Evan and I have vastly different opinions here.
The Setup
We currently use a normal laptop backpack as Cleo’s main bag. It’s this Timbuk2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe. I think it’s too tight and doesn’t hold enough stuff. Evan thinks we don’t need that much stuff. We’re both right (him probably a little more so).
I also love the Ayla bag (that we also have, it’s more so “my bag”) and the vacuum lives in the car for car seat cheerio disasters.
The Philosophy
By the time they’re a toddler, the smaller bag makes sense. I think when they’re little you just want more stuff with you. Multiple burp cloths. A swaddle blanket. Extra changes of clothes.
Backpack style is key. And one that anyone will be happy to carry is key.
The Real Obstacle
Keeping the bag stocked is something that becomes either one person’s responsibility or is crowd sourced. Figure out which one fits your family before resentment builds. And if you go with one person’s responsibility…the other person agrees not to have Opinions.
More second-baby gear thoughts: Going from One to Two.