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My children are adolescents and I still use my diaper bag every time I travel. Thanks to its double bottle pockets and TARDIS-like capacity, it’s my go-to bag for long flights or weekend getaways. In my experience, a good diaper bag can last well beyond the baby years, and if you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, the Skip Hop Forma Diaper Bag Backpack — winner in Apartment Therapy’s first-ever Organization Awards — is the one to buy.
The Skip Hop Forma backpack has 1,298 five-star ratings on Amazon, and it only costs $75. My mother-in-law spent three times that much on a luxury diaper bag for me, and — as much as I love it — it has nothing that the Skip Hop doesn’t also have. In fact, the Skip Hop Forma may be even better (but don’t tell my MIL).
It’s comfortable to carry.
Your sleep-deprived body does not want to lean sideways, weighed down by a heavy purse, so a backpack is a must. This water-resistant, quilted backpack is lightweight, only 1.4 pounds, with padded straps, a comfortable carrying handle, and clasps to attach to a stroller when you need a break.
It has space for everything.
These days, I walk around with only a phone, but when I had young children, I needed a lot of stuff: diapers, wipes, bottles, spare clothes, toys, snacks, sunscreen, emergency chocolate (for me), and back-ups for all of the above. The Skip Hop Forma has space for it all in its 946 cubic inches of capacity. The main pocket features an extra-wide opening you can open with one hand, which is good since you probably have a baby in your other arm.
Reviewers say the Skip Hop Forma is incredibly durable, even when packed to the gills with supplies. One writes, “A year into this bag, and it still looks like the day I got it.” Another reports, “It’s still good as new after using it for two babies.”
It has all the pockets you need.
The Skip Hop Forma has three compartments, with elasticized interior pockets to keep everything in place, plus small sections for your phone and keys. Once your child is potty-trained, you can ditch the changing pad, and place a 15-inch laptop or tablet in the pocket instead. The pack comes with two packing cubes, one insulated and perfect for keeping a bottle warm. The side bottle pockets are also insulated, so you have a better shot of drinking a cup of coffee that is at least lukewarm, once you have a spare moment to return to it.
It doesn’t look like a diaper bag.
The Skip Hop Forma comes in three easy-to-spot-clean, polyester fabrics in neutral colors: black, grey, or navy. The style is sleek and does not scream, this is a bag made for carrying diapers. You’re going to want this bag, whether you have kids or not.
Want to see more award-winning products? Explore our 2023 Organization Awards for our top picks.
