To ask for changing bag advice

[ambereeree]

I've got a 1 and 3 year old and the big bowling style changing bag I bought when the oldest was little isn't very practical. Too big to hang on the pushchair with a buggy board and not practical to carry on shoulder when chasing 2 kids.
I'm thinking I need a backpack style of bag but don't want to buy another changing bag. Does anybody use a normal backpack with lots of pockets? Any recommendations?

Yep, just a normal backpack. About £19 in Sports Direct. Ditched the actual changing bag when DC1 was about 4 months. Now have a 3 and 1 year old.

Actual change bags are pointless and expensive.

I've got a 'changing bag' rucksack, but I don't think it's got any more pockets than any other normal bag.
The only thing I do have is a little bag inside with nappies, wipes, sudocrem etc, so easy to quickly pull out.
But whatever you fancy - I will do if this one breaks

Buy*

I have a bag addiction so I've got loads but I find the backpack ones are the best as a changing bag. I have a rucksack from Waterstones that I use most of the time and then I have a big holdall for when we are going out for the day and need more stuff. I find proper changing bags are a bit rubbish and can end up being really expensive.

I find that once they get to one year old all you really need is two or three nappies and a packet of wipes, maybe a drink and a snack depending on how long we are out for. I use one of those small changing kit bags with a mat attached and chuck it under the buggy or in whatever bag I'm carrying for myself. If we are going out for the day I use my normal hiking daypack (osprey daylite).

I have a massive normal backpack and then have a bambino mio changing pouch type thing to pop into it. It folds out into a mat and has pockets for nappies and wipes so everything needed for nappy changes can just be grabbed.

Yeh just a back pack and a roll up changing mat I got on amazon. Just check everything in but I’ve never understood what people carry round in changing bags. Surely it’s kist a few nappies and some wipes?

I’ve never understood what people carry round in changing bags. Surely it’s kist a few nappies and some wipes

And spare clothes once we started potty training and books and colouring stuff for entertainment and snacks and drinks and suncream and hats. I do anyway!

I have four children and have never once bought a changing bag, I reckon it’s just an expensive fad tbh. A normal backpack works fine.

I like the Skiphop Greenwich. It is a proper changing bag but looks like a backpack, I like the pockets in it. But it is a big bag (great for travelling).

Everyone who is mentioning spare nappies and wipes but not spare clothes (or spare clothes only once potty training) - are you never having leaks/ poo explosions?

Am I doing it all wrong?

I’ve a few kids and never carried spare clothes unless we are traveling a distance or in the short period of potty training. I have a mini bottle of sun cream in the front pocket of my back pack and a tube of hand gel stuff with a clip hanging off the zip. If we need toys or entertainment we just throw it in the bag but all gets taken back out becuase I use the bag for work all week.

short period of potty training

Sadly.ours is proving anything but short. When we're out we tend to be out for the day which meant minimum two pairs of pants and shorts/trousers for a long time. Still need the pants at least. And prior to that it was spare baby outfit for the poo explosions.

Leaks and explosions tend to be confined to the first 6 months. Once they get a bit fatter and more solid of diet, the poo explosions stop and the leaks do too. I've been carrying clothes changes round for months and I've just realised I haven't used any of the spare outfits in ages! But I do bring snacks, water, sun cream, toys etc.

My youngest 2 are 5 and 6 and I still carry spare outfits for them, changing mat and baby wipes wherever I go. Plus suncream and hats at the moment. Then if we are going out for longer than a couple of hours then I need books and toys too.

Changing wrap thingy (skip hop does one but ours is from Aldi 😀) is great, doesn't take up much room in whatever bag you're using and handy at home too. This is now my present of choice for new parents!

I used to use a lunch bag for the nappies, wipes, mat and nappy sacks. I could chuck it in a rucksack or large handbag as needed. If I was out with DH whoever was doing the changing just grabbed the lunch bag.

Why a change mat for a 5 year old?

@Anxious256 If he has a toileting accident at someone elses house I stand him on it while I change him just in case. Sometimes I use it to protect the car seat when we are going home after being somewhere muddy.

Ditch the bag and get a couple of little rucksacks for the kids.

My 2 (2.5&1.5) have one of the cath kidson ones. There's enough room for change of clothes, wipes, nappies and a drink for the youngest and the same minus the nappies for the eldest.

They can carry them and if they get fed up they easily hook over the pushchair handle. This leaves you to buy a normal handbag again! Yay!

Yes YABU, that you can’t make a decision about a bag without posting on MN 🙄

Bookworm do you never ask anyone for advice? I'm sure the OP can make a decision, but she perhaps wanted advice from someone with more experience before committing to a purchase. Isn't that what Mumsnet is for?

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I knew I couldn't be alone be thinking changing bags backpacks are expensive. I'm going to look for a nice but washable rucksack and just use zip bags inside to separate things.

I've been using the bambino mio change bag for a few months now and couldn't recommend it enough - fits everything you need in there for a full day, loads of space. It comes with straps to attach on to the buggy, backpack straps and shoulder straps so really practical!! This one has all the pockets you'll need

This is what I was thinking. Dd will be 22m when next one arrives. I currently have the normal changing bag for long days. A very small rucksack for popping 5o shop, ie. 3 nappies and wipes.

Shes refusing pushchair lots already so when baby here I'd imagine she'll want the buggy board. So was thinking rucksack so she has space.