Changing bags - necessary or any insert recommendations?

[Tateypops]

Hello! I’m expecting my first child - currently in my second trimester. Trying to be prepared and am thinking about changing bags. There are a lot out there but none of which my OH would be happy carrying. We also plan to use a baby carrier at times over a pram and also have laptops etc to carry. I’m wondering if it is necessary to get a changing bag at all or whether there are some good changing bag inserts out there that we could just pop into our normal rucksacks/bags. I have done an extensive google search on bag inserts but I can’t seem to find any specifically for nappies. There are certainly not any with specific pockets for keeping hotties warm etc.

Any suggestions out there?

You want something like the skip hop pronto - it’s a fold out changing mat with pockets for a couple of nappies and wipe packet. Pop it into any larger bag, under the buggy or use it on its own. There are lots of similar ones out there, I had a skip hop and also a much cheaper one from amazon which did the job but fell apart quickly.

It's hard to imagine the sheer amount of stuff you will need so I would personally recommend a changing bag. we went for a changing rucksack from amazon. It was lots of pockets inside for spare clothes and nappies, and insulated front with space for 3 bottles. We still use it and DD is 13 months but we used it when she was much younger to and we wanted bottles to hand.

Something like the skip hop pronto does sound more like what I was thinking but would that last a whole day or half a day out?

I find rucksacks much more practical, and you can get some quite nice but plain ones. It’s very handy to have something with lots of divisions/pockets so that you don’t have to hunt through the whole bag when desperately trying to find something!

I didn’t think I needed one but I did end up getting one a couple of months in. I got one of the Skip Hop backpacks - it keeps your hands free, it can be attached to the handle of your pushchair, it includes a changing mat and it has a laptop pocket. I also like the side bottle pockets.

I'm several years on from this stage, but we had one of these www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/grey-spot-print-folding-changing-mat-d3776.html that was very useful in a normal bag, put nappies and wipes in the pockets, it's good to go.

I would say though, your changing bag is basically your handbag for the first year, getting something that's easy to use, fits over the handbars of your pram/buggy easily etc is worth it.

Go for a changing rucksack if planning on using a sling. I have a caboodle which is great and husband carries it with no concerns about looking silly. You could buy a pacapod pod for other bags but it's useful to have one changing bag that either person can grab when they need it rather than having to transfer stuff from one bag to another.

The amount of stuff you really need can be minimal. I often go out with one cloth wipe, and one cloth nappy and a small wetbag and assume if they poo through everything I'll cope with a nip round boots.

After the first couple of weeks I ditched my changing bag and just stuck a couple of nappies, reusable wipes in a ziplock bag, and a muslin square in a drawstring bag, then put that in whatever I was carrying. Much easier.

The Skip Hop Pronto is great. I had a changing bag with DS1 and realised that it was bulky and not at all necessary. With my next (twins) I never took out at changing bag, just Skip Hop and whatever bag I was carrying anyway.

We had a skip hop pronto, but no it doesn’t do for being out of the house for longer periods of time. It’s still useful as a portable changing mat, but we used it as an emergency stash of nappies/wipes and will carried our own extra nappies and wipes as well. It was actually easier to use a bag/insert for my stuff and put that in the change bag rather than try and fit baby stuff into my bag.

I had various options over the years.

I prefer something like this

I like the one long solid shoulder strap, good to carry & good for putting across the handle(s) of the buggy. Lots of pockets. Large. Not too cutesy

My one that was similar easily took a laptop & all my crap, as well as all the ‘just in case’ good/toys/change of clothes etc

My friend had a make up bag with A nappy and a small packet of wipes 🤣

We have the skip hop pronto and just shove it in a large Longchamp shopper. If you keep the wipes separate then I can confirm that it holds enough nappies to get you through 24 hours of travel!

Changing rucksacks are the way forward. We have a grey leather one and my husband doesn't mind carrying it. It's from gigil. Comes with a changing mat, insulated pocket for bottles and loads of other storage compartments.

I have a baby mule. The black one is not at all feminine. It converts between having a standard changing bag strap and being a rucksack. Has all the usual changing bag bells and whistles, mat, dirty bag etc... and plenty of room for a laptop etc...

Thanks for all the suggestions.. I just don’t know what’s best to do... the changing bags all seem so big... I know that’s what we need but maybe it’s best to have a bag that’s just for the baby and carry less of our own stuff around

We have a skip hop rucksack. Attaches to pram, can carry on back if using carrier. Depends on your individual circumstances but we use cloth nappies and formula feed so if out for the day need to carry a fair amount of stuff. Add in changes of clothes etc and I just find it easier to use a well designed bag with plenty of pockets.