AIBU about changing bags?

[CocacolaMum]

I have now had 4 people ask me which changing bag I will be having. AIBU to think these Yummy Mummy bags which EVERYONE seems to have around here are really a bit twee and not actually necessary or AIBU (and a bit naïve)?

www.amazon.co.uk/Pink-Lining-Yummy-Purple-Dragonflies/dp/B00E7I4OYO/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1389198222&sr=8-11&keywords=yummy+mummy+changing+bag

I have now taken to looking at people blankly and replying that I just intend to buy coats with massive pockets and bypass a bag altogether..

Its not that I am a snob by the way - possibly the opposite. What else will people tell me to buy for the baby which I just wont need?! There just seems to be so much STUFF~!!!

I have a backpack (£12 in tk maxx) because I plan to carry dd in a sling and other bags won't be practical. Ill use my cross body satchel style bag if we are using the pram though.

I did notice those yummy mummy bags as 7 mums out of 18 in breastfeeding group have them- only 2 designs!

I've had two proper changing bags- both practical and non-gender specific rather than pretty ones. I bought the first one to match my pram (a denim M&P thing) . I got the second one when I was pregnant with dc2 as I knew I needed one with a long enough handle to fit on the double pram, and to fit in all the stuff I'd need for two under two.

When dc2 was just over a year old I treated myself to a nice leather satchel- it's a handbag that I wanted anyway so I'll get loads of use out of it. It also fits over the pram handles and is big enough to carry the crap required for two toddlers. Oh, and I've also got a huuuge soft leather slouchy hobo bag thing that is just a gorgeous bag, but happens to be large enough to put everything I need in- not a changing bag at all. I alternate between these now, never use my actual changing bags.

So, I'd suggest just buying yourself a gorgeous big handbag instead.

My changing bag was a plastic carrier bag, courtesy of tescos, co-op or wherever I had been shopping last.

YANBU, I loved mine but (a) I had an extremely leaky baby (at both ends), (b) we were always out in the pushchair (live in a city, he hated the sling) so I usually packed it for the full day and (c) mine is black, not one of those embellished ones, so it did just fine for laptop + breast pump when I returned to work. In fact, the insulated compartment was brilliant for pumping at work, I'd barely used it before that.

I couldn't bear to retire my massive non-baby bag collection so I just bought a melobaby wallet. It's got the change mat and all the slots and pockets I need for DS' bum and fits in almost anything. Reckon when I'm done it'll make a good wash bag.

I got a avent rucksack changing bag which cost about £5 from eBay. It's fine saying just get a bag that will go on a pushchair handle but since my dd was 18 months she has walked most places also I used a sling a lot when she was younger. I use reusable nappies and having a bigger section at the bottom for them was useful. What you need depends entirely on you and your needs. You can get the free one with the boots parenting club and use that till you work out what you need from a changing bag if at all.

I've used lots of different changing bags not always changing bags...

I had a nice Animal bag with lots of pockets that was ok for small outings and another courier style. Have to say my favourite was a Samsonite Ladybird bag..

Depending on what you need it for you nay get away with tucking stuff in a handbag...if you have a vomity baby requiring changes of clothes (including coat) every outing, use cloth nappies or live a long way from shops so 'popping out' is a trek, you will need something more roomy

YANBU. I just bought a kids messenger bag from TK Maxx for seven quid.

Plenty of room and it has a kitten on the front. Job done.

I never had a changing bag. I always used slings - probably only half a dozen trips out with the pram before I figured out that I couldn't steer and was a danger to the entire ankle population of south-west London.

I had a small, cross-body Fatface bag to start with, and when I moved DS1 onto my back, I struggled for a bag, so I made myself one that wrapped round under the sling.

I also stuffed things in pockets and went bag-free, and I usually carried my money and keys in a fold of the sling.

These days, I just shove the essentials in whatever bag I'm using for the rest of my stuff.

my oldest one is 19. i could not for the life of me work out why i would suddenly want to carry a bag around with an elephant stitched on it. same rules apply now. just why? ordinary bag of any type will carry whatever you need- bung a couple of old carriers in it for wet and dirty clothes (who wants to have to wash a separate bag out?)

yanbu

I bought a skiphop for DS1 which is now 6 and has been used for 3 DCs. DS1 and DD were, in DD's case still is, massively refluxy so needed lots of clothes. Also used reuseables which take up room.

Stork sack
They are brilliant .I love the pram clips.Had it two years and it still looks great.

I've had most use from the messenger style bag that came with the pram. It did the first year with DS1, but when he went on a restrictive diet with food allergies and needed proper spare outfits rather than a babygrow and vest it was too small so I got a Pac a Pod. I love the way stuff is in compartments and doesn't get lost, and is easy to transfer to other bags. By the time I was pregnant with DS2, the allergies and their side effects had calmed (and I knew where to eat out and about) so switched to a large handbag and changing set for popping around locally. When DS2 was small and needing frequent changes, the Pac a Pod came out again, and it's still good for longer days out. Generally I'm back to the pram bag as the DCs take the same size nappy (reusables).

An official changing bag will have a decent strap for going round the pram, not all other bags have the right proportions. I have a lovely leather work bag which is great for laptops and A4 files, but I'd lose all the baby stuff deep in it (and don't want to risk ruining the lining with escaped Calpol etc). I found the Boots bag a bit too small- that's used for nursery (I have to transport things like bread and milk too) Whatever bag works for you works for you. (I didn't feel the need for pastel colours though)

How much?????????i bought a designer one from tk maxx for cheaper without even realising it was a changing bag lol

Their bags are shit shit quality - esp for the price!!

Couldn't live without a changing bag though. Mine is v v large.

I like the mia tui ones they have a sale on so not bad value. Huge bags though but I like a big bag.

For ds I use a big cheap oasis handbag so when I need a smaller bag with new baby then Ill switch back to oasis bag. Some days I still like a big bag, plus I got red to match my pram, and fave scarf hat gloves combo!

Btw yummy mummy bags not to my taste.

I bloody hate changing bags. I stick a nappy and a pack of wipes in my normal handbag.

Back pack - like another poster it was interchangeable between parents. It also hung off the pram handle nicely and could be worn while towing the bike trailer.

First time parents get ripped off so much.

I find the yummy mummy idea to be a bit gross though.

The term "yummy mummy" makes me vom in my mouth.

However, I have a Cath Kidston changing bag so I can't partake in this inverse snobbery. It was a gift though, I planned on using dog poo bags.

Actually OP, I've been thinking about this over settling the non-sleeping baby.

Whether or not you need one/will get your money's worth, depends on your lifestyle and where you live. I read people saying they just carried a few nappies and wipes and I thought "how to you cope all day with just that?" and then read more that actually, they drive everywhere and have all the additional stuff in the car, or others just don't seem to go out all day.

Rather like the whole buggy issue (which if you haven't tackled yet, good luck!).

For example, I often read on here that "everyone" ends up getting a Mclaren/umbrella fold after 6 months and stops using the big buggy. However, that's not been my experience in this town. I was given an umbrella fold when I went on holiday and I couldn't work out how anyone copes with something that's so hard to push with little wheels, if you put any sort of weight on the handlebars it tips backwards, and you have to if you're out for a long day as the basket is tiny. I thought it was a stupid waste of money if you already had a travel system, to buy something extra that's lower quality.

I mentioned it to one of the few people I know who uses one, but she explained it was easy to fold for the car boot. and I realised, she lives a lot further out than me, I live 25-30mins walk from our town centre, so I walk to town if I want to go to the shops, I need something I can easily push up the hills to the town, she needs something she can drive to town and so needs somethign to fold up and pootle around town with. I only really take the car to the supermarket, so I stick the carseat in the shopping trolly and don't bother taking the buggy. I also have a parade of small shops near me, so for 'basket' shop (rather than weekly big trolly shop), I'll go there and need a decent sized basket underneath for the shopping, she has to go to the supermarket as she's no small shops in walking distance, but she'll take the Mclaren rather than use a trolly for a small shop.

I have a wide hall at home so can leave the buggy set up in there and still get past (I can go weeks without folding it), she doesn't so has to fold the buggy all the time it's not in use.

Baby monitors are another one that may or may not be 'vital baby kit', another friend didn't understand why anyone spent any money on one, but she lives in a flat where the baby's bedroom was just off the living room so she could easily hear her DS wake up, in our house you can't hear DD cry in the front room if the doors are shut, so we needed one.

So very long post, but basically, it's no good you asking anyone for their opinions on what is and isn't worth it for baby related stuff, because depending on your lifestyle, transport, home layout, how you feed, if you use reusable nappies or not etc will depend on how useful something is to you.

Just to be fair to the company making the Yummy Mummy bags (which I agree us a vomitous phrase), they also do versions without the cupcake crap (which, as I said oop thread, I've bought in a sale), and they also make rucksacks and smaller bags which are only £20.

Personally, I love some changing bags, hate others.

With DC1 I had the Radley changing bag & I (very disappointingly) absolutely hated it. So when pregnant with DC2 I got a Storksak. Black leather, just a beautiful bag. Have now had it a year, with a baby & a toddler, it's fitted everything in wonderfully & still looks as good as new. I love it. & it doesn't have crap like "yummy mummy" or twee pictures embroidered on it