| Full Review: We're in love! We've been searching high and low for a great, tiny tote, but everything we found was really a changing pad wrapped around a travel wipes case with no extra room for even your wallet. And a spare bottle? Forget about it!
For quick trips to the park and any outing with our older toddlers, we'd resigned ourselves to ugly fanny packs. And then we discovered the Gem.
Lexie Barnes' Gem is first of all, the cutest bag ever. In Lexie's signature funky patterns, it's very pretty, but also weatherproof and easy to wipe clean.
It's also the perfect, perfect size. Slightly smaller than a vinyl lunch bag, it's tons larger than other changing-pad-based travel cases. And its wonderful, rectangular shape allows you to stuff it like nobody's business.
Believe it or not, we were able to stick 2 Dr. Brown's wide mouth bottles, a travel wipes case, 2 diapers, a juice box, our keys and cell phone in it. No joke. Yet it's only 9-1/2-inches tall. You couldn't stuff a regular changing pad in it and have much room left over, but it's the perfect candidate for disposable, paper changing pads. Once we figured that out, we packed it with a couple diapers, wipes, juice boxes, snacks, a tiny first aid kit, our wallet and cell phone, and were happy, happy campers. Master packer campers.
The Gem is well-made and even has a durable, nylon bottom for the inevitable concrete scrapes. It has an adjustable, removable strap. And even an outside zipper pocket for easy access. And best of all, because it's so well-constructed, but not too baby-specific, it can be used long past the Pampers years. Who couldn't use a smart, sassy tote?
Our only complaint is that Lexie Barnes' patterns, while lovely, are very feminine. We'd love just one boy-friendly pattern so our sons can start carrying their own weight, and toting their juice boxes themselves. (Sure, they can carry our bag, but their dads make fun of them for the flowers.)
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