Ten years ago, there were no hip diaper bags.  No backpack or incognito options.  You got what Wal-Mart or Babies R Us offered, and that was usually big, frilly, and pastel.  Even the "free" formula bags were pastel.  I searched long & hard for something that Daddy could carry, forewent lace, and didn't scream I Have Lost All My Taste!  Navy, burgundy, & ecru, my gender-neutral Noah's Ark bag was still big & dumpy.

My diaper bag has definitely seen some changes over the years.  Especially in the last year!  Here is what it looked like with my first child:

• Typical day: bottle, bottle liners, baby food, snacks (for both of us), baby spoons, bib(s), burp cloths, "dirty duds bag," backup clothes, 6-8 diapers, travel wipes container, changing pad, blanket, rash cream, Purell, toys, mini-book(s), hat, spare grocery bags, nursing pads, & a bulb aspirator.  Now, I traveled light, compared to some!  No paci, lovey, sunblock, formula cans, extra shirt (mine), or first aid kit (bandaids, thermometer, Neosporin, ...).  So wherever I went, I had my gigundo diaper bag and my purse and my baby lugged in a car seat.

With each child, my bag got smaller and emptier.  As I became a full-time mother and started to see that I didn't need all the "things" the baby industry said I did, I pared down.  Now I just carry a purse.  Not a diaper-bag-that-looks-like-a-purse or a purse-that-doubles-as-a-diaper-bag.  A purse.  W/ my 15mo & 3yo, here's what it looks like:

• Typical day: 2 small prefolds (cloth diapers), a really pretty matching changing pad & clean/dirty bag, 2 wash cloths (wet under the faucet), a reusable grocery bag that folds into itself, and a clip that turns anything rectangular into a bib.  Depending on the age of the babe & the day, I might add a small wooden toy, board book, or apple.  The purse has slots for cards & ID, so I only bring my wallet if I need checks or cash.  Almost always, I take just my purse & my baby on my hip or back in a sling.

All of these reflect a lifestyle change, choices that I've made differently as I've gone along.

( Read more on how I pared down... )


I'm not sayin' this is the way you gotta be.  It's just the way I've become, and I really like it!</div>
Now when we pack for a long trip?  Baby's suitcase gets 3-4 outfits, 6 flat diapers (rinse & dry in no time), 2 wool covers, sling, Ergo.  Toy.

Naturemomsblog has a great review of the BPA-free sippy cup options, and a low-down on why we've determined that our cumulative Bisphenol-A load is something that needs to be reduced.  For me, I'm trying to eliminate my use of plastic for food, and greatly reduce it in other areas.  I don't feel a strong attraction to "BPA-free plastic" - b/c just a year ago they were swearing that BPA was safe.  What else is in there that we're not hearing about yet?  I think I'll just forgo the chemical cocktail for now.  (Here's a guide for choosing the right plastics when it's unavoidable.) 

So we have some Kleen Kanteens, a Sigg, and a Foogo.