Back when I had to have a diaper bag on my arm every time we left the house, I made life a whole lot harder for myself than I had to. Instead of dumping the contents of my purse that I really needed that day into the diaper bag, I refused to give up the purse and carried both.
Hindsight tells me I should’ve just found a purse large enough to carry some extra diapers, cream, and a small package of wipes, but for some reason I didn’t want to do that at the time, either.
What can I say? I’m stubborn and I like to make things more complicated than they have to be, apparently.
Now I usually carry a larger purse simply because I always need to be prepared, with napkins, Neosporin, hand sanitizer, lotion, etc. Even now, with a kindergartener, the “mom purse” is important.
Here are some cute mom purses that can still hold some diaper bag (or big kid) essentials, so you don’t have to give up the purse for a diaper bag but you don’t have to haul around a whole lot of extra stuff, either:
The Olsenboye Washed Pebble Foldover Tote (above) can be worn as a cross-body style when your hands are full and you need to make sure it’s secure. It’s 16″L x 15″W x 4.5″D and has one zip pocket on the inside along with two other organizer pockets.
The Big Buddha Thalia shoulder bag measures 18″W x 13″ H x 12″D and has a zippered pocket and two open pockets on the inside. It also has a magnetic closure, so it’s easy to get into with one hand when you need to.
The Baggalini A La Carte Bagg comes in three colors (black, olive, and espresso), and it measures 18″W x 11″H x 5.25″D.
Combine your diaper bag and purse on the side of a cute, large handbag rather than toting around a diaper bag with cartoon characters  on it. It may help you feel a lot chicer and a little less frazzled.
Photo credit: Macy’s, JC Penney, and Baghaus
