Changing Bag Feedback

[Martina30]

Hi
I have a family member who has kindly offered to buy us a gift before our baby is born. I was thinking of a changing bag and had seen one I liked but before I ask for it does anyone have any tips as to what is handy in a changing bag? They seem a lot of money so want to make sure we get the right one for us! Thanks in advance Martina

Do you need one? I'm the type who just throw a few nappies and wipes in regular handbag. Will you?

We never bought one and never wished we did.
If you have a decent sized handbag nappies and wipes can just go in there, won't do any harm.
DP just puts what he needs in a carrier bag and chucks it under the buggy when he takes DS out.
IMO they are a waste of money as they are usually ridiculously overpriced and are nothing more than a handbag really. And you don't really need to take much out with you unless you are planning to bottle feed in which case you will need sterile bottles/formula dispenser etc. A bottle bag is handy for that but you can get quite basic ones - can literally just be a sealable plastic bag.

I got one with our travel system but it annoyed me taking that and a handbag everywhere. I did end up buying two bigger handbags though with all the stuff I was carrying around. We keep nappies wipes and nappy bags in both cars too.

I much preferred buying new handbags for me than changing bags!

And at least a nice handbag you can keep for ever not just when babies

Asos had lots of shopper style ones with a detachable matching clutch which is handy. Mine is a French Connection one but they had a nice ted Baker one in a neutral colour slightly out of my budget though. When dd got older she kept helping herself to things so I needed to get another one with a zip so I got a Desigual bowling bag style. Friends swear by the longchamp ones but I'm not so keen.

I really like the changing stations you can buy to go into any bag. This time round I'm getting one of those I think.

Since DS1 was about 1 we've just used a backpack. DS2 is nearly 1 now & I never bothered with a proper change bag at all with him. It would be a bit easier to have one with compartments so that small things don't fall to the bottom, but not enough to justify the £80ish that the Babymule bags cost (they are lovely!).

We got the cheap messenger-style bag from Mothercare. It comes with a folding changing mat which is the most useful part. It also has lots of pockets for wipes etc and it's just plain black so DH doesn't feel silly using it.
It's useful to have a zip up section where you can put soiled clothes after a nappy explosion to keep them away from everything else.

I got a Cath Kidston changing bag. It's a similar pattern to my usual handbag just a lot bigger.

I couldn't live without mine. When DD was newborn she was a constant spewer so I had to have a couple of changes of clothes at all times. As well as nappies, wipes, blankets, bottles, dummy, Milton dummy ball, sometimes nappy cream and all the stuff that usually went in my bag. But I didn't drive and would be out for hours at a time, sometimes even the whole day, so it was an absolute must that I was packed and prepared for everything.