Worth buying a changing bag?

[Inbl00m]

Hi everyone

If you invested in a changing bag pre-baby do you use it and has it paid off?

I've read various bits of advice ranging from "Splash out, it will last you years" to "Don't bother, get a cheap bag, you won't need to carry a lot of stuff around after the first few months".

Confused!

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Hello, this thread is a little old and the links are out of date. Take a look at this handy page for a round-up of the best changing bags.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

First time round I used a canvas messenger bag I had from uni. This time round ive bought another canvas cross body bag. I dont really get official changing bags tbh. Seems like a lot of money for something that isnt actually a very nice bag.

[MaryWestmacott]

If you are going to formula feed, having one with separate pockets to keep bottles upright is handy.

Whatever bag you use (a formal changing bag or a big normal bag for all your baby gubbins) you'll use it a lot over the next couple of years, it is handy o have one bag always ready to go (with wipes, nappies, nappy sacks, a change of clothes, hat and a couple of mussies) so you don't have to faff before leaving the house.

I think you can get a free one from the boots baby club to start with.

[redexpat]

We got one from ikea that folds out into a changing mat. I think it was worth the money, but once i started weaning i switched to a bigger more normal bag. So i guess it depends if you will bf or ff. ff needs more equipment to be carried.

[MrsSpencerReid]

My changing bag was a treat to myself, I don't carry a handbag anymore so wanted a nice one, I use it everyday. However, I have two 20m apart, if I didn't have ds2 I would possibly use a little rucksack for him that he can take with him if he goes out with grandma etc

[MaryWestmacott]

Oh and re not carrying much after the first few months, I tend to walk a lot and go out for the bulk of the day, I had a smaller bag to start with, but once dc was weaned and I had to carry around food, bibs, sippy cup of water, as well as bottles of milk, I found I carried more, not less! I think the least carried was around 4 months, still breast feeding, so no bottles, no food, and past the poo explosions that went right up the back and required total changes! From then until about 2.5 I was carrying shedloads, then I potty trained and had to carry multiple changes of outfit. Finally got back to carrying a real handbag with an oat bar and a small pack of wipes, then had dc2.

[KipT77]

Hello, I got a pacapod rucksack and it was good. Lots of space for carrying general baby stuff, especially when I needed blankets and layers in the winter. However, I very rarely use it now (12 months on) and I've bought one of those little Skip Hop compact changing mat things instead. I got annoyed with lugging a big rucksack around so downsized. It fits in a bag/tucks in my small pram basket which seems much easier.

[Pico2]

I bought a Pacapod when I had DD. I suggest avoiding them as they are more bag than space for stuff. I switched to a cheap beach bag with lots of space.

[OneLittleToddleTerror]

I got a nice one because it is my everyday handbag. DD is 3yo now and I'm still using it. I'm pregnant with no 2 and am considering buying a new one. It is not a waste of money if you will use it. DD was EBF and I still find it useful. It also depends on how much you would spend on a normal handbag anyway.

[OneLittleToddleTerror]

Mine is a pink lining one. Not too expensive and that's what I mean I will normally pay that for a handbag.

[MildDrPepperAddiction]

I bought a good quality one from eBay that hadn't been used. I used it for dd1 and now for both her and dd2s stuff. I tried using a big handbag but stuff just gets jumbled up.

[Stoneysilence]

Absolute waste of cash. I actually felt holding onto my handbag, and having a separate canvas tote (nothing fancy) for baby stuff helped me feel more like 'me'. I've got a Skip Hop one, it's lovely, we used the removable changing mat a few times but never bother with the bag itself.
What IS invaluable is a large sponge back with pockets, to hold a couple of mussies (one for bib/face wiping, one for changing on), a pack of wipes and a few nappies.

[Stoneysilence]

Bag, not back, obv. Stupid phone.

[JennyBlueWren]

A bit early for me but it's started me thinking. I don't like shoulder bags as tend to get back/shoulder/neck ache from over filling them so currently use a rucksack for work. Think I might just use my current rucksacks as I have quite a range of sizes and a nice middle sized one has good pockets.

[MaryWestmacott]

Jenny - most mothers hang them off the handlebars of the buggy, not actually carry the bag on the shoulder except to lift off the buggy to walk to the loo to change a baby.

Get something that will fit over your handle bars easily, far easier than a backpack you have to carry.

If they are still doing them, I'd highly recommend getting the freebie from boots, not the sturdiest of bags (mine died after a while) but it'll give you an idea of how you will use the bag, if you need something bigger/smaller, more pockets etc. and as they were plain black, quite good as a spare for a dad changing bag.

[mssleepyhead]

I couldn't see how changing bags would work with baby carrying so I got a rucksack and a skip hold travel changing mat, and I have a zip up toiletry bag to keep things like sudocrem in. Will let you know in august if it works!

[NickyEds]

Oh God, we have three!!!! One that hooks onto the frame of the buggy, a pacapod for me and a (manly!)Bababing messenger style one for OH. I bought a really cheap canvas back pack when DS was born and it was rubbish-not waterpfoof and everything got muddled up inside. I'd get a cheap one before bay's born and invest in something when you know what you need.
DS is now weaning and we carry way more stuff than when he was a new born

[Eminybob]

My mum has bought me mine and I love it. It's from mamas and papas and has an owl print. Really cute yet trendy. It's got a changing mat, thermal bottle holder and several different pockets.

Not using it yet as baby isn't here yet so can't comment on use but I can't wait to start using it. I did shop around for one I really really liked as it will be replacing my favourite Ted Baker, which will be very sad

[busyDays]

I couldn't live without mine. I would buy your buggy first and then your changing bag. You really need to try the bag on the buggy to see if it fits, particularly when the seat is reclined. I'm a childminder so have had lots of buggies and bags and found that some combinations work much better than others. On umbrella style buggies a bag that is not too tall but with a really long shoulder strap works well as it can hang below the reclined seat and just above the back wheels. On parent facing pushchairs with a handle bar that goes all the way across I find it easiest to use bag hooks rather than the shoulder strap. Oh, and more expensive definitely doesn't mean better. At the moment I have a plain black Toys R Us own brand one and it is actually the best bag I have had so far. The really pretty but expensive one I had previously turned out to be very inconvenient to use.

[GreatSoprendo]

I bought one that I was thrilled with. Then I had a baby!
I realised that a plain old backpack with a fold up change mat inside was far more versatile for changes of clothes, extra winter layers, Tupperware tubs of food, toys, sun cream etc. Now DS is 15 months old we have a bit less stuff to lug about and now use the free Boots Parenting Club most days - it's perfect!

[Em1503]

Baby hasn't arrived yet but I have just bought a large bag from primark that will fit everything in and fit over the handlebars. I also bought a handbag divider thingy from there so I can keep nappies, wipes etc in order and my friend has bought me a lovely cath kidston travel changing mat. I begrudged paying loads for a proper changing bag when I didn't know if I'd actually need one. This way I can see how I get on and always buy a proper one if need be in future.

[ThingyTheBusCleaner]

I thought I'd save money and didn't bother at first. Then when DS was 6 months ish got a SkipHop. It's bloody brilliant and I still use it 2 years later.

[Heels99]

Yes but get a unisex one that dh can use too. Machine washable. With no "yummy mummy"naff slogans on

[flingingmelon]

You can alternatively get a melobaby type change mat/wallet that will carry everything you need for nappy changes and it slips in and out of most bags. I have it in a big bag for days out but DH is happy to stick it in his rucksack when he's in charge. It also means you don't have to cart everything to the loo if you're in a restaurant etc.

[MummyBeerest]

Lots of good replies here.

I registered with (whispers) Nestle. They give you a free bag with a change mat. If something doesn't fit in it, you don't need it.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

I had a cheap dark green mothercare one,(matched the cosy toes on the buggy). Absolutely worth it, because it was soft and padded it hung on the back of our hammock style mountain buggy without bashing DD or my knees.

Being dark green it survived two DDs, many country walks and being chucked in car footwells and boots. It also survived being scrubbed when I smashed a jar of very orange baby curry.

If you want it to be slightly less obviously a changing bag (nice if you do end up carrying it rather than it living on a buggy) I'd get a nice soft messenger bag or similar, DD has a canvus, slightly surf vibe laptop bag that would be perfect.

Just dont buy something pale coloured, you know the knappy sack will split!