to still (a year down the line) not understand the point of baby changing bags.

[bluecheeseforbreakfast]

When I was pregnant I remember looking at the changing bags in baby shops and being perplexed as to why parents need these special often bloody expensive vast bags.

Ds is 1, when he was a newborn I took a bag (any old bag) with 4 nappies, 1/4 of a pack of baby wipes, 2 baby grows, my phone and purse. Now I take 2 nappies 1/4 pack of baby wipes, a onsie, pouch of food, satsuma, phone, and purse.

I think I have less stuff in my bag, back in the days before I had a baby my bag would have all sorts of things in, makeup and hairbrush incase we went out for after work drinks, book/magazing to read on the train, phone charger as I would sometimes have so much spare time to play with my phone that the batery would die. phone and purse.

Is there a purpose that I am missing for these specific changing bags?

I remember just using a handbag even when I had two under two. It already had little pockets and stuff.
Nappies (2 sizes)
Wipes
Cream
Changing mat
Formula
Bottles
Babygro
Vest
Rice cakes
Purse,keys phone.

I remember just using a handbag even when I had two under two. It already had little pockets and stuff.
Nappies (2 sizes)
Wipes
Cream
Changing mat
Formula
Bottles
Babygro
Vest
Rice cakes
Purse,keys phone.

I use a 15L rucksack. Nice changing bags are for people who like nice handbags.

I still use the free one from boots for dd2. I find it useful to have all stuff I need in one place and if don't have the kids I don't take rather thanks loading and unloading handbag. That said just got massive handbag so considering trying to ditch.
Inside have - nappies, wipes, spare clothes, change mat, snacks, water, nappy sacks, couple of little toys. Toys and snacks useful to have on standby in case need to keep entertained/occupied, but don't always need them. But good to know they are there if I do.

Easier of someone else has the baby,.that's one of the main points of a bag that has just baby stuff in

Yanbu I had one which was ways stuffed with old nappies I never used,baby wipes,and snacks and a change of clothes bit still had loads if room left.
I soon started to just carry stuff in a shopper type hand bag but now just a tiny back pack change of clothes that goes on the toddler.

I dont understand what is so hard to understand. You didnt buy a specific bag for your baby crap (btw- how did you always take a 1/4 pack of wipes? They would have been full at one point and almost empty at another) but others did. Some people dont have cars to get to work- some do- do you have trouble understanding that aswell?

I had to carry a complete change of clothes as DD was an explosive pooer, plus extra socks and mitts (always removing them), spare bibs, plus DD was showing signs of teething from 3 months so I had teething gel, nappy cream, Calpol etc. And her red book (I kept it there so I would never forget it at an appointment). Teddy and dummy for naps/if she got upset. Spare bra, pads and top for me in case of leakage.

Now DD is older I have a plastic bib, spoons, snack pot, drink as well.

She is in cloth nappies so 2 nappies takes up quite a bit of space.

Having a dedicated changing bag means that I can leave my handbag with everything I need for work, no having to take out work stuff and add baby stuff (meaning something invariably gets forgotten).

And finally- the changing bag has 2 loops so it can be clipped on to the pushchair handle.

Having said that, my changing bag is just plain grey, cost £35 from mothercare, and looks like a rather large handbag.

I had a very cheep Mothercare one.

It was soft and padded so it didn't bang on your legs pushing the pushchair and the right width, strap length to sit neatly out the way. It also matched the cosy toes on the push chair.

My purse, phone etc were in my handbag across my body. No way would I leave credit cards etc on the back of the buggy.

Also, who wants stinky nappies in their handbag?

I like mine and its always ready to just pick up to go out.
I also keep it handy for home changes or mop ups when I' can't be bothered to go upstairs.

A changing bag fits over the handles of the pram. None of my handbags do that.
It's useful for keeping.... Em baby changing stuff in.
I wouldn't want to keep dirty baby clothes or nappies in a leather handbag. The changing bag can be easily laundered.
I use different handbags depending on where I'm going or what I'm wearing. So not all of them would be suitable for baby nappies/ wipes/ change of baby clothes/ nappy sacks/ breast pads....

I found it really useful to have a bag that was always packed with baby stuff and could hang over the pushchair handles. One that was wipe clean and didn't really matter if it got a bit mucky.

I have never been a handbag person so I had to get one. I got a cheap one off eBay and its got enough room and handy compartments as I formula feed. I don't get the designer changing bag thing. waste of money in my opinion. I always found it was my friends who had hardly any money that bought expensive changing bags.

My changing bag for 6 week old combination fed baby is jam packed -

5 nappies - was 3 but got caught out last week
Cotton Wool
Bum cream
Change mat & muslin
Baby wipes for cleaning buggy wheels - dog poo problem in our area
Nappy bags
Spare vest
Spare babygro
Alcohol gel small bottle
Bottle
Aptamil carton
Scissors
Infacol
Keys
Purse
Inhaler
Emery board
Whatever medicines we are both currently taking
Paracetamol
Phone
Spare muslin for ccovering norks/mopping sick

How do you take less than this????

I now have a much better understanding of changing bags! I had underestimated the faff of formula and bottles, I didn't realise you had to give them a new bottle every time they had a feed, so if they suck for 2 minutes and get distracted and want a feed 30 minutes later, do you have to make a whole new bottle?

I envy those of you that are so organised! The idea of compartments and zip lock bags is beyond me, I think I'd just end up lugging around a huge bag of outgrown clothes and dried up baby wipes.

The way you always take out 1/4 of a pack of wipes is to buy mini packs that are 1/4 of tge size of a regular pack :)

Ds was a once a week pooer, I would usually throw away his babygrow when he pood, they were mostly white and very cheap.

Not read whole thread so sorry if already said but main benefit of distinct nappy bag is sometimes the only civilised place to put the old pooey nappy is in your bag and sometimes, despite the nappy sack, this leaves your bag smelling ripe. This is not a smell I want for my main handbag.

42 and counting - I just took baby in sling, little handbag witha couple of nappies in, tinypack of wipes, my phone, key and bank card. I bfed for 10 months.

Ok just scrolled up and seen already mentioned. Will raft next time.

Is it just me or is this a completely pointless thread??

No, you're not exactly being unreasonable but it's not difficult to figure out what a changing bag is for. They often come with buggy hooks, various different compartments, insulated bottle bag, a waterproof interior, wet bag and a travel changing mat. If someone wants all that stuff they buy a changing bag. If not they can use sime other kind if bag. It's not rocket science.

Annie - unfortunately due to a number of problems at birth and an undiagnosed tongue tie, DD had to be formula fed through a nose tube until 2 weeks old. Now just six weeks, we're trying to get back to ebf but realistically its going to take a while longer to get there. The combination feeding makes her windy & explosive, hence the infacol, spare clothing, muslins, bum cream etc. Sadly at the moment to not take these things with us would just make life harder and less comfortable so its a changing bag for the foreseeable future.

Thats a really expensive way to buy baby wipes!

I wouldn't risk so few wipes what if there is an explosion!

Hope it gets sorted soon 42andcounting

mumof3- did you bf? I never had one bum explosion when I did.

No dd is ff as were my older dcs