Diaper Bags

Moms tend to have a love-hate relationship with their diaper bags. They love the pockets, waterproof linings, and ability to hang them from their strollers, but hate compromising their personal style. Sure, there are plenty of designer diaper bags and that can help mama stay fashionable when toting her tot, but they tend to be pricey and still have that "diaper-bag feel" to them.

I've seen moms do a little dance for joy when their lil one is potty trained, not just because they won't be doing diaper changes anymore, but because moms can switch back to a normal handbag for daily outings. Other women make the transition long before they're nappy-free, just shoving the necessities into their purses. When did you give up the diaper bag?

Diaper bags are a must and it's a common sight to see one stuffed to capacity while mom and baby are out on the town. If you're in the market for a tote that can go with you from a playdate to the office and beyond, you may have to shell out the big bucks. And while these luxurious bags aren't cheap, they're definitely not as expensive as those covered in logos. Check out some options in the $500 to $1,000 range below.

Clockwise from left: Not Rational Ruby Diaper Bag ($625); Not Rational Hansel Studded Diaper Bag ($660); Rebecca Minkoff Everyday Baby Bag (originally $525; on sale for $450); Gucci Diaper Bag ($990); Mia Bossi Caryn in Caviar ($560)

Look for the mom seal of approval before buying things for your lil one! This post comes from user inbliss01 in our Product Reviews group.

This Timi and Leslie Charlie diaper bag is my favorite bag! It was about $150, but it was an excellent gift from my husband and so well worth it. I had gone through so many diaper bags with my first child and I was never happy. I got it when my second child was about 1 1/2. Now she is 3-years-old and it's still going strong. It has survived lots of spills and being dragged just about everywhere! It's a very stylish bag!

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There are certain items that are considered standard operating equipment when it comes to packing a diaper bag. Once those items are present and accounted for, moms can turn their attention to the other things that will keep both mama and her tot comfortable when out of the house.

My bag (which is usually so full that I need a crane to lift it) is always stocked with:

• Clean and dirty pouches ($16) to separate clothes, burp cloths, and bibs in the bag.
• A wooden teething ring ($11) for my tot who will gnaw on just about anything these days.
• Healthy snacks for mom, because I never seem to sit down to a good lunch when I am alone with my lil one.

What are your three diaper bag essentials? Tell us below or share them in our Mommy Club group over at the LilSugar Community for a chance to be featured on our site!

Even the designer bags are subject to inspection! Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubrey toted their daughter Nahla and some bags through LAX over the weekend. The former couple, who seem to be keeping things amicable for their daughter, didn't look overloaded by their luggage, which included a luxurious diaper bag. Like fellow mom Sandra Bullock, Halle keeps her tot's nappies in a pricey tote — the Gucci Messenger Diaper Bag ($990). Lil Nahla kept her snacks under wraps in a BPA- and phthalate-free, eco-friendly Oots Lunchbox ($30).

A woman's purse can be an extension of her personality. While some are neat and organized, others can be likened to a black hole where only its owner knows where to find things. So when a woman begins to use her diaper bag as her primary satchel, it begins to take on a personality of its own.

On the playground this weekend, a friend spent five minutes sifting through her diaper bag in search of a pack of wipes before throwing her hands up in disgust and announcing that she was off to buy a new bag — giving the current one to her nanny and getting a new one for her own use on weekends. I've also noticed other moms carrying designer diaper sacks on the weekend, while their caregivers tote along less pricey versions during the week. Ninety-three percent of LilSugar readers think parents should pay for a diaper bag, but should mama have a separate one for herself?