Let’s start this off by saying, I am a bit of an organizational freak and have been using the same backpack for everything (I mean everything – including a diaper bag) since I was in high school (which was a long time ago). You could say I am stuck in my ways. My life is a mixture of working from home, in an office, in my car, in a coffee shop, on a plane and everywhere in between, so I am constantly on the go, meaning my baby is too! When we announced we would be doing the diaper bag reviews I knew I wanted to stick with a backpack style, but actually be stylish (because I am a grown up)! Having a (BIG) bag that can hold everything (plus more) has and continues to be extremely important to me. I chose the Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack because it is designed to make taking care of baby on the go as easy as possible and that is exactly what I need. Just as importantly, in the world of diaper bags, it is incredibly stylish! I actually saw it on a reality show (Chrisley Knows Best – my guilty indulgence) and thought “I have to have that!”
Now parents… I put this bag to the ultimate test. Disneyland.
Overview: When I first pulled my bag out of the box, it appeared a lot larger than it did in the online images, though for my purposes that was actually a good thing. There is one large main pocket (with three smaller pockets inside, one zippered), two side pockets that are big enough to hold large baby bottles or water bottles, and a fold out (removable for easy washing) changing station with three smaller pockets for easy access powder, wipes and diapers. As many pockets as there are, I can say that I would have liked a little more on the inside – perhaps a divider with an additional pocket. For cloth diapering mamas, fear not! If you have a ‘wet one’ leak into you bag, it will stay there until you send it through the wash (which won’t damage your bag). The material has a water proof lining to either keep nasty things in or out. I made the mistake of picking the gorgeous special edition, onyx English lace design – but I also have a corgi and if you know anything about corgis, it’s that shedding is their full time carrier. I recommend taking your “home variables” into consideration when choosing a pattern because while it wipes clean easily, having to deal with visible hair is annoying. I wish that I had gotten one of their fabulous patterned backpacks.
Wearability: As I said, I brought this backpack with me to Disneyland, meaning that my partner and I (the bag got too heavy for one person to carry all day) were carrying clothes, bottles, diapers, snacks, and anything else you can imagine. We may or may not have packed for an apocalypse. Needless to say, it was a bit of a squeeze and we ended up bringing a second bag. You know how I thought that it was going to be too big? It’s definitely not! If you’re a mom who doesn’t need to be away from home as much as I do, I think that it would work well for you. I did like how long the straps got. My partner is a self-proclaimed giant and he was able to wear the back on both his back and over his shoulder with ease. FYI – if you are going to wear the bag as a backpack, you need to have the straps as tight as they go, otherwise it sits awkwardly and uncomfortably.
The Best Parts:
I LOVED having my own changing table. If you have been to Disneyland – or any theme park – you know that sometimes it can be a battle for a changing table. I was able to just find a quiet corner to take care of business without a fuss!
You could not ask for a better bag when it comes to cleanup. I sent it through the washing machine after we went to the park and it cleaned up great!
You can wear it over the shoulder or as a backpack (though as a backpack it can be a little awkward). Despite being a poor backpack, the straps are great for holding the bag on a stroller. But if you’re really looking for a diaper backpack, this isn’t the bag for you.
The bag has long straps that can get even longer (for my family of giants).
The Worst Parts:
The bag doesn’t hold as much as you think it should. It’s great for taking care of you baby’s needs (fits diapers, wipes, clothes etc.), but you can’t fit much more.
I noticed that the pretty sewn on pattern got caught (on who knows what?) and started to tear.
The bag is on the heavy side. And again, awkward when carried as a backpack.
I did like that the long strap was comfortable on my shoulder, even when the bag was overloaded and heavy.
I do love that this bag makes me a stylish mama (I get quite a few compliments) but it doesn’t function perfectly as a backpack. If you’re looking for a true diaper bag backpack, take a look at this review of Ju-Ju-Be. This said, for those wanting a beautiful diaper bag that meets the needs of a walking, talking, baby-care machine (but isn’t away from home super long), this one is a winner!
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