Your baby changing bag recommendations please

[TinaMumsnet]

We're making plans to update our baby changing bag reviews and we'd love to know which ones you'd recommend.

Your suggestions will help us to create a shortlist of products to test over three months, as we try to find the best value changing bags on the market.

Also if you have any tips for new parents on choosing the right baby changing bag then please do share them on this thread.

Thanks!

I love my pacapod hartland. I can use it as a back pack or a shoulder bag and I love all the separate pods.
The only downside is the shoulder straps aren’t the most comfortable if wearing it for a long time but it looks fab. I’ve used it most days for 14 months and it looks like new.

People often comment on it and how much they like it. I thought I’d buy something nice as it would be my handbag for so long and it has been well worth it. It’s also great to use when carrying my LO in his sling.

I've got the skip hop stripy backpack one. Love it xx

Tiba & Marl. I've used it every day for the last 16 months, I still love it and it still looks amazing!

I used a baby bag insert and just moved it around between bags. Saved so much time repacking if DH took the kids by himself as he just moved it into a backpack where as I preferred a handbag/beach bag. Still has the benefits of having all the pockets and the cooler section without being tied to one bag. Much cheaper too.

Honestly no changing bag needed! I used a tote bag. Did it fit nappies. Wipes, spare baby gros, general baby 'stuff'? YES! Did I spend a whole tenner on a hook to allow me to attach said Tote (plus loads of shopping bags) over the handle bar is the buggy? Damn right! I've seen my friends with all sorts of changing bags. And each one makes them happy for their own reason. And that's cool. Let mummies do and have what they need. What makes them happy and less stressed. (I just happen to believe it lies in the bottom of a zipless tote bag!!)

@WineOrGin ooh their tote bag is exactly what I'm looking for!!

We have this one bear Changing Backpack Bag - Large-Capacity, Lightweight and Multi-Functional Nappy Backpack with Insulated Pockets, New Fashion Travel Backpack for Mom and Dad (Dark Grey&Yellow) [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07D8SDX17/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_PhuqDb0CDQEZ?tag=mumsnetforu03-217]] - £36 from Amazon. Suitable for both DH and I. It’s really smart, functional and high quality.

Prior to that we had another similar one (Bebe Amour) from amazon which lasted us 2 years of constant use!

I have the Pacapod Saunton. I wanted a bag that didn’t look like a changing bag, but a lot of the nice looking bags are really expensive. The other Pacapod totes are £200+ !! In comparison the Saunton starts from £63 for the bag, or £84 if you want the two little container pods inside. You can even choose your own pods now (wasn’t an option when I bought mine a couple of years ago).

It’s fake leather so I was worried it might not last, but it’s actually been really good. No splits or cracks after 18m of everyday use!

I love it because the straps can be a backpack if you need both hands, a single shoulder strap, or pull them out of the way and just use the grab handles on top. It has handy front pockets, a zipped compartment for my purse, internal pockets, a little pouch for small items such as dummies, and a key clip so I don’t lose my keys in the bottom of the bag. It also comes with a roll up changing mat and clips to attach the bag to the pram.

I've got the pacapod Staunton too. I love it. I got 2 pacapods and I can't fault them.

Skip Hop or Kipling

I can say that I don’t recommend last year’s recommendation, Fact + Fiction. My first bag got returned because the main zipper stopped zipping together, and they refused to fix the second bag once it had the same problem because it was outside their very short 6 month warranty period.

I now have the much cheaper Anello rucksack like every second Mum in London and it’s great, robust and lots of good pockets.

I love my ergobaby one. It has had heavy use every day and still looks new. The changing mat in it is waterproof and a decent size and it has insulated side pockets which are handy for weaning or bottles. I use the front bit as a "handbag" as it fits purse, makeup phone etc perfectly. It's also very comfy to wear especially when carrying the baby in my ergo carrier as the straps seem to fit nicely alongside the carrier straps so my shoulders don't get sore even on long walks.
The back is really padded and when baby was tiny it doubled up nicely as a BF cushion for out and about

@CocoLoco87 I'm waiting for the gigil tan backpack to come back in stock! They said mid August if you were wanting a tan backpack like me!

We went for the PacaPod Oban and absolutely love it. Helps me to be organised and I can easily check that I have everything I need before leaving the house. The separate nappy change and feeding pods are brilliant.

I was a bit shocked at the price of changing bags when I started to look - we got ours brand new on eBay for about £35 instead of the RRP £85. Much as I love it there is no way we would have paid that

When DS was smaller I loved this one from Amazon Changing Bag Backpack by Liname® - Extra-Wide Zip Opening, Large Capacity & Stylish Design - Includes Bonus Buggy Straps & Waterproof Changing Pad - Easy to Clean and Looks Great [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073BGQ23M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5zGqDbG58Y4G?tag=mumsnetforu03-21A]] it is big enough to carry everything for a baby plus all my bits and pieces so I didn’t need to carry a handbag.

As he is now older I don’t use an actual changing bag any more I have a Victoria Green hanging washbag which fits in whichever handbag I want to use, or just under the pram on a day out. It’s big enough to carry nappies and nappy bags (or now pants and shorts) wipes a small sudocrem, some calpol sachets and a few snacks. www.victoriagreen.com/collections/hanging-wash-bag/products/emma-travel-wash-bag-in-leopard-tan

We've been using the Skip Hop Duo. It's a great compact changing bag that clips onto the stroller and has an ample amount of pockets on the outside as well as inside. Enough room for day trips with one child.

@DappledThings Thanks for the recommendation - that's exactly the sort of thing I'm after. Probably tricky for TweetingMagpie some people to pull off if they have a very narrow, one-dimensional look but for a versatile style maven like me (and presumably you), it looks just the ticket

I bought the Orla Kiely one for my last Dc - and used it for 3 years then passed on to DSis who is now using it. It was fab, both DH and I found it easy to use and I didn't need another bag with it. My favourite part was the integrated key chain - really helped when trying to find keys with a crying baby. Also, it looked great (I love a good bag when I go out as it is my main accessory - apart from the DC of course!!).

Oh god how funny

This one from Amazon. I love it! Cost about £30, looks fab and has loads of pockets and has a changing mat. Best thing is that the insulated bottle pockets are wide enough to take Tommee Tippee closer to nature bottles - a lot of the other bags have bottle pockets that are too narrow for wide bottles www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HWNXFS7?tag=mumsnetforu03-21