Like the millions of other soon to be fathers, I was thinking long and hard, doing research and contacting people… just so I could find the perfect men’s diaper bag. All the while, our wives have been hard at work researching about breast feeding and actual necessities for the baby’s survival.
I couldn’t bear the thought of me carrying those hideous soft, cushy bags that mothers carry around. It’s just so…ugh.
Can you imagine I had to carry this hideous bag before?!? Care of the wife, of course.
I finally decided that I wanted a backpack. I don’t want it to be leather as that’s just extra weight so Saddleback is out of the equation. I didn’t mind if it was stylish or not, just as long as it was a backpack and easy to carry around while I’m pushing or carrying the stroller. I also didn’t mind the “quick reach” pockets. It wasn’t really important to begin with.
I was down to choosing between Okkatots Travel Baby Depot Backpack Diaper Bag or a NorthFace bag.
So I decided on going with NorthFace since I practically lug one around everyday. I’ve decided on using the Router or probably something that will have 2 side bottle holders just in case the baby will need bottles. (Thankfully, she still doesn’t need them!)
North Face bags are a little pricey, specially for a diaper bag. The style I wanted costs around 6,000 to 7,000 pesos. Before I could pull the trigger, my friend Kal gave me one.
So now that I have the bag, all I need to do now is fill it up with everything that I need.
If you thought it was hard picking out a diaper bag, then brace yourself, this is worse.
Thankfully for you, I’m here to help you out.
What’s Inside My Sorta Manly Diaper Bag
Diapers
You’ll need a bunch of them, well, because it’s a diaper bag.
We bring a minimum of 6 each time we go out. Since we use this baby feeding app, we already know our average diaper usage daily.
There are different kinds of diapers out there, different brands, different sizes and different prices. Luckily, I know a few guys who had kids already, so they pretty much checked out the diapers.
One suggested EQ diapers because the “flaps” won’t cut through the baby’s skin like the other diapers. Since I know it’s one of the more affordable brands of diapers (ranging from 6-7 pesos a piece, depending on which supermarket you buy it), then that’s what I got for Light.
Wipes
Just pee? Just wipe it. Stick with unscented ones. There’s a bunch of them you can get for cheap.
We have in our diaper bag the Mimi Flo wipes with aloe vera (I don’t know what’s that for) that we got from my brother-in-law. We use a big, unscented one at home, but since this Mimi Flo one is free and in travel size pack, we bring this along when we go out. Good thing the baby doesn’t have a sensitive skin.
Pro Tip: Buy in bulk if you want to save, just don’t plan on keeping them for a year.
Cotton Balls
Eventually, you will encounter a situation where you need to use water and cotton balls. Prepare a big bag for girls. For boys, meh, you can go with less.
Water/Cleansing/Alcohol
Buy some travel bottles from a place like KIT then put them in a small, water proof, sealed bag. Organized and safe.
You can take out the spray bottle for the alcohol and put it on the side of the bag as you will be using that most often.
You can’t go wrong with having these in the bag.
Diaper Rash Cream
Sometimes, it just happens. Your baby suddenly has rashes and you can just put this on. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared. You’ll need it, one way or another.
The wife uses a cream from Mustela. She said it seems to work well on baby’s bum when there’s minor redness.
It’s really good that we got a set of Mustela products during the wife’s baby shower. I know Mustela products are EXPENSIVE! The wife bought one for stretch marks when she was pregnant, and I feel like it was effective (I only see minor stretch marks on her now), but just too expensive for one lotion.
I wonder how much this cream will cost once the free stuff is gone…
Set of Clothes/Mittens/Booties/Socks/Muslin (Lampin)
Grab a full set of clothes. Eventually, your baby will find a way to make a mess and it’s your duty to be prepared. You wouldn’t want to go and buy new clothes for your baby just because you weren’t prepared. The prices for their clothes are more expensive compared to freakin’ adults.
Changing Pad
You will need a water proof changing pad so you can change your baby anywhere, anytime… even in those dirty mall bathrooms we have here in the Philippines. You can put it on top of the table in cafes or on the sofa in milk tea joints. It just works. Instant must-have.
The pad we’re using was bought from one of those mommy-baby online stores the wife keeps looking at on Facebook. She said this cost me 500 pesos.
Nursing Cover (for those Breastfeeding)
Thankfully, I don’t have to lug around a bunch of bottles and hot water. Instead, I bring around… the mother and a nursing cover. Easier on the back and the pocket. Win win boys. Not having “enough” milk is a myth!
Waterproof bag (for used/soiled Clothes)
You will need a place to put those clothes. Just buy a bag from a place like KIT then you are good to go. Once you use it, just zip it up, put it over your shoulder or hang it somewhere on your backpack or stroller.
Miscellaneous
We bring around a baby carrier/sling sometimes when we feel like we can wear her so that’s an optional one. Personally, I like the sling type more than the hybrid/wrap-around like the K’tan (pronounced as k-a-t-a-n). It’s easy to use and there are cheap ones, too. Like the one we have was just free (again) from the baby shower. The wife, though, likes the K’tan baby carrier more because she feels more secure wearing Light in it, and yeah, it’s EXPENSIVE! It costs around 2,600 pesos (already on sale).
Baby also has her own phone in there just for Instagram, she’s vain like that.
I do carry around a plastic bag just in case I don’t have a place to throw the diaper and I bring around a water bottle for us to drink from. That’s pretty much it.
PS: If your baby vomits regularly or if your diaper leaks from time to time, you might want to bring a set of your own clothes. I wear the (poo or milk) stains like a badge of honor but you don’t have to be a dummy like me.
That’s it, if you have suggestions for me, then let me know. I know I’m not perfect but this works for me. I hope I helped someone out there, one way or another.
What about you? Let me know in the comments area below!
Papa
it was good move to change the diaper bag with a backpack also you take with you only the necessary staff you look like you take good care of your baby thank you
Yeah, that’s right Martin. It helps to travel light as much as possible. It can get really complicated nowadays lol