My co-worker got a $4000 diaper bag.  it was gift from a relative, but still... I think of the all the college funds that could mean.

I'm sorry, did you say FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS?  That's seriously fucked up in myriad ways.  

Ooops, hang on, my head just exploded.

And here I was thinking I was the shiznit because I got the pricey $70 bag I registered for but never thought anyone would buy.

I like nice purses for myself but not diaper bags, I was so glad I didn't drop more than $30 the first time a bottle leaked all over it.

"Even still, you can't deny that the people who will drop the equivalent of a car payment on a diaper bag or a mortgage payment on a stroller are a desirable target-market for baby product manufacturers. "

You're right, since this very site runs ads for things such as infant bedding that costs several hundred dollars.

Yes, Prescott, I did bear that in mind as I wrote the post. It also reviews a variety of products at a variety of price points.

I don't get it either, but I'm not sure if stupid spending habits warrant a lecture..."get a hobby"?  Are we really telling each other what to buy?  I've been thinking about this more than I realized.  My nanny has given me shit about other nannies who give her shit for how expensive our stroller is.  (I wish that it was as expensive as a mortgage payment though)  Other cyber criticism has also made it's way onto my laptop and in the past, I've gone from defensive to confused and now I'm just annoyed.  I'm thinking that it's really a way to criticize parenting abilities.  What's up with that?  I like your blog, I usually jibe with it, but to see yet another nit about how people spend their money is weird.  

I think you are reading too much into it. I have no way to judge your parenting abilities, however spending $800+ on a stroller or thousands on a bag that will get puked on just seems very wasteful.

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I'm one of the people who is totally into the baby gear.  Although my Vera Bradley diaper bag was a shower gift (and around $80), I love it even now (almost 5 years later) because you can throw it into the washing machine and drier and it looks great.  I had a Peg Perego stroller and loved it etc.  But at least some of that stuff is within reason.  My husband is scared because he is wanting to possibily have one more and I'm trying to find out if the Bugaboo is really worth it or not.  You can call people crazy if you want, but in the end, it is their money.  As long as they aren't owing you money and not paying up, it is their business.  Right?

But it is more than that, I hate that people feel this weird obsessive need to have an incredibly expensive stroller so they can keep up with everyone else. Normally I understand trends and they really don't bother me, but in this case I feel it puts pressure on moms to buy the best for their babies. You want to get the best and have the best because you love them so much, but this baby gear costs as much as a years worth of diapers! I am no crunchy granola no disposable diapers mom, but it shocks my conscience to see parents spending this kind of money when they could be using the money to really improve the kid's life- say contributing to a college fund or spending it on tuition.

What I don't get about the snazzy diaper bags is whether Fancy Mommy can persuade Daddy to carry it.  We chose a simple black one that looks more like an airline carry on, and I'm glad that when we go somewhere, Daddy can carry it too.  I just don't see him with the pastel Coach bag.  (We thought about and quickly nixed the idea of his and hers bags since whatever we needed would probably end up being in the other one.  Our bag goes where the baby goes.)

I'd just like to point out that one person's "reaaaaaaally expensive" is another person's totally reasonable. I suspect that any kid whose folks can afford a Coach diaper bag or a Bugaboo stroller probably isn't going to be hurting for college funds. Ya feel me?

I was just saying to my other old lady friends that it sure seems to me that young people want it all up front instead of having to work for it gradually.  I suppose that this is a part of the new way of doing things: big houses, expensive accoutraments.  Tell me what are you working towards in the future?  If you are spending on the present, what is their to keep you engaged in the future?  How much is having it all going to be worth?

I think a lot of people buy these high-end items because they want other parents to know that they have a lot of money. If that Coach bag didn't have the Coach logo splashed all over it, would it be as popular? I doubt it.

It's so strange to me that you don't see the irony to your posting this.  From some positions, the fact that your daughter has an Ipod shuffle and your family takes a video I pod to the various restaurants you go to, and that you love dressing your girls up in fancy dresses, would be seen as ridiculously wasteful.  I'm not sure where you think the line is, or why you think you get to draw it.  I agree that that's a crazy amount to spend for a diaper bag, but I also think it's nuts that you're getting all up in arms about it.   "Hello, Pot?  This is Kettle.  Yeah, you're black."

Meghan,  Welcome to the wonderful world of blogs where controversy is queen!  The ipod was a gift, we don't own a video ipod (though I would love one), and fancy dresses that I buy certainly don't cost $300. In fact, I paid $10-$15 for my Wati Designs skirts/shirts at a trunk show. Most of the time, I'm a careful shopper.

I definitely have no problem spending money on things for my kids, but $600 on a diaper bag? Yeah, I guess that is where I draw the line.

It's one's perogative what they spend their money on.  Granted I wouldn't spend $600 on one diaper bag, but I do own 10+ diaper bags that costs over $100 each.  But I did buy a double stroller that costs me about $550 w/tax and it is worth every penny.  

I don't advocate spending beyond one's means but if you can afford it why not.   What's the point in having money if you can't spend some of it once in awhile?

I use a boring black backpack for my diaper bag because it's so functional, but I admit I understand the lure of a really snazzy diaper bag. I carry a diaper bag Every.Single.Day. and having one that I thought was gorgeous and indulgent would probably give me a little lift every time I saw it. I know plenty of working moms who indulge in designer clothes, shoes, purses, etc for their "work lives." Well, I'm a stay-at-home-parent and maybe I don't want to dress and accessorize like a boring slob for my "work day." I may drive a mommed-out minivan and wear stained t-shirts, but if I had a fabulous diaper bag maybe that would make the daily grind a little more fun. Hey, thanks for your post. Now I'm thinking about treating myself to a new, pretty, expensive bag.

I have to admit, I think the Coach bag is really cute.  I wouldn't buy it myself but if someone got it for me, I wouldn't say no.

And I'd be really happy.

When it comes to bags and purses, I'll take function over form almost every time, especially now that