Is this really my only Changing Bag option? aibu to be really annoyed about it?

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Soon to have three under three.

Following all the mn advice I now have everything I should need for being out and about in my Changing Bag, currently a Mommymoo one from John Lewis.

Obviously I am not carrying about what I will need for our newborn but even with what I need for our ten month old and two and a half year old I end up taking more than one bag when I am going out and about. Not too tricky when we visit someone's house because I can leave one bag in the car. But not exactly practical and far more likely that I will leave something behind.

Without spending a fortune the only thing I can think of to solve this problem is a lightweight hand luggage flight bag. So far the best I have seen is the lightweight over should style from Matalan. We used this before for swimming.

Anyone any better ideas? An actual suitcase seems a bit excessive!

I also used to use the little PE type bags,found they slipped easily into the basket under the buggy or over the handles if I had shopping.

Drinks is bulky if you are not breastfeeding.

A bag is a bag. I gave up on official changing bags years ago and bought a cheap (pretty!) messenger bag with lots of pockets. Does the job. I would take a baby grow in case of nappy leakages but whole outfits I don't find necessary unless we are out for the whole day somewhere where a spilt drink and a bit of mud would be a disaster.

Yeah I could have less but I am sick of not having everything I need. The other day my oldest fell in dog poo in the park and I was very, very grateful my friend had anti bacterial handwash!

Drinks are bulky, at the moment two beakers and eventually when I stop feeding DC3 a bottle too.

I could cram everything in the changing bag but I would rather it was easy to get in and out of. We are toilet training at the moment so do need a proper set of clothes for my two and a half year old. He is very tall so I can't manage with one outfit for him, our ten month old and soon to be newborn.

As for toys, I am talking about a rattle and a very small fire engine. Honestly, I am not talking about carrying around the kitchen sink. I really have got the least that I think I can get away with, without having constantly forgotten something.

Seems like you take out a lot of stuff!

For my two ( year gap), I just took out what fitted in a regular small handbag.

Eldest will be potty trained soon also so will be back to just 2 supplies anyway.

I would only take nappies and wipes. 4 each max should be fine. Youngest can wear bigger nappy if needed. Just take one tshirt and leggings as spare ( 10 months old can wear baggy 2 year old clothes), it's very rare they will both need changing.

You don't need all that first aid stuff, just add x2 plasters. You can clean grazed knee with regular wet wipe.

Reduce all snacks and drinks. Just take drink each, refill water for free in 101 places if needed.
Don't take loads of toys. Surely your going out to do/ see something so they don't need loads. Outside use natural found things more . Just a mini book maybe incase your stuck in doctors or somewhere

You're carrying too much. You need 2 nappies and a ziplock with 8 or 10 wipes in it. A light outfit, packed/rolled tightly and secured with hair elastics so it stays small. Sports drink bottle so everyone can use it. What extent of snacks are you talking about? My kids love Nairns oatcakes, bizarrely. Maybe a bag of chopped apple?

I had a lovely Storksak changing bag for DD1 but when DD2 was born I stopped carrying a changing bag altogether and switched to a regular, medium-sized bag, because there's just the temptation to fill a large bag up with stuff you "need". I think that the idea of upgrading to a wheelie suitcase is a bit nuts. Would your husband bring all that stuff out with him? I bet he wouldn't in a million years.

And a grown adult shouldn't be wearing a backpack, seriously.

I would be looking at something like this or a bit smaller: www.johnlewis.com/fiorelli-rita-large-tote-bag/p2037113?colour=Riviera%20Print

(and DD1 had just turned 2 when DD2 was born, so I have practical experience of what you're talking about)

Can you get smaller beakers? And just refill when out? ( cafes will always fill with water for free)

Thank you everyone.

Without wanting to sound ungrateful I have not had a problem with this before. When I just had one I managed fine with my normal handbag.

With two I have managed well with my changing bag which is really just a bigger canvas bag.

But with three I quite simply have to take more stuff around for each of them.

And not that it is anyone's business but I have so far been lucky enough to be able to breastfeed all of mine. But at two and a half it is helpful, and cheaper, in the sunny weather to have a beaker of water for each of them.

Thank you everyone, but please. I am on talking about two. I am talking about three. With two I have had NO PROBLEM.

I have only ever taken the same size nappies for ages with my two. But now that my oldest is nearly toilet trained I won't be able to do that with my newborn.

I don't have heaps of first aid things. I have two plasters, anti bacterial handwash and tissues.

Mine are (a lot) older, but I still need to take stuff out and about for them (combination of disabilities and toddler)

I use a bog standard, rucksack. In it I have:

A nappy change kit - I use the Hip baby 'keep it together' kit from Babykind (designed for cloth nappies, I use it with disposables). I have had nappies/wipes/etc for 2 in here at one point - bigger children - so will be fine. I can fit 6+ large nappies in. How long are you going out for, that you would need more than that? If an all day trip, then you will need tomuse under buggy, but otherwise, a couple of changes for each of them should last you a good 4 hours?

Drinks - outside side net pockets, the ones for water bottles. Essential.

Medical kit - I have to have a variety of meds and food related stuff, all goes in front pocket of rucksack

Colouring books/crayons - to keep 2 of my 3 amused, and now also fit ipad for my eldest.

Packet of drinking straws - essential, in our family.

Various little toys - a couple of cars, a couple fo happy meal (shoot me now) toys, coloured dice, and an activity/sticker pad.

I have had, previously, changes of clothes, but I foind they were so rarely used that I gave up. Since I stopped carrying them, I have had to buy an emergency pair of trousers/t shirt 3 times. Over 6 years and 3 children. Worth it for the stress saved in cramming everything into an over full bag/weight when carrying it. I do have a full change in the car always, for each child (well, a ragbag assortment of clothes that can be made to suit), which has come in handy at times - usually due to car sickness!

But I found that even as babies, I rarely actually needed the spare set of clothes I carted about everywhere.

Snacks - the odd packet of rice cakes, or nakd bars. But then I've never been a big one for snacks anyway.

I had a very basic black messenger bag from mothercare which was about £15. It had two pockets on the ends for bottles, pockets inside for wipes/anti bac etc. I got so much in it including at least four washable nappies which were very bulky and two changes of clothes. I did find choosing spare clothes carefully helped with space e.g. jogging bottoms instead of denim/combats. I was quite sad when I didn't need that bag any more.

My best friend with three under three uses a rucksack.

www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Essential-Change-Bag/418538,default,pd.html

Hope that link works. I think this is the bag I had, it looks like they have changed the fabric since I had it though.

I had 3 with very similar age gaps. You need to rationalise the stuff.

• spare clothes - the absolute thinnest you have: thin joggers, long sleeve t-shirt, pants, socks for the eldest rolled up. 10 month old: 1 vest, 1 baby grow switched to same as oldest once properly walking. These are emergency clothes remember. You can change them again when you get home.
• No toys - really.
• 2 nappies each. Wipes max 1/2 full - rotate with packs at home, a few nappy bags (also use for wet clothes).
• No tissues - use wipes.
• one big plaster, one little plaster, anti bac handwash.
• boxes of raisins, if you must.
• drinks under buggy if you are going out more than 2 hours to somewhere with no drinks there.

That will all fit. Honestly. Ok, you don't have all the stuff you always want, all the time but the number of times I was caught out were absolutely minimal and I am usually with other parents/at parent friendly places so someone would help.

Go through each item and think when the last time you used it was and how you would have coped if you hadn't had it.

I used a Kipling Seoul Backpack when I had 3 under 3, it held loads, lots of pockets, comfortable to carry but I could hook it on the buggy. And it could go in the wash. It was stolen in Jan and I still miss it as it was a nice bag.

Changing bags are laughably expensive. I used a plain black backpack, suitable for either me or DH.

Look at what you take out with you - see if you can cut it down a bit. Just take essentials for that trip only and restock the bag if needed when you get home so it's ready for the next trip.

When I had 2 in cloth nappies I used to carry an overnight bag or two bags often as I didn't always need everything in every occasion. Now those two are potty trained I try to take basically nothing or a pair of pants if thry are lucky. We will have 3 nearly under 3 and I'm hoping to not add much for the newborn - how much can thry need? :)

It is such a short time I've given up thinking there is a specific bag that will suit every occasion. I will just mix and match with what I've got

And a grown adult shouldn't be wearing a backpack, seriously.

What an utterly stupid thing to say.

Backpacks are much better for your back, and are 'hands free'.

At least you'll look stylish while you hobble around with a fucked back in 10 years eh NotYouNaanBread?

Also I kept spare stuff in the car, if that's an option for you? Wipes, nappies, bags & changes of clothes. Very useful on several occasions, and I didn't have to carry as much with me.

I have a 4 year old and a 13mo.. . We used the baby move bag when dd2 was smaller, but now I take a couple of nappies, wipes, occasionally food or a snack each, usually one drinks bottle between them and a different t shirt for dd2 in case of major spillages. And suncream in the summer.... Surely anything else can be bought/borrowed/got by without?

These buggy bags are great, I can fit a couple of nappies, wipes, a beaker, a few toys and a bag of rice cakes in mine, plus my mobile phone and purse! Great for a bit of extra space.

They're on ebay for about a fiver, all different designs

Kids back pack for the toddler & cup holders that you can attach to the buggy.

I did buy weekender type bag with a long shoulder strap and can cram loads into it. I have a cross body bag for my own things
(purse/phone/keys/handcream etc).

this sort of thing

I'm a nanny and generally have a gaggle of young ones around me. A backpack is truly your friend.

OP, I managed on one bag with three!

Honestly, I would take a few nappies and some wipes
Spare vest and baby grows for the youngest two.
Spare pants, socks and leggings for the oldest
One sports bottle that the two oldest can share.
Small snacks - eg. oat bar, box of raisins
Your purse, keys and phone.

Even with a couple of plasters in your purse, a packet of tissues and anti-bac, that should all fit in one bag.