Understandably, new parents are overwhelmed with the arrival of an infant. Along with trying to survive on three hours of sleep, new parents also have to adjust to traveling with a baby. Babies require a lot of gear. Some parents tend to over pack the diaper bag, whereas other parents leave out the essentials.

Diaper bags come in a variety of styles, colors, sizes, etc. Even though the tendency is to pack everything, too many items may weighh you down. Short day trips do not require bringing every single toy, diaper, bottle, etc. Unless you anticipate being away from home for several hours – or days, there are ways to limit the amount of items included in the diaper bag, and still be prepared.

Take a second and dump everything out of the bag. You probably will not need half of the items inside. To begin, grab a handful of diapers. An ideal number of diapers would be four or five. On average, babies require changing every two hours. Still, it doesn’t hurt to grab extras.

Wet wipes or baby wipes are necessary for cleaning the baby. Instead of toting the huge baby wipes box, consider buying a small portable carrier for wipes. Some diapers bags come equipped with this accessory. Simply grab a handful of wipes and store them in the smaller carrying case.

Babies love to smell fresh. If you use baby powder after a diaper change, look for a small travel size powder bottle. Travel size baby products are also available for lotions, baby oils, shampoos, etc.

Do not forget the extra pair of clothes. Unfortunately, babies have accidents. This could entail spitting up, a runny stool, etc. Although parents may not want to think about the undesirable, it pays to be prepared. Along with extra clothing, include two or three extra bibs.

Infants and toddlers need to eat. So do not forget the formula. Parents may either prepare the bottles before leaving home, or carry a water bottle and dry formula in the diaper bag. If traveling with toddlers, healthy snacks such as granola bars and crackers are ideal.

Small medicine or first aid kits can also be included in diaper bags. This is great for storing medicines to handle sudden fevers, teething pain, gas, etc. Furthermore, parents can include their own additions such as cleaning swabs for cuts and bandaids.

Article by V.C. Higuera from AssociatedContent.com

Looking for a cute, girly diaper bag? How about something in pink. Not only is pink light and cheery, did you know that pink diaper bags can actually help the fight against breast cancer?

eBags.com will donate 10% of the retail sales price of any pink product purchased on their site to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information, read about Pick Pink on the eBags website.

So when you’re ready to purchase your next diaper messenger or tote, consider something in pink. It’s stylish and for a good cause.

Kalencom	Amy Michelle	Baby Kaed
Hottie Tottie Designs	Daisy Gear	Fleurville

If you are a parent who spends a lot of time walking, hiking, or just being outdoors, Kelty Kids Baby Carriers are a brilliant invention. These backpacks are designed to carry your child long distances, offering protection from the weather with a sun/rain hood. Parents say they find this bag very practical and easy to take your child in and out of, and also easy to put the backpack on yourself. The Kelty Kids TC 3.0 is designed to fit a 11”-19” torso, and the bag is adjustable for both the child and the parent. There is also a child rear view mirror so you can actually see your kid’s facial expressions! This backpack also comes with a changing pad, a zip-off diaper bag with shoulder straps, mesh water bottle pockets, a waistbelt storage pockets, and a sternum strap. The child’s seat can be adjusted according to height, and the harness can be adjusted to fit comfortably on your back.

Kelty Kids also makes a backpack for your kids to carry around their own “precious cargo.” The Kelty Kids TC 0.5 comes with a special seat for dolls or stuffed animals. This miniature version comes with mesh water bottle pockets, padded shoulder straps, and a padded back panel.

Don’t want to give up your favorite Vera Bradley handbag for a boring diaper bag? No problem. Just carry the Vera Bradley Baby Bag instead.

The Vera Bradley diaper bag features two inside pockets, 4 exterior pockets, and even a terry-covered changing pad. It’s washable and priced just right at under $65. Pick one up today at eBags.com and enjoy Free Shipping (limited time only).

Have you seen the Coach Optic Signature Baby Bag? If you love Coach and are looking for a designer diaper bag, this is one to keep an eye on. The bag features a changing pad, five open pockets, inside zip pocket, room for a laptop, fabric lining, and the signature pattern.

Can’t afford a Coach diaper bag? Here is a less expensive option with similar styling - BUT MORE FEATURES. The Nunzia Designs Baby J Diaper Bag is black with pink and blue circled stitching on the exterior. The bag also includes a changing pad, roomy pockets, and even baby-friendly features that the Coach bag does not: bottle carrier and a dirty diaper pouch.

Have you ever seen a Stegosaurus backpack? No doubt it will make you smile, not to mention your kids smile too. Little Packrats makes some of the cutest backpacks around. One of the most fun bags is the Ms. Piggy model, with the “Ms. Piggy goes to the market” rhyme on the back. The ears are 3-D and the tail is a spiral, which makes the bag even more lovable.

Another great one is the elephant tote. Interesting elephant facts make up text that covers the elephant’s head and trunk. On a practical level, the vinyl fabrication is water-repellant and resists weather. There is also the monkey pack, with black, paprika and yellow monkey and a bunch of bananas on the other side. All of these backpacks are adjustable and can fit kids of all ages. Little Packrats was started by a woman with two twin boys who decided that kids would love to carry around stegosaurus backpacks, and that their parents would appreciate and enjoy them too. It takes quite a bit of craftsmanship and ingenuity to design these bags, combined with whimsy and exceptional sewing skills. These are just the sort of products that brighten your (and your child’s) day.

Having a baby does not mean giving up your style and sophistication. If you are looking for stylish, functional, and innovative baby bags, OiOi has the perfect bag for you. They use wonderful, vibrant fabrics, lively accents, and are superb in quality. The designs are so classic that they will not go out of style, and you can use them for many years or for more than one child.

One favorite of many mothers is the Giraffe Diaper Tote, always one of OiOi’s top sellers. It is organizationally and functionally one of the best diaper bags available. Aside from being done in fantastic giraffe print, the interior is a burnt Sienna orange (a perfect complement to the cocoa and white), and the accents are done in a faux leather trim and nickel hardware. The bag also includes a padded changing mat, an insulated bottle holder, and hard wipes case, as well as built-in stroller straps to hang over the stroller handlebars. There are multiple elastic pockets and outer pockets for drinks and other personal items that you need easy access to. The Giraffe design also comes in three different styles: the tote, the hobo, and the messenger.

These days with rising food and gas prices, it’s easy to see how Back To School shopping may be a big budget concern. If you’re feeling the crunch, whether you have shopped for Back to School or not, you need to check out eBags’ Wishin’ For Tuition sweepstakes. You can enter daily to win over $25,000 in cash and prizes.

When you enter, you have a chance to win one of the weekly $1,000 cash prizes or instantly win one of more than 200 great laptop bags from the following brands: Timbuk2, Victorinox, and Nike.

The sweepstakes lasts until September 14, 2008 so there’s still time to enter today and once daily.

Still need to find a backpack for your child but can’t afford a lot? Check out these backpacks under $20 from eBags as well.

Spongebob Squarepants $19.99

High Sierra $19.99

fūl $17.99

Dora the Explorer $19.99

Kids lunch bags are a great way to make children happy — they love to carry around a bag that they can show off and be proud of. Not only that, but lunch bags are a great way to advocate using reusable bags as a lifestyle choice.

One especially fun lunch bag is the princess design by Wildkin. Most little girls would love to own this bag! The inside is done in washable polyester fabric to make sure it stays clean and fresh. Wildkin also makes a princess duffel bag in the same print if your daughter is one who likes to match. Another classic favorite is the Disney Princess Lunch Bag, with Belle, Cinderella, and Giselle on the front. The bag says “Pretty as a Princess” and has two separate pouches for hot and cold items. Wildkin also makes several different designs for boys, including themes such as camping, astronauts, cars, insects, construction, jungle, soccer, firemen, and dinosaurs.

All of these bags are made from durable nylon fabric and are easy to wash and keep clean. The shoulder strap is detachable for easy carrying. There is a special container for beverages to keep them cold. Packing lunches are also a great way to ensure that your child is getting proper nutrition. Buying a kids lunch bag that your child likes to use will provide extra incentive to pack healthy lunches and snacks.

Have you seen Kalencom diaper bags? If not, you’re in for a treat. Kalencom makes diaper messengers and totes that simply do not look like diaper bags. These bags come in bold prints with fashion accents like buckles which can make these bags useful even after baby grows out of them. Plus, many are under $100 which is quite affordable for a fashion diaper bag. Check out some of Kalencom’s styles below that will have you saying, “I can’t believe it’s a diaper bag!”

Buckle Corduroy	Ultimate Tote Metallic	Disco Dots
Messenger Screened	Laminated Buckle	Ultimate Tote