Am I just being stingy?

[buonasera]

... or are changing bags the most shockingly overpriced bit of kit out of everything you're supposed to get? I was just in John Lewis with a mate checking them out and the cheapest one was £60. My mate was pointing me out one that was £130! £130! I think I'll drag out my old Freitag and get one of my aussie family to mail me out a couple of neoprene beer coolers and I'll be all set for about a fiver. The Freitag's even washable as it's made from recycled truck tarps.

Wow, I thought the heart attack inducing prices were behind us now that we've got the buggy and the car seats...

Imho a changing bag is one of two things:

1. A practical item - £25
2. An indulgent treat for mum - £60+

I have just ordered my friend the changing bag she was lusting after as a gift. It was £75. I agree it's well steep, but I'm happy to buy her something frivilous, just because she liked it. She would never have paid out for it herself.

Get to TK Max! loads of fab fashion bags that would be great for changing bags - I got a full leather bag for £35 rrp £135!!!! no other mums have it as they go for "changing bags".

its just a bag!!!!

For me a changing bag is one thing - a practical item, which you can get for free from Boots if you sign up to their parenting club and buy a box of Pampers nappies.

You don't actually need a proper changing bag, a decent sized bag with pockets will do the trick.

I'd baulk at having to pay more than £10 for something that is basically going to be used to cart pants and arsewipes around in.

Use a rucksack!

There was a whole thread of hundreds of responses just recently on what changing bag ? search back and sure you will find it.. as someone correctly sums up - it's a bag ! Boots do a great free one if you join their parenting club. However, if you fancy one buy one - you do need to lug around various things for a while so get something you like but don't feel it needs to be a changing bag.

didn't mean to repeat almost everything flisspaps said posted same time !

Yes, changing bags are overpriced and not at all necessary- its just a big bag! I quite often just chuck everything in a rucksack or the bottom of the pram. A lot of them come with travel changing mats but I got one of those from the pound shop.

Well yes, its just a bag- some are practical and cheap, some are lovely and cost a lot. Just like any bag...

I had a cheap practical one, my friend uses hers as her only bag, replaces her handbag, and as she used it for 2 years for each child, I think it kind of justifies it having been £150, as she loves it.

I was all set for just getting a cheap messenger bag but was lucky enough to get a fancy one as a Xmas gift off my mum. It will get used and will be needed but it's daft the amount a 'changing bag' is when essentially it's just a bag!!!

Expecting my fourth baby and have never used a changing bag. I just throw a couple of nappies/travel sized wipe box, a muslin, spare vest/sleepsuit (and when they're older, a snack/drink) in my (admittedly large) handbag.

Of course, I've been a breastfeeder - DS2 22 months and still going strong, which I suppose cuts down on the bumpf you need to remember every time you leave the house.

And, psychologically, I think it helps me to keep my own handbag! I may be a million miles removed from the young woman I was when I had my first but, outwardly at least, I still look like 'me' carrying my mulberry over a changing bag that screams 'MUMMY!'.

Not that my having the baby with me 24/7 doesn't scream it too but... Oh, you know what I mean!

pictish I guess I can just about see that... I've never owned a handbag, not a girly type so most of my bags have been rucksacks that cost about £20 tops. In fact the only changing bag I fancied was a messenger bag that actually said "paternity bag" on the label :)

so I guess I will be following your advice correctme :) Good for the posture too...

Fliss.joyful, will def take a look at the Boots one. Thanks Fliss I knew you would be the voice of reason :)

Manda I know what you mean. That's partly why I think I'll end up using the Freitag if I can, because it feels more like it's mine and less part of the mummy uniform. I'm already desperate to get out of the maternity clothes as they're way more girly than I'd ever wear. At the moment the look I'm working is a ridiculous little red riding hood jacket and a massive scowl. It's not pretty.

I agree with Flisspaps

Just join the Boots parenting club and you get it for free. Or you do actually have to buy a pack of nappies to get the free item but still it's very cheap.

I got it for my son 2.5 years ago and it's still like a new although has been used every day.

well i bought a lovely kath kidston bag when ihad ds4, it isnt one of their changing bags, but its the same style, sort of messenger bag and its wipe clean and lovely and has been used everyday for 4yrs and is still good as new, i was £50ish? but well worth it for the fact it has lasted and as i had 4 boys i wanted something a bit 'girly' for me, rahter than the rucksack type bag i had previously used. i agree tkmaxx is a good place to look, but i still think its nice to treat yourself to a bag you like the look of and my freebie bag from boots, the huggies one, fell apart in months.

They are mega pricy. I'm tempted to use my gorgeous accessorise weekend bag with the new baby. If it isn't too big. You can actually buy or make compartment separator things for normal bags.

Me? The voice of reason? I'm going to frame that, and refer my husband to it on a regular basis.