FTM - would this work as a changing bag?

[Dalmatian0]

First baby due soon. My home is small and I’m keen to not fall into the trap of overbuying.

I see lots of bulky changing bags out there, but wonder if this changing mat with compartments would do the job, just for when we are out and about? It’s so much smaller than anything else I’ve seen which is appealing.

Or am I being naive? Will I need a larger changing bag?

www.calpaktravel.com/products/diaper-changing-pad-organizer/bluebell?country=GB&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=22366255851&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=22366255851&utm_content=&utm_term=&gadid=&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A22366255851%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=118917827&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=shopify_US_7319745036346_40831830065210&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=22366255851&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22366314195&gbraid=0AAAAADHnXaFKsla_LXf0f5ujFwXl_tFXk&gclid=CjwKCAjwuIbBBhBvEiwAsNypvUQXp15KaQfPZ6vXiejaSFRqA5Tzqmi7Q1I2qSJuunwG52eMpnVAdRoCKnoQAvD_BwE

What about bottle, dummy, more clothes? Snacks for yourself, esp of breast feeding , muslins, I feel like I used to carry loads about.

I used a basic rucksack - the type you can get from Amazon or a sports shop for less than £20. Put a folding changing mat in with nappies, wipes, bottles etc.

It wouldn’t work for me, there are loads of things that need to go in there as PP says. You’ll need more than one nappy for a start! Wipes, creams, changes of clothes, muslins, bottles, snacks, water bottle for you, toys as baby gets older…

At the very least, in my nappy bag I have:

Two changes of clothes
A coat/jumper for baby depending on weather
A hat/suncream depending on weather
Muslins
Nappies
Wipes
Small first aid kit
Toys/distractions for cafes
Snacks (bottles/formula if you use that)
Water bottle
Phone charger
Purse
Possibly an infant carrier
Possibly a jumper for me
Possibly food for me
Possibly shopping I don't want to carry

...so, no!

I don’t think that would work on its own! I like to travel pretty light as I walk everywhere and prefer not to use a pram - but, as others have said, you’ll need a change of clothes in there at least. Room for lunch and a water bottle as they get older would be good. Few essentials for you, too!

I just use a normal rucksack - no need for a special changing bag! The market for baby bits is a bit mad and most of it is unnecessary IMO. Have had a Fjallraven Kanken since before my eldest (now 4) was born. It is a good size, goes in the wash easily, and doesn’t look daft if my husband uses it. It’s holding up pretty well given how well used it is - baby three is 4 weeks old!

Right now the bag contains:
£5 foldable changing mat from Amazon
Pack of wipes
Old cosmetics bag that fits about 6 nappies in
Big muslin for popping baby down on
Repurposed drawstring bag with change of clothes for youngest two
Factor 50 in one side pocket
Brolly in the other side
Purse, keys, phone
(Several sticks collected by older two at weekend)

Thanks all this is very useful to know!

Ps - one follow up question - do you tend to take the changing bag plus a ‘normal’ bag for yourself? Ie the stuff you would have taken out pre baby? Or does everything go into the one changing bag?

I just used a bag that I already had. Mine is also a Fjallraven Kanken but any small backpack will do. Sometimes just use a fold up shopping bag rather than the backpack if it is just sitting in the bottom of the pram. I also have something like the OPs link which I leave in the bottom of the pram and use for nappy changes when out and about.

I usually still take my handbag with my stuff handy and chuck everything for baby in the bottom of the pram but if you are using the sling I would just take one easy to carry bag.

Totally depends on your lifestyle I think! I just stick my bits in one bag as want to carry as little as possible with baby in a carrier. I imagine that people who drive everywhere or use a pram more might stick a change bag underneath and use a normal handbag.

My changing bag is also my handbag these days!

I just put my things in the changing bag. Or sometimes I have a bum bag 😂. I’m very fashionable.

I second what previous posters have said- use a
normal rucksack. I have my ROKA work rucksack and it’s great. I put the changing mat in the laptop bit at the back. Nappies/wipes/cream in front pocket. Water bottle in the side. Then the main compartment has spare outfit/suncream/hat/snacks/toys etc.

To me, that looks like something which would be handy to have but you'd put it inside a larger bag, or in the bottom of the buggy but also have a separate bag with your other stuff in. The advantage would be that if you were out and about as a family, you'd be able to just nip into the baby changing with the essentials and not have to lug everything around everywhere. And you could just hand the small bag to someone else to take the baby for a change instead of them having to take your whole bag. As long as you could fit a change of clothes for the baby in there as well. Our baby is older now and we're both back at work, so we mostly need a changing bag if we are all out at the weekend together, or round someone's house, and we just have a small bag with nappies, wipes, muslins and spare trousers in, which we put into whoever's bag has space.

No, you just need one bag. Something like a a casual work tote that zips shut is what you need. Most of what needs to go in it isn’t related to changing the baby. It will be like a water bottle for you and lunch, eventually lunch and snacks for baby, your phone, etc.

I had a couple across both of mine and this was by far the best. I used it well after mine needed changing when out.

https://miatui.com/collections/baby-changing-bags/products/jennie-travel-bag

I personally didn’t use a backpack style one because it wasn’t comfortable with a bulky coat and a baby in a sling. It was like too much strapped to me. I liked the option of a bag with carry handles.

I had a changing bag a bit like that - it mainly lived under the buggy but I could also carry it too. I then just used my normal bag for all my other stuff.

I have only just stopped using my changing bag and DD is almost 6. It was a cheap rucksack type with compartments. You want something that will see you through potty training, days out and the huge quantities of snacks and clothes and distraction toys, not just the newborn bit.

I never used a handbag as well. The changing bag became all things.

Rucksack style is essential especially while baby wearing but also once they are bigger.

I used a medium handbag most of the time – folding changing mat (mine was a bambino mio one, it folds quite small), 1-2 reusable nappies (plus two emergency disposables at the bottom), wet bag, handful reusable wipes, tiny tube/tub of nappy cream, tiny bottle of water for wetting the wipes, change of clothes for baby, muslin. My phone and keys also fit in it, and I could fit a snack and small toy or two in as well.

If going out for longer (so more nappies) or somewhere I needed more stuff (more toys, more weather-dependent changes of outfit, etc.), then I used a rucksack we had already. Also used the rucksack before we got DD2's reflux under control, when I never left the house without 3 full outfit changes for her, one full change for me, and many, many muslins.

I wouldn’t get a bad with too many pockets though. I bought one with tons of pockets, thinking it was a great idea. Just ended up not being able to find anything.

I always had a small crossbody bag with my backpack. It made it easier to get to keys/phone/card. If it was winter and I was wearing a coat with big pockets, I could sometimes do without a crossbody bag. I agree with others that the changing bag you are looking at looks a bit small.

I used a bag that just about fits a paperback book with the second baby around town. Travel-sized wipes, three nappies, each in a nappy bag for disposal of the dirty one, two changes of clothes (breastfed baby, never needed creams etc.). I didn't find it idea to combine the baby things with my valuables as then you have to be more careful with a larger bag on public transport and in cafes. Also makes it easier to handover between the parents if the bag is clearly baby stuff.

I still took a handbag out with me for purse, keys, phone etc (normally a cross body bag). But my charging bag normally had mat, nappies, wipes, cream, bibs, outfit change for baby ( for when they do those poos that escape the nappy and explode up their backs), bottle, snacks (for when older), hand sanitizer - there was probably a lot more in there too!

We've just got a cotton tote that the midwife gave me, shoved in the bottom of the pram. It has a waterproof nappy bag in it for taking nappies home. You really don't need to spend money buying something special

I used one just like what you’ve linked. I put it inside my rucksack. Just found it much easier to have the littler bag to take out and change the baby. I tried a larger changing bag but it just felt like a faff.

I’m on my second mat leave and really enjoying having this. https://www.johnlewis.com/finns-n-frida-eco-stroller-organiser-changing-bag/leopard/p109932627?s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20155423421&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1yM8r-GFeQnMx_Ex7oMDOAC8&gclid=CjwKCAjwuIbBBhBvEiwAsNypvVB5HB3xsM8vZh_wCPUaKcJDUpD91-U6KCAuwFtByKgbxOX6EdEOyRoCtBwQAvD_BwE

it’s big enough for nappies, a change of clothes and a couple of other bits and it’s nice having them right there at natural hand height. Really easy to detach and use as a shoulder bag if ever going out without buggy. Then I put anything more bulky in the tray under the seat.

Very unlikely you need to buy a new bag. Any old rucksack will do, and you can usually fit your own purse and phone in as well. Travel light! The most crucial thing is wet wipes, nappies and change of clothes in case of poonami. I taught myself to change the baby's nappy with him lying on my lap so it didn't matter where we were. If no changing facilities I just sat on a toilet and changed him on my lap. (Lived in France initially with fairly grotty public facilities.)
If you can breastfeed, it saves no end of bother. You never have to pack bottles!

That would have been too small for me. I had a regular ruckack and usually carried about 5-8 nappies, a full pack of wipes, muslins and a change of clothes. Later on I'd bring books and sand toys, and snacks. Always breastfed but if bottle feeding you'd need to carry more stuff.

I always preferred having a separate small handbag (Uniqlo bag size) plus a rucksack changing bag. Then I could leave the changing bag on the back of the buggy in a park, or on a table in soft play, without worrying if it got nicked as I'd have cards, keys and valuables with me in a smaller bag. Very useful for when they're old enough to need their mum giving them a boost on the top floor of soft play or a high climbing frame!

Just don’t buy one with the word ‘baby’ in front of it - they are ridiculously expensive and can easily be bought elsewhere.