When my sons were born, I didn't go out and buy a diaper bag. I already had one, I just didn't know it yet. For a short period of time, my Peak Design Everyday Backpack worked wonders as a diaper bag for a dad.
The quick list
- Peak Design Everyday Backpack: the camera bag that doubled as my diaper bag
Why a camera bag makes a great diaper bag
A camera bag is designed to do one thing really well: keep a lot of small, important stuff organized and easy to grab, fast. Swap "lenses and batteries" for "diapers and wipes" and it turns out that's exactly what a diaper bag needs to do.
Organization
The adjustable dividers that keep camera gear separated also keep diapers, wipes, bottles, and a change of clothes from turning into one giant pile.
Side access
Grab wipes or a diaper from the side without unloading the whole bag, one handed, while you're holding a baby in the other arm.
Hands free
It's a backpack. Both hands stay free for the baby, the car seat, the stroller, or the coffee you desperately need.
It's your bag
It doesn't look like a diaper bag, and when that season ends, it goes right back to being a camera bag. No single purpose purchase.
How I'd set it up
Every family's list is different, but here's the general layout that works:
- Main compartment, with the dividers: diapers in one section, a change of clothes in another, bottles or snacks in a third
- Side access: the stuff you grab most, like wipes and a diaper or two, right where you can reach it without opening the whole bag
- Laptop sleeve: a slim changing pad slides in flat
- Small pockets: pacifiers, diaper cream, hand sanitizer, your keys and wallet
And yes, you can still fit a small camera in there. Those early months go fast, and as a photographer, I wasn't about to miss them.
The season, not forever
I'll be honest: this was a short season. As my boys grew, what we needed to carry changed, and the bag went back to camera duty. But that's kind of the point. Instead of buying a diaper bag we'd use for a year and then shove in a closet, I used a bag I already loved, and it's still in my rotation today.
If you're a soon-to-be dad who already owns a good camera backpack, check it before you buy anything. You might already have your diaper bag.
Peak Design Everyday Backpack
Laptop sleeve, adjustable dividers, side access, and a look that doesn't scream "camera bag" or "diaper bag." It's the most versatile bag I own. You can read more about how I use it day to day in my full Peak Design Everyday Backpack post.
See it on Amazon →Now that the boys are a little older, our big family outings look different. If you're planning a park day with little ones, I wrote about how I pick a camera bag for Disney World, stroller or no stroller.
Prices on Amazon change often, so click through to see today's price.
Want to be in the photos for once?
When you're the parent with the camera, you're usually the one missing from every picture. If you want photos of the whole family, you included, that's exactly what my family sessions are for.
See Family Sessions →