Bags After Babies

[JVSXOXO]

My bag collection has gone through a lot of changes this year after spending the last couple of years living under a rock and becoming a mom. I used to carry larger shoulder bags and totes but now gravitate toward smaller bags that I can wear crossbody, because going hands-free is pretty important with a little one. I also work remotely now, so I don’t need my larger bags like when I used to work outside of my home and carry everything I needed for the day, like gym clothes for classes after work.

Sometimes I wonder how my bag needs will change once I’m done with diaper bags and strollers - will I gravitate towards totes again since I’ll probably still need to carry things for my son? It will be interesting to see, and I figured I ask other moms about how your bag needs have changed at different stages over the years. Thanks for sharing!

 

[purly]

I was a swim Mom until the pandemic began, so I found myself using totes 90% of the time to carry my daughter's stuff. It was also too humid at the gym for my nicer tote bags, so I often just carried a canvas tote. For a while I kept a clutch inside of it to make it easier to switch to a nice bag, but then I would have to dig inside my tote for my clutch to get to my wallet and it was not ideal.

These days I mostly go out to school dropoff/pickup, to the Starbucks drive through, and on bike rides. So I'm back to carrying nicer bags, ideally that I can use while riding my bike by putting them in the basket or that are tight crossbody bags.

I guess it just depends on your needs, you know?

 

[JVSXOXO]

I was a swim Mom until the pandemic began, so I found myself using totes 90% of the time to carry my daughter's stuff. It was also too humid at the gym for my nicer tote bags, so I often just carried a canvas tote. For a while I kept a clutch inside of it to make it easier to switch to a nice bag, but then I would have to dig inside my tote for my clutch to get to my wallet and it was not ideal.

These days I mostly go out to school dropoff/pickup, to the Starbucks drive through, and on bike rides. So I'm back to carrying nicer bags, ideally that I can use while riding my bike by putting them in the basket or that are tight crossbody bags.

I guess it just depends on your needs, you know?

Thanks for sharing! It will be fun to see what kinds of activities my little one will get into. I definitely anticipate toting around some sports gear, but he can have his own bags for that.

How nice to ride a bike with a basket! I’d be too nervous about getting hit where I live, but I don’t live in the most bicycle friendly city.

 

[nyeredzi]

I paid almost no attention to handbags for most of my life. Up until last year, I would have max 2 regular day time bags at a time and maybe something cute and little (and cheap) for fancier occasions. My oldest just turned 9 and youngest is 4 1/2. To tote stuff around for them, I have a diaper bag (always only 1 at a time, too). The current one we've had for something around 4 years, an Eddie Bauer tote diaper bag. I don't really consider that my bag, actually, I consider it their bag. For their swimming class, I can fit 2 towels and 2 changes of their clothes in there. My handbag was always a medium sized shoulder bag. No crossbodies, no backpacks, no top handles, but always a medium shoulder bag , like this Dooney hobo: https://www.dooney.com/pebble-grain-hobo-R924.html
These would be big enough to carry my stuff and usually a little something for them. Like, all my stuff + 2 juice boxes + 2 packs of raisins, lol.

Now that I have more handbags of different sizes, I use them differently depending on what I'm carrying for kids. But the fact that I usually only had 1 before goes to show I didn't need to have different bags for this, one medium-large bag always did the trick. Now, when I go to their swim class or gymnastics, I take their diaper tote and a tote bag for me too, which is big enough for their kindles and juice boxes so one can drink and play while waiting for the other's class to finish. And when I don't have activities for them, I can enjoy my smaller bags.

 

[Joule]

The totes will be necessary for a long time. Even when diapers are only a hazy memory, there will be clothing changes, snacks, juice boxes, toys, crayons, books, art projects, medicines, first aid kits...etc., etc. It's a good excuse to stock up on all the different sizes that appeal to you, because as long as your children can grow and change, so can the Family Load of Everyone's Stuff (that moms invariably end up carrying).

 

[cologne]

Interesting thread!
I’m in the same boat: my handbag needs changed so much post baby and during/post pandemic.
Before: big tote bag to go to work and gym
After: I don’t go to work or gym I work from home and go to the playground. Hence, I usually just use a small crossbody bag (e.g. Gucci disco soho) and an ugly diaper backpack for my son.
I’m a bit sad I don’t use my nice bags anymore, but hopefully my lifestyle will change again eventually

 

[elzi]

I guess I've always favored small-medium crossbody bags, cos I don't actually carry much for my kids after they turn 1. For my toddler, any bag I use still need to fit a diaper and a small pack of wipes.

 

[newaroundhere]

With my son, from infancy to age 3 years I carried a diaper backpack. After he was fully potty trained I switched to a medium size bag (LV Neonoe), all I needed to carry for him was some wipes and a water bottle, and maybe thrown a baggie of snacks on top. Now that he’s 5, I’m using smaller crossbody bags and keeping more of “his” things in the car when we go places. If we go to a restaurant or somewhere that I need to bring more entertainment/snacks, I either switch into a larger bag or just toss his stuff in a reusable grocery bag.

Fun topic!

 

[lenarmc]

I went the opposite. When my sons were smaller, I switched from very small bags to larger bags which I don’t like but were necessary. Eventually I got tired of carrying a diaper bag so to big bags I went. When they played football, I took a small crossbody, and their stuff was in a rolling duffle bag. Once the youngest was in about 6th grade, I gradually started going back to my small bags. By then, they carried their own things in a backpack, and I kept some things in a bag in our car.

They are 24 and 18 now (boy, time flies!), and I only carry my small handbag and a tote for work. Eventually, you will go back to what you love. For me, I never got into the big bags. They were just more functional at the time. The only large/tote bags that I own now are only for work. The ones I used with my sons are long gone!

 

[JVSXOXO]

I paid almost no attention to handbags for most of my life. Up until last year, I would have max 2 regular day time bags at a time and maybe something cute and little (and cheap) for fancier occasions. My oldest just turned 9 and youngest is 4 1/2. To tote stuff around for them, I have a diaper bag (always only 1 at a time, too). The current one we've had for something around 4 years, an Eddie Bauer tote diaper bag. I don't really consider that my bag, actually, I consider it their bag. For their swimming class, I can fit 2 towels and 2 changes of their clothes in there. My handbag was always a medium sized shoulder bag. No crossbodies, no backpacks, no top handles, but always a medium shoulder bag , like this Dooney hobo: https://www.dooney.com/pebble-grain-hobo-R924.html
These would be big enough to carry my stuff and usually a little something for them. Like, all my stuff + 2 juice boxes + 2 packs of raisins, lol.

Now that I have more handbags of different sizes, I use them differently depending on what I'm carrying for kids. But the fact that I usually only had 1 before goes to show I didn't need to have different bags for this, one medium-large bag always did the trick. Now, when I go to their swim class or gymnastics, I take their diaper tote and a tote bag for me too, which is big enough for their kindles and juice boxes so one can drink and play while waiting for the other's class to finish. And when I don't have activities for them, I can enjoy my smaller bags.

It sounds like a separate bag for the children's belongings might be the way to go for a while! I'm curious about what sparked your interest in handbags last year?

The totes will be necessary for a long time. Even when diapers are only a hazy memory, there will be clothing changes, snacks, juice boxes, toys, crayons, books, art projects, medicines, first aid kits...etc., etc. It's a good excuse to stock up on all the different sizes that appeal to you, because as long as your children can grow and change, so can the Family Load of Everyone's Stuff (that moms invariably end up carrying).

It sounds like it! I like having some separation and keeping my small purses for my things except for a couple items that everyone can benefit from (tissues, hand sanitizer, etc.) and then having a separate bag for my son. We'll see if I consolidate in the future.

Interesting thread!
I’m in the same boat: my handbag needs changed so much post baby and during/post pandemic.
Before: big tote bag to go to work and gym
After: I don’t go to work or gym I work from home and go to the playground. Hence, I usually just use a small crossbody bag (e.g. Gucci disco soho) and an ugly diaper backpack for my son.
I’m a bit sad I don’t use my nice bags anymore, but hopefully my lifestyle will change again eventually

I hope that I'll get back to wearing my nicer bags more regularly too someday. They mostly come out for solo Target runs and the occasional date or girls' night out, which are far too rare.

I guess I've always favored small-medium crossbody bags, cos I don't actually carry much for my kids after they turn 1. For my toddler, any bag I use still need to fit a diaper and a small pack of wipes.

That's so interesting! I feel like I carry so much for my 17 month old in his diaper bag still. 50 billion snack options, his water bottle and milk (sometimes a small cooler bag for longer outings since he drinks Ripple Kids and it isn't always readily available), diapers, diaper cream and wipes, spare outfit, sunblock and bug spray since it's summer, etc.. I know that I can keep some of those things in the car but I like to have them on hand.

With my son, from infancy to age 3 years I carried a diaper backpack. After he was fully potty trained I switched to a medium size bag (LV Neonoe), all I needed to carry for him was some wipes and a water bottle, and maybe thrown a baggie of snacks on top. Now that he’s 5, I’m using smaller crossbody bags and keeping more of “his” things in the car when we go places. If we go to a restaurant or somewhere that I need to bring more entertainment/snacks, I either switch into a larger bag or just toss his stuff in a reusable grocery bag.

Fun topic!

I don't want to rush the time away since it's already flying, but I do look forward to toting around less when my son is a bit older.

I went the opposite. When my sons were smaller, I switched from very small bags to larger bags which I don’t like but were necessary. Eventually I got tired of carrying a diaper bag so to big bags I went. When they played football, I took a small crossbody, and their stuff was in a rolling duffle bag. Once the youngest was in about 6th grade, I gradually started going back to my small bags. By then, they carried their own things in a backpack, and I kept some things in a bag in our car.

They are 24 and 18 now (boy, time flies!), and I only carry my small handbag and a tote for work. Eventually, you will go back to what you love. For me, I never got into the big bags. They were just more functional at the time. The only large/tote bags that I own now are only for work. The ones I used with my sons are long gone.

That makes sense! I like tote bags but only carry them when I need to haul a lot of stuff. So not my first choice when it comes to bags, but they get the job done. I used to carry the same combo when I worked in person too, especially because I'd usually have fitness classes after work and needed to bring my clothes for those. I could see my son carrying a cute little backpack to hold his favorite toys and books when he's a little older.

 

[nyeredzi]

It sounds like a separate bag for the children's belongings might be the way to go for a while! I'm curious about what sparked your interest in handbags last year?

2nd bag for the kids is the way to go for me, when they need a lot of stuff. If they just need a little, I can carry a big bag and put their stuff in with mine and then I don't need 2. But I don't mind big bags, and don't feel like I'm denying myself something because I'm carrying them instead of a smaller bag. Today I carried their diaper bag and a big bag, just because I wanted to carry this particular big bag (my bag in front, their bag behind mine):




As for what sparked interest in handbags, I get really interested in a thing for a time and eventually lose the obsession. I'll retain a general interest, but lose the fervor. So my thing for this season in my life is handbags. They are expensive compared to other things I've been interested in in my life, so up until a short while ago, it would not have even been possible to spend so much in a year on things I didn't need. The combination of our salaries + 2 kids in childcare just did not lend itself to that level of discretionary spending. We're generally fiscally practical people. We earn more now, though, and 1 kid is out of daycare. We'll see how long I'm into bags. They take up a lot of space, and are expensive, so feel like a naturally self-limiting hobby ...

 

[cncm]

I only have an 18 month old so not sure how things will change as she gets older or we have more kids...but so far, I carry all her stuff in a diaper bag under the stroller and just wear a nice crossbody with all my essentials. Most days, it's my LV mini Deauville bag which I love...it's really spacious for a mini bag and goes with everything. I still wear my nice handheld/shoulder bags for work (I work in an office 5 days a week).