diaper bag dilemma

I found that choosing a diaper bag was almost as complicated as choosing a crib or dresser. When I first commenced my search for one, I had no clue as to what I wanted. What I did not want was something feminine. I knew that it had to be masculine enough for my husband to also wear it and not complain for the following year or so. After several weeks of searching online, I finally came across a bag so fitting that I had to pinch myself. It was the Jungle Leather Nappy Bag.

Australian designed, this bag by OiOi was so gorgeous that I knew that nothing else could compare. Made of lambskin and antique gold hardware, I was almost salivating over the photos. Then I saw the cost. They are priced at $400.00 CAD. I sent a picture to my sister and she said to buy it now while we still have money. After days of contemplating purchasing the bag, I inevitably backed out. I could not justify spending more on a diaper bag than on a crib. Then came my brilliant idea.

I think that the reason why I loved the bag so much was because it had reminded me of a similar one that my stepdad had given my husband and I. It was his vintage, leather messenger bag that he had once owned. My husband had since been using it to keep important documents, but it remained tucked away in storage for the last five years. After fishing it out of a box and giving it a quick wash, I was elated to finally have a diaper bag. One that was so unique and gender-neutral that we could both proudly wear it. Best of all, we saved hundreds of dollars.

Now that we finally had a diaper bag, it was time to fill it. Deciding on the contents as first-time parents was a feat in itself. After several trips to baby stores, and one to my sister’s home to raid her bag, we ultimately had the essentials figured out.