If you need more room in your diaper bag – or need to send two little ones in two different directions, check out toddler backpacks to save your back!
I didn’t even realize how difficult it would be to fit all the accoutrements for two little ones in one bag until my son was born. It’s not exactly twice the stuff – but it’s pretty darn close. Below is the (incomplete) list of the essentials I somehow need to fit into an ever-more inadequate diaper bag.
1.) Diapers. Both my little ones are little enough to still be in diapers – and we use cloth diapers and wipes, both of which are a little thicker. (With that, I also need to bring a wet bag). I pretty much need 1 diaper per kid per hour I’ll be out (and two is smarter).
2.) Spare outfits. I can usually keep K from going through a ton of outfits nowadays, but you never know – and I need more than one spare outfit for the newborn. With K, it’s just a matter of preventing her from spilling something on herself, but with Baby A, it’s bodily fluids from all directions. It’s also winter, so it would be nice to have room for extra hats, gloves, and a blanket.
3.) Changing Pad. I insist on carrying this with me everywhere – that way, I don’t have to put their bottoms directly on the yucky changing station (or the even yuckier floor if there is no changing station). It’s even nice to have for grandma’s house, because I just don’t want to be responsible for poo getting on her carpet or couches.
4.) Sippy cups/snacks/food. I can’t make any trips without at least one sippy cup - and if I’ll be gone for any length of time, snacks are a must as well.
5.) My stuff. Let’s not forget that the diaper bag is also Mommy’s purse – my keys, wallet, lip balm, hand sanitizer, and whatever-else-I-need all has to go in there, too.
Suffice it to say, the bag I’ve been using since K was born was no longer going to cut it. Even if I could fit everything in there (I can’t), I’d be struggling with an ungainly, disorganized mess as I also attempt to wrangle a toddler and carry a newborn. It’s just too much. I need a little edge here.
On top of that, if I need her to go to Sunday School, but the baby in the nursery – that means I need seperate bags for them. If Grandma or Daddy volunteers to take K out for a day, but I still have errands to run with Baby A, I still need two bags. One bag is simply not an option anymore.
This is why I was so excited to recieve this Posy Lane Toddler Backpack for K. K is big enough now that she considers herself a “Big Helper.” Moreover, she feels like a “Big Girl” if she’s given something to carry herself. This little backpack is not only super cute, it’s just her size – the straps fit her, when a regular backpack or purse wouldn’t adjust to such a small size.
Here’s K ready to go out shopping with Nana.
Posy Lane has a ton of options in their kids backpacks, including everything from the super-girly to the super-manly. I chose the farm animal print, since that’s going to be a large part of K’s life the moment she’s old enough for 4-H (and besides that, she likes informing everyone that the cow says “moo.”)
In this backpack, I stuffed four diapers, a case of wipes, her mini etch-a-sketch (in case she gets trapped somewhere boring), and her sippy cup. All told, it was still very light – light enough for her to comfortably carry from the car to the house and back again, and there was plenty of room for all of her things.
Everything fit nicely in her backpack!
This little arrangement came in very handy almost immediately! It freed up space in my diaper bag for Baby A’s things, and it allowed an outing with Grandma to happen in a hurry – no time wasted as I dug through the bag either taking K’s things out to give to Grandma (or removing Baby A’s and my things for a separate purse). It was just quick – put on her hat and coat, hand her her backpack, and they were out the door.
In addition to toddler backpacks, Posy Lane also has a line of girls and boys nap mats, big-kid backpacks, lunch totes, duffel bags, dresses, pillowcases, artwork holders, hooded towels, stuffed animals – basically, anything you can think of that could be personalized and giftable, they have it!
I was very pleased with the quality and construction of K’s toddler backpack. The colors are vibrant, the stitching is perfect, and the size is exactly right for her. And, I don’t feel quite as much like a juggler. This has definitely made my life easier! Just the simple fact that she’s got her own little self-contained bag of stuff has already saved me a lot of stress!
Hope you check out Posy Lane’s selection of toddler backpacks, and have a great day!
Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free for evaluation purposes. Regardless, all opinions expressed are still 100% my own. This post may contain affiliate links. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials In Advertising.
Jaime is a Christian, a wife, a mom, a writer, an illustrator, and an aspiring homesteader. She loves trying to find new ways to save money and resources--but also save her time, so she can spend as much as possible with her family! !
Thanks for the idea!! My daughter is becoming more and more independent, so I’d LOVE to get her a toddler backpack.
These are cool, I bet my son would like his own special backpack.
Ha ha, so true. Going out with toddlers means packing a ton of supplies. I love the idea of getting them to help and they want to help.
Those are super cute! My daughter feels like such a “big girl” when she carries her own stuff in her backpack
That’s really cute! I need one for my toddler!