New Parents Demand More Features For Their Diaper Bags - What Goes into Making a Good One

Retailers and consumers alike will love to read about points to consider when purchasing diaper bags. Parent are more demanding of features that they require. Dads and Moms can educate themselves on what to look for and things to avoid. Grandparents will also love this, great points to consider when you are making that gift purchase for the new Mom and Dad.

(PRWEB) May 24, 2006 -- Parents demand that their diaper bags mulit-task as well as they do. Baby Sherpa™, a leading edge designer of gear-carrying solutions that simplify and help organize active families has come up with guidelines for parents when they invest in their diaper bag.

In the past few years there has been an explosion in styles, colors and functions. Ergonomics has also finally entered the market place for Diaper bags. The old days of Teddy Bears and poor functionality are thankfully a thing of the past. Other trends that are affecting the diaper bag selection for parents are:

1. Demographics- Parents are having children later in life meaning that they are more established in their careers and have more money to spend on a diaper bag. They are also better educated and will do on-line research.

2. Parent Tested, Mom Tested, National Parent Council awards, JPMA or other seals of approval for products is big with first time Moms. This proves to them that this product has undergone the rigors of testing by parents and other baby experts.

3. IRL-Moms want to see Diaper Bags “In Real Life”. While they may do their research on-line they still want to tug, feel and squeeze the real thing.

4. Dad is taking a bigger role in the caring of children. This means 2 things- one Dad may want his own bag or they have a family diaper bag that both parents use. They may want a more neutral bag and a backpack or messenger style if Dad is the Baby’s Sherpa.

5. There are more multiple births these days. This means diaper bags must be able to carry enough gear for more than one child.

6. Travel-Parents are more active and traveling with their young children. Flying on airlines these days means packing meals and sometimes long delays at airports. Having a diaper bag that has insulated bottle pockets and a built-in cooler are invaluable.

7. Active Parents- healthy lifestyles are very much in style. Having diaper bags that are comfortable to carry or that fit on your stroller are very practical.

8. Grand Parents-Are also more active with their grandkids and often have nurseries set up in their homes for overnight stays.

9. Celebrities-Moms are definitely watching what their favorite celebrity Mom/Dad is carrying.

Every parent needs a Diaper Bag of some shape and description and should consider the following before purchasing:

What is their lifestyle?

Are they taking baby to sitters, daycare or grandma’s a lot. Do they live in an urban or rural area? Are they commuting via public transit? Are they a heavy packer- packing for every contingency or are they a light packer? Are they going to breastfeed? What is their budget? If they are looking to invest in a good diaper bag that will last them a few years they will probably want to spend a bit more.

Styles

There are many styles available- backpack, messenger and tote style. If parents want hands free and do a lot of outings they may want to consider a backpack. If they are using a child carrier they will also want to purchase a diaper bag that will work with the carrier. Many diaper bags now are designed so that they can be hung from a stroller. Parents may also want to consider this feature when purchasing.

Materials

Consider the washability of the fabric. Can they wash or wipe the diaper bag off? Can it be spot cleaned? Vinyl is nice if they live in the right climate- if they live in a cold climate their vinyl bag will crack the first cold day they have it outside. Popular materials are: nylon, cordura, denier and microfibre. PVC FREE- Go for bags that do not contain this toxic substance. Criblife 2000 recommends that babies do not deserve to be placed on objects for sleep or play that are made from PVC.

Features:

Organization-having various pockets to stash their gear makes it easier to access things.

Comfort- make sure the straps are wide and will be comfortable to carry when full of gear. Will the bag also fit Dad? Bottle pockets are handy whether they are breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Breast feeding moms use the pockets for their water and juice. If bottle feeding, ensure that the bottle pockets will fit their style of bottles. Does the bag include a diaper pad of a reasonable size and can it be cleaned? An insulated cooler section is great if they are doing a lot of outings or traveling with their baby. For Backpacks- are they ergonomic? Padded shoulder straps do not make a backpack ergonomic. Load one up and try it on. You’ll feel the difference. Does the backpack have a sternum strap? This feature makes it so much more comfortable to carry. Toy loops, key clips and Bungee cords are great to carry gear and make it easy to access. Is the interior a light color so they can see inside without having to deal with the black hole? Is there a handy pocket for their wallet, cell phone, camera and other personal items so that they don’t have to carry 2 or 3 bags? If they walk or bike a lot they may want reflective on the bag so they can be seen at night. How does the bag close? For security the preference is zippers with ergonomic pulls over magnet closures. A loop to hang the bag up and a lug handle are also two features that make it easy to store.

As Father’s Day and summer vacation approaches parents will be hitting the malls and the web to find Diaper bags that fit their lifestyle and budget. Baby Sherpa is committed to helping them with their packing needs. Founded in 2002, Baby Sherpa™ has received various juvenile product awards for excellence and innovation. They have offices in Wheaton, Illinois and Stony Mountain, Manitoba, Canada.

www.babysherpa.com 888-333-3424

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