Recommended??

[AussieJoc]

Im having my first baby and I need advice on products I'm being bombarded with online. What's important when it comes to changing bags?

Whats important, is practically how will you use it.

I opted for a backpack style one that attaches to the pram. I figured if I needed to carry it, a backpack style would do my back more favours.

I guess, also, how easy is it to get into the bag?

Mine came from Matalan, it was more expensive than others I'd seen but as it was a backpack, attached to the pram, it also has several thermal bottle holders inside and a little pocket on the back so I can access the bottom of the bag without having to go digging through everything.

I just used a North Face backpack type bag.
It's big enough to fit in everything for baby, change mat, nappies, wipes, cream, toys, snacks, spare change of clothes, plus my bits and bobs. I can also fit coats / sling into the front webbing bit. Bottle pockets on both sides.
It fits in the bottom of my pram easily and is waterproof. Plenty of different pockets for different needs.

As the kids get older I still use it and it's not 'gone out of fashion' or faded or marked like many leather/fashion style change bags can do.

If you want a stylish bag John Lewis do lots of fashion type stuff but in my experience they're smaller, fiddlier and don't do up entirely, and many aren't waterproof.

@DontBuyANewMumCashmere oh I'd love to know which North Face rucksack you used! I really want a rucksack that I can take for a 3 hour walk round the woodlands so will need to be big enough for everything I need plus be comfortable on the shoulders

@68degreesnorth Of course!
I got this one, but in red.
It's great, still use it for big days out. It's a bit big for quick trips tbh (but I also have a NF sports pack refuse to call it a bum bag which fits my nappy bag wallet snack keys etc)

The North Face Borealis Classic backpack in black/grey www.asos.com/the-north-face/the-north-face-borealis-classic-backpack-in-black-grey/prd/14927823?ctaref=product_share_native

@DontBuyANewMumCashmere oh yes that one looks brilliant! Do you find everything you need when rummaging inside it??

@68degreesnorth Yes but mainly because I'm a bit of a control freak/creature of habit, so I know phone is normally there, wallet there, big stuff in the main pocket at the back etc
Every area has multiple smaller pockets/zips so you can be fairly ordered about where stuff is. I know where anything I need in that bag is! Explaining it to DH is another matter...

And actually the middle pocket's zips go really down low so you can almost open the whole thing up.

@DontBuyANewMumCashmere haha I could do with a bit of your organisation skills! 😆 Will take a look around at this type of rucksacks I think, because it just suits my lifestyle better. Those diaper rucksacks looks super uncomfortable for really long walks/hikes...

Yeah not comfy, or suitable for long days out either. Have taken the kids into London and had the baby in a sling on the front and this on the back, you couldn't easily do that all day with a shoulder bag.

One thing I would say is rucksacks are great when you're bending over, holding hands with little one, moving around etc as normal handbag style ones swing around and I've clonked my kids on the head before now with them swinging around whereas the backpack, assuming you've got it on two straps, doesn't.

However check your buggy/pram basket space as I had a very large shopping basket on my Uppababy Vista so the rucksack did fit in with room for other stuff, but have noticed other prams where my bag would be a bit of a cram...

@DontBuyANewMumCashmere that's a good point, thank you!

Did you search around a lot before finding the NF rucksack by the way? As in, I'm guessing you searched for a bag with as many compartments as possible? Looking around a lot of them don't have many. I'm an Osprey fan myself, but not sure how many pockets their smaller rucksacks have - might have to order a few and send back

I have a frugi backpack - it isn't designed as a changing bag but works well

Like this but a different pattern

https://www.welovefrugi.com/sale/all-kids-clothes/view-all/trail-blazing-backpack1-dala-ditsyyaw21.htm?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=base&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&productid=67372&gclid=CjwKCAjwzt6LBhBeEiwAbPGOgdWXR3CAa1hS8BAni0ufSNO8mIGspSB6DbdIYEmkUbQNLWbXXbuCIxoCZ8sQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

@teaandakitkattodunk that's looks like it's got lots of useful pockets too! 👍🏼