When I first became a mom, one of the things I immediately dreaded was having to carry around a bunch of stuff. I really don’t like carrying any more than I have to. It’s become a bit of a lifestyle choice for me. I carry a small purse when I have to. I haven’t checked luggage in 20 years. For a long time, I carried a small carry-on suitcase with wheels and a backpack and that was it. Eventually, even that got to be a bit of a commitment and I got down to just the backpack no matter how long I was away. I just don’t like carrying stuff.

And yet babies need stuff. Sure, I could leave the stuff at home, but it’s in my best interest to have at least some diapers, wipes and snacks with me. Babies can sense when you forget diapers and they choose those moments to have blowouts in revenge for all those times you made them take naps.

It’s even worse with travel. Travel means hours or days or weeks away from home. If I forget something on a Target run, it’s really not that big of an issue, but if I forget something away from home, we have a problem, Houston.

Cue the need for a diaper bag.

Now, you don’t know me. You don’t know my philosophies about bags, but trust me. I have them. And diaper bags don’t fit into any of those philosophies about function, size and organization ability. Or at least I didn’t think they did.

The HapTim Multi-Function Diaper Bag Backpack looked like it had potential. For one, the name alone said it all – multi-function. The shape is pleasantly linear, not slumpy and giant-purselike like many diaper bags. It comes in three colors – dark gray, gray and gold gray. I love gray things. It has both backpack straps and handles. Motherhood was looking up.

So I gave it a chance.

This bag is everything a diaper bag should be. It opens from the top and the opening has some rigidity to it, popping into a rectangle-shaped opening. The interior is like a diaper filing cabinet and I mean that in the best of ways. There are 15 pockets inside and out to ensure you can find everything you need. Diapers? Check. Wipes? Check. Formula and bottle? Check and check. For a little extra bonus, bottles can be stored in one of the three insulated bottle holders inside. Random toys, snacks, comfort items, changes of clothes and bribes all have a place here. The bag even comes with a matching diaper changing pad.

If you’re traveling and out for the day, this bag wears comfortably for long periods of time. It’s large enough to serve as not just a diaper bag, but a day pack too. Instead of a shoulder strap digging in, the straps and back are both well padded and breathable. And if you don’t want to carry the backpack on your back, it has straps that let you secure it to your stroller. It also fits into most under-stroller compartments too and it tucks nicely under airplane seats with its slightly boxy shape.

If you are in an area where you’re concerned about pickpockets or if you’re out hiking and don’t want important things to tumble out, there’s a hidden pocket on the back, tucked up against your body. There’s even an “anti-theft” back pocket, which means in this case that it has a magnetic button on the outside and a zipper underneath the flap, so it will at least slow thieves down if not completely deter them.

The HapTim Multi-Function Diaper Backpack is a flexible choice for traveling parents. I’ve used it for almost a year and haven’t run into any downsides yet. I don’t always use it for jaunts to the mall, but it travels well and I like that it functions as a daypack for me as well.

You can buy this bag on Amazon.

This review was not sponsored. I just really love this backpack and wanted to tell other people about it.