Parents everywhere shop when they first find out they’re expecting, selecting items that fit their aesthetic and have pockets for their technology. Some time after the baby is born, however, these same parents realize that the super hip gear they thought would fill their needs falls drastically short of the demands of taking a baby out for the day.  They hit the stores again to search for pink and blue practicalities, mourning the lack of style. Here are our picks for the efficient, style hungry adult on your list. 

O Yikes! Messenger Diaper Bag
(O Yikes!, $110.00, four colors)

Looking for a practical diaper bag with room for everything from wipes to Cheerios, teething rings to Matchbox cars? O Yikes! makes the 24.7 Messenger Bag, self-described as: “Ready to go bags for the active urban parent.” This could quite possibly be the world’s best diaper bag.  The extra large size (12”x15”x4”) is roomy enough for stacks of diapers, blanket, and the always necessary extra change of clothes.  The shoulder strap is long enough for comfort, and is padded to give moms and dads some relief when carting around all the gear that this bag will hold.  There is a zippered front compartment with mesh divider as well as two side compartments, one with drawstring closure and one with Velcro flap, perfect for bottles or cups. 

The best features of the O Yikes! Messenger Bag are inside, though these great accessories add up to $55 more per bag. Inside are two more zippered compartments along with your choice of a stainless steel key ring, matching accessories bag for items such as your phone, wallet, ipod, or PDA; or insulated bottle bag to keep liquids either hot or cold. You can purchase a diaper changing pad that folds down to almost nothing, but opens to give parents lots of sanitary space for diapering and a heavy duty wipe container adorned with the funky O Yikes! logo.  Another great accessory, the stylish 9.2.5. laptop sleeve, fits right into the bag. With a comfortable strap of its own, it can also be used separately when baby stays at home. All well-designed accessory pieces are covered in the same cool color block design as the rest of the bag. 

O Yikes! Slingback Diaper/Lifestyle Bag
($85.00, four colors)

Active parents may prefer another style of diaper bag, one which fits across the torso to support the weight of baby gear on the upper back. It, too, includes a range of accessories and fully loaded it will cost you $145.00. Like the Messenger bag, the Slingback comes in four O Yikes! color choices, in hip combinations such as Blueberry/ Keylime, Purple/ Grape, Tangerine/ Raspberry and Frosted Titanium.  The price of these bags may scare off some parents, but weighed against the amount of time the average parent spends carting around both child and gear, a large, practical, organized, and stylish bag is worth its weight in gold.  The O Yikes! 24.7 Messenger or Sling Back bags are the parent’s one-stop option for form and function.

Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover
($35.00 - $45.00, variety of fabrics and patterns)

It’s that time again. People are all around, yet your newborn continues to shift uncomfortably, with the look of hunger in her eyes. Mothers everywhere face the need to nourish their child in public, while remaining discretely comfortable. Thanks to Bebe au Lait, moms can now feed their babies anywhere, anytime. Attending public events while nursing was once a hassle, but with this stylish and practical item, you are guaranteed some much-needed relief.  No need to be shy about doing what's best for your newborn -- Bebe au Lait has got you covered.

Bebe au Lait's Nursing Covers are beautifully stitched and crafted in a variety of lovely lighweight fabrics that allow moms to firmly stand their ground as new women of the millennium -- classy and in control. The covers are machine washable and the clever rigid neckline provides you with privacy, while allowing you to view baby.  The covers can also serve as a stroller or front carrier cover or a light blanket and folds neatly into a pocketbook-size holder. Thanks to Bebe au Lait, baby and mom can enjoy priceless intimate moments impossible to recreate ever again.

Go Pillow
($29.95, pink/blue)

Sharing the same goal as the a nursing cover, Go Pillow, the newest creation by Simply Necessary, encourages nursing moms to breast feed their babies anywhere and anytime with the comfort and privacy they both deserve. Its glossy, plush-like appearance and soft fabric make it extra cozy for baby, too.

When not in use, this product has the capsule-like shape of a support pillow. Similar to a muff, it fits around mid-wrist, elbow and upper arm with stretchable elastic bands to secure it safely. While fitting securely to the user's arm, it cushions and protects mom's arms and baby's head. While this ever-changing, multi-purpose item serves primarily as a pillow and nursing cover, it can do double duty as a portable toddler pillow/blanket, sun and wind shield,  napping wedge, emergency changing pad, and, it even warms your arms during cold weather months. Versatility is the allure of Go Pillow, giving it that distinctive edge over ordinary comforting devices.

Innobaby Packin'Smart Formula Dispenser/Snack Case
($19.99, five-tier pack)

Feeding your baby on the go can be a challenge under the best of circumstances.  Add to those circumstances the mess of measuring and mixing formula, and many parents would rather just stay at home.  Innobaby has developed a product to make the process of feeding on-the-go a little bit easier on everyone.  These shatter resistant containers lock together, giving parents up to five containers which each hold 8 oz .of powdered formula or 1/3 cup of dry snacks.  Each compartment is engraved with measurements, both in grams and ounces, making it easy to store just the right amount of cereal, for example, because juice or water can be easily added for meals on the go. Innobaby advertises that the Packin’ Smart is a great way to transport snacks and other small items, but we found the funnel design of the compartments, while useful with formula, difficult for dispensing snacks.  It's a great organzing product for long trips with baby, keeping formula close at hand and ready to dispense, or a variety of items that might get lost in your overstuffed carry-on bag.  It's easy to clean, too, top rack dishwasher safe, but not recommended for use in the microwave. For day trips or snacks, however, parents may do better with the standard plastic containers found at every corner store.