.

If you're going to be buying a new bag no matter what and you choose one of those, then that's good. I personally probably wouldn't buy it new if I already had a more standard backpack around already because I think you could make do perfectly well with a tried and true bag.

Also one sudden small last-minute thought about those bags: It seems like they open really wide. with all the small baby-related crud that you have to tote around (little toys, binkies, books, small jars of food, bottle attachments, whatever else...), it seems like a recipe for losing all the contents of your bag onto the floor repeatedly if you truly have to open is all the way wide like that every time you need to fetch an item. Just a thought

As far as travel organizers goes, the large size ziptop plastic bags will work fine and have the added advantage (IMO) of being transparent so you can easily find what you need than you can with a luggage-style organizer.

I use this sort of thing, though it's probably a different brand: http://www.backcountry.com/store/search.html?mv_session_id=yIXWncEA&aff=1&q=mesh+organizers I got them as a gift, and thought they'd be slightly ridiculous but I quickly came to love them. They make it easier to go into and out of the bag and find what I need quickly. Plus then I just have a smaller bag to carry to the bathroom.

For long haul travel with baby/toddler, I take on board:

rollaboard suitcase, which has a change of clothes for me & kid, a spare blanket, PJs for kid (to help them know when it's "bedtime" when we're crossing timezones), backup supplies of diapers & wipes, toiletries plus anything necessary for a layover stay.

tote bag of some sort, which has most of the in-flight kid stuff--toys, snacks, water

my purse, which has my regular purse stuff (wallet, keys, glasses, tickets, passports) plus "light" diaper bag stuff; 2-3 dipes, a purse pack of wipes, couple of board books, small flannel blanket

The rollaboard goes in the overhead and is only opened once every 6-8 hours. The tote bag goes on the floor at my feet but can be stashed for take-off/landing if necessary. The purse stays with me and has everything needed for a quick bathroom trip.

We always use a diaper bag on our travels.. easily attaches to our Peg Perego stroller..

Although, with our Europe trip coming up, we seriously need to minimize bags.. so looking into alternatives to reduce baggage..

Backpack all the way.

I've done TATL, TPAC, transcontinental and shorthaul flights, always with a backpack with kids as young as 3 months.

Hands free, pleanty of room, got one with several compartments for clean clothes (plural!) extra diapers and plastic bags (for the bio hazard waste!), sippy cup, snack and toys. I always have a small bag on top with a towel/mat/blanket, wipes and a diaper all rolled up for easier access for that quick bathroom trip both onboard and at the terminal.

I like keeping my hands free to carry the sleeping kid and not worry about bashing fellow passengers' heads as I go by... :)

Safe and happy travels!

I'm pretty lonely here in the NO backpack camp.

I used a cross-body messenger style. That way, my hands were free, but I still had easy access to the contents. With a backpack you have to remove at least one shoulder strap and then it's pretty unbalanced and hard to access.

I'm pretty lonely here in the NO backpack camp.

You're far from alone. A backpack only makes sense if you have no other over-the-shoulder bags. For those of us who cannot dedicate all of our carry-on bags to the child(ren), there are other constraints as well.

Use of carabiners and/or other attachment means may facilitate transport of more cabin baggage + gate-check-and-claim items than hands, arms, a back and and a chest would otherwise be able to handle for the long walks at airports and/or during the boarding and deplaning part of the travels. It does involve a bit more time investing in attaching and detaching cabin baggage items at the airport and on the plane, but it may be well worth it depending upon what you are carrying and the volumes involved.

... would usually opt for a backpack, more so one that can be used on the back, on the side, across the chest or attached to another transported object.

I recommend a large, oversized, tote bag (like a huge beach bag) with a zip up top. You can put a diaper bag inside it if you want, but I don't recommend that. You can put your diapers, wipes, sippy cups, juice boxes, snack traps, snacks, portable DVD player and charger, DVD cases, and 2 charges of clothes in there and still have room to spare.

I ended up getting the eBags Mother Lode TLS Weekender Convertible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy12s...eature=related. It converts into a backpack and it's got TONS of space! I love it! :) Now I just have to figure out what I want to pack!