My HONEST Kate Spade Travel Diaper Tote Review
When I was looking for diaper bags for travel, I found a lot of bags that either looked like a hiking backpack, a bulky bag that I knew would be a headache to lug around an airport, or a bag that just screamed “frumpy and ugly”. I wanted a chic, easy-to-clean diaper bag with plenty of compartments that I could use as a carry-on at the airport and then use the same one for a nice dinner out.
After hours of searching, I finally stumbled upon this tote diaper bag, I knew it was love at first sight. After using it for the last few months, including a 7-hour car ride and two flights with our four-month-old, I can confidently say that a tote ended up being a much better fit for the way I travel than a traditional diaper backpack. Read on to see all the pros and cons!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through one of my links, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and genuinely love.
What Makes this Diaper Bag Perfect for Flying & Road Trips
- Black Nylon is Easy to Clean and Goes with Everything. For starters, the material of the tote is nylon. It’s so easy to clean, and it hides all the spills, scuffs, airplane carpet gunk, and makes it super easy to wipe off. I usually wipe off the bag with a few baby wipes once we are off the plane or done eating at a restaurant. Black helps hide the stains, and it goes with every outfit I own 😉
- Tote > Backpack. I thought I wanted a diaper backpack because I thought hands-free was the ultimate travel move. Now, I’m so glad that I went with a tote. Totes fit so easily under an airplane seat and double as a cute purse to have when you’re out and about. In retrospect, opting for a backpack was NOT what I needed postpartum. I need to feel like a put-together woman, not just a mom trying to survive.
- There is absolutely nothing wrong with a diaper backpack. I just realized that it wasn’t me. After becoming a mom, I didn’t want every accessory I carried to scream ‘baby.’ I still wanted to feel like myself.
Diaper Tote Feature Breakdown
- Durable & Easy to Clean Material: The bag is super lightweight for its size, water-resistant/spit-up resistant, and it’s made with 100% recycled black nylon (love that). Literally wipes clean in seconds, and I’m not afraid of the contents getting wet inside if I get caught in the rain while trying to hold my baby. There are also some gold accents as well.
- Great Storage: On the exterior, there are 2 side slip pockets which are great for burp rags and a water bottle! On the inside, there are 6 organizational slip pockets and one zip pocket. All of this is secured with a zip top closure, so I’m not afraid of anything accidentally spilling out on the plane.
- Not too Large, Not too Small. The diaper tote is about as large as a tote you would expect to carry around, so not crazy big. But it’s not small either! To put it in perspective, I can fit my laptop, an iPad, my wallet, phone, my camera, sunglasses, sunscreen, nursing cover, three changes of clothes, six diapers, a bag of wipes, concealer, blush, and my water bottle no problem.
- It Comes with Extras: Yes, it does get better! The tote also comes with a removable changing pad and a long crossbody strap option for hands-free carrying.
Inside My Travel Diaper Bag: How I Stay Organized
👜 Exterior Pockets: This is where I place my quick travel essentials.
- Burp cloths, Hand Sanitizer, and Sunscreen (I leave the sunscreen out if I’m flying) go in one pocket
- Water bottle goes in the other
👜 Interior Pockets: I use these to organize and store all my spare baby items.
- Extra Outfits for my baby in two of the pockets
- Nursing Cover. I’ve been exclusively breastfeeding for months but sometimes I still feel awkward doing it in public. I have this tucked away in the bag just in case I need to breastfeed and I want the extra privacy.
- Wallet / Passport. Travel essentials!
- Toys. My baby loves this bunny, this crinkle book with these colorful links on it. We alternate between these toys to keep her entertained (as best you can with a four month old!) 😉
👜 Zip Pouch: I love having this extra pouch because it keeps my bag from becoming overly stuffed.
- Changing Pad. Even the cleanest public restrooms can carry germs I don’t want my baby touching, especially public changing tables! Having this extra changing pad helps keep her from touching any unwanted surfaces.
- Wet Bag to store dirty diapers, wipes, or blowout clothes
👜 In the Bag: Some things are a bit too big to store in a pocket.
- Wipes. Baby diaper essentials!
- Diapers. We use disposable when we do trips to relatives, but we use reusable diapers 99% of the time. I swear these have helped our baby avoid getting diaper rash (she had it bad the first few weeks after she was born until we switched). They’re so easy to wash, and I love the look of the cute diaper covers!
- Small Pouch for small items like a thermometer, nail file, and nasal aspirator
- Baby Sun Hat. Crucial during the summer months here in the desert!
Is a Luxury Travel Diaper Bag Really Worth the Splurge? Pros and Cons Breakdown
✅ Pros:
- Super easy to clean. With nylon, you can wipe and go without worrying about stains.
- Lots of compartments. I love having so many pockets to keep things organized. It keeps my tote from feeling like a chaotic mess all the time.
- Durable for many years. If you plan on having multiple kids, this diaper tote is durable enough that it can last for years.
- Use beyond baby years. It doesn’t even look like a diaper bag, so you could use this for a work bag or everyday tote even after the baby years are gone.
- Looks chic. Truly, you can use in every social event.
- Good resale value. If you have the original changing pad, you can sell this for some money down the line.
❌ Cons:
- High price upfront ($175+)
- Not as small as some other diaper bags on the market
- Not hands-free by default. The tote is comfortable to carry, but I appreciate that it comes with a removable crossbody strap when I have my hands full or need to carry my baby.
- Can get heavy. Since it fits so much, it can be easy to overpack.
- Not ideal if you really want a backpack. If you think you would get more use out of a backpack or you’re not really a purse girl to begin with, then a backpack may still be better.
Bottom Line: Is the Kate Spade Diaper Tote Worth It?
For me, absolutely! If you’re looking for a stylish travel diaper bag that doesn’t feel like something you’ll only use for the baby years, I think the Kate Spade tote is worth the splurge. It’s practical enough for airports and road trips, but cute enough that I can still carry it into a restaurant or coffee shop.
That being said, if you prioritize hands-free carrying above everything else, a diaper backpack might still be the better choice for you.
Taking your baby on a trip soon? I’ve got you covered:
✈️ Flying with a Baby: Ultimate Infant Packing List + Game-Changing Advice
🚗 Road Trip With a Baby: Packing List + Tips for a Stress-Free Drive
If you have a favorite diaper bag or have the Kate Spade Diaper Tote, tell me about it in the comments! I’m always curious what other moms are carrying and what they think.
Leave a Reply