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

[spad]

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!

With my twins I had the Boots freebie bag, it was plenty big enough. My twins are 2.8 now (and just potty trained thankfully) but from the age of two we didn't need a changing bag at all. 4 nappies and a pack of wipes in my handbag was fine.

IMO a normal changing bag is fine.

Satchel?

Potty train the eldest so you only have two in nappies ?

Backpack here too. One that can be divided and opened from the base is more practical than one where you have to get everything out from the top. Spare clothes, first aid kit etc in bottom half. Nappy change and my handbag things in the top half. Water bottles either under buggy or in side pockets of backpack. Two hands free to grab escapee children/push buggy. Hook it on the buggy with a climbing hook and carry it when I need to put shopping underneath. Might not look fashionable but I don't know how to do that anyway.

I would use a sport bottle and they can all share.

And yy to a backpack,much easier.

Mine refuse to share a bottle! And they both manage to finish one if we go out for the day anyway. I don't think what you take sounds excessive. I regularly took/take and used spares for my children. I am potty training DC2 and I don't have a choice but to go out. I need to take the bus to get to the shops/go to DC1's groups etc so she has to wear pull ups. I often get told by people that I take too much with me, but they have their cars parked around the corner with things they don't need to carry whereas I've walked/bus/train to get to where we meet. And I'm the one they ask when they need plasters/wipes/spare clothes because their child "never needs them" so they don't carry it with them

I don't change mine for mud and a spill only if they are soaked through and have to sit for an hour on the train/bus.

I agree that a backpack is a good idea. I've got a floral patterned backpack in faux leather, it's quite roomy and looks more attractive than functional. I can fit all of the children's stuff in it and mine besides.

I was also given a longchamp le pliage bag, one of the bigger ones, which I use if I'm going somewhere smart. It's very lightweight and fits absolutely everything, while looking pretty good. However I wouldn't lug it around everyday as the DC's water bottles make it pretty heavy on my shoulder.

Back packs have an upper age limit !???? What rot. I am actually a bit gob smacked by that notion. As I had three under 5 I found back pack plus buggy storage pretty essential, particularly for ensuring free hands for road crossing etc. The changing stuff fit snugly and I did use a small backpack/ reigns combo for dd1 she was 2 1/2 when dd2 was born and prone to scarpering. So I could put nappy/sacks/change of bottoms in there. Much easier to travel light in summer. Does get tricky in winter. But I figured in town I would buy anything I really needed if it came to it. Otherwise doing a packhorse impression leaves you fit for nowt by 5pm!

swap the drinks for "each of them" to one shared drink :)

also, if there's so little stuff, how it is it not fitting in a bag?

I don't get why it won't fit in a bag though.

From your list I wouldn't bother with snacks or a t-shirt for 2 year old.

I have a pacapod insert for DS (6 months) and DD (3). Nappies, wipes and a couple of nappy bags. Spare babygro, spare knickers for DD. beaker for DS and some plasters. They all go in a small bag. I can't see why you can't get your list in a normal changing bag

www.amazon.co.uk/Skip-Hop-Duo-Double-Changing/dp/B000YFRC84

Backpacks are great, very practical and you can get some pretty designs - much much better for your back too.