Was wondering what Mums carry about in their change bag?

[Naisy]

Hi, I was thinking about change bags but can't decide if I need one as not sure what Mums actually carry in them?

I'm going to use reusable nappies and wipes, so I know I'll need them, a wet bag, a few muslins and maybe a change of clothes or two...

Is there anything obvious I haven't thought of?

I'm currently thinking I'll just through everything into my medium size Longchamp bag...

The entire contents of my handbag (did not carry 2 bags).

Milk, food, toys, when babies are a bit older or not BF. Dummies if used. Teething things once that starts. Blanket if not stored in the buggy.

My DD is nearly 2 and I can get away with a regular handbag containing wipes, 1 nappy, nappy sack and a bottle of water/juice.

Bottles if bottle feeding?
Dummy if using one
Change of clothes in case of nappy explosion, or large amounts of sick!
Fold up changing mat

Thinking about it, I carry more in mine now that I have toddlers, than I did when I had babies! My DD's are 2.5 now and my changing bag is full to the brim with snacks, toys, drinks etc etc!

Enjoy an empty-ish changing bag whilst you can!

well i used mine as my handbag as well, so i didn't have to have 2 bags the whole time.

so mine contained:
purse
phone
pen
2 reusable nappies
wipes
muslin or 2
change of clothes
first aid kit
drink (not for a newborn, but when they were bigger)
snack (ditto)
toy
bibs
loads of random shit

my bag was always full to bursting

oh yeah, dummy for ds1 and ds2

Ooh I remember the changing mat! Didn't use it much but at times it was essential depending on where you ended up doing the changing. Some people make do with a nice towel.

Bibs too. Yes there is that weird stage when you get through 3 before breakfast.

I use washable nappies too. I have a pink lining bag and it comes with a wet bag and mini fiold out change mat. Both been useful for when I've been me mums etc n need to change her on me mums floor.

Otherwise I carry
Nappy with liner In it
Bag of wipes
Spare vest
Spare sleepsuit
Mini antibacterial spray (to wipe mat down)
Alcohol gel (incase I can't wash me hands)

Then it's just purse keys n phone

Oh Yerr and spare bib, muslin and breast pads

I used a normal sized changing bag when I has one baby. A bigger bag when I has two. When I had my fourth baby somehow I managed with just my handbag

Great! I'm planning on breast feeding, but the change mat, hand sanitiser and maybe bibs and dummy sound like useful additions. For the first few months at least!

Planning on having a small handbag separate I can wear across my body so that my DP can share the load!

My dd had reflux so we had a baby bag and a duplicate bag which was kept in the car. The contents included, bottles, medicine, calpol sachets, nappies, wipes 3x complete changes of outfits including socks. 10 bibs, my purse, my phone, toys, snacks, sunscreen, diary for recording medicines and feeds, muslins, blanket, changing mat,nappy sacks for sick covered clothes as well as dirty nappies (did I mention the bloody reflux)

Honestly both bags were like suitcases. The reflux made it difficult as she was extremely sickly and was often changed into a clean baby grow five or six times a day

I have never had a purpose-made change bag. My 'system' is to have the nappy change stuff and spare clothes in a cloth freebie bag which gets switched between

1. basket under the pram/buggy (then I have separate handbag)
2. a rucksack if going out as a family and DH is carrying (sometimes this doubles as my handbag which is a right pain if we get separated...)
3. a longchamp le pliage large shopper if I'm carrying (doubles as handbag)

You can get these change mats which form a pouch for nappy/wipes and you can just put in your normal bag.

The change of clothes is essential- it is like a talisman. If you forget, you are guaranteed a poo explosion of epic proportions.

I carried most of the above stuff, I also had a plastic bag to put the used diaper in ( for times I could not find a garbage can.)
I always (tried ) to restock when I got home, so it would be ready to go for the next time. But, just incase, I kept some diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, a changing mat, pastic bag and a change of clothes for dd in my car.

haha bronze i was just the same!

I really like the idea of changing bags rather than having a designated change bag...

And I think the mini kit in car sounds like a wise plan too.

But Dyzzidi that sounds awful! Maybe I'll be lucky and get one of those magic babies...

Then again, maybe I won't!

I'm a hoarder. Still have to have everything in there 'just in case' and my youngest is 2.5 now.

Nappies & Wipes
Tissues
Dummies
Spare clothes (t-shirt, trousers/shorts, socks)
Mini medikit (plasters, antiseptic wipes)
Drinks for 2 (milk and powder when babies)
Snacks for 2
Emergency Treats (mini bag of haribos, chupa chups etc)
in winter set of childs gloves and a hat
spare change
disposable bibs
Pen/notepad
Purse and phone
chewing gum (for me)
small umbrella

Nappies
Wipes
Bottles (just one if only going out for an hour or so, perhaps 2 or 3 if going out for the day)
A couple of cartons of ready made formula
A tupperware pot of powdered formula if don't have the ready made
A flask of hot water for powdered formula
Spare clothes (in case sick or nappy explosion)
Dummy
Baby food and spoons (when weaning)
Bibs
Suncream (if hot and sunny)
Hats (sun hat if hot)
Purse
Keys
Hairbrush
Lip balm

My baby is now 14 months so I only need to take half of those things. Sometimes I'll carry a toy in my bag.

I only ever use one bag. I'm often baffled when people use a changing bag and a hand bag for them. When my SIL comes round for the afternoon, with DN it looks like she's staying for the week!

Oh I forgot nappy bags!

I used to carry...

Nappies
Wipes
Nappy bags
Bottle/s
Milk powder dispenser
3 x changes of baby clothes
1 x changes of top for me (sicky baby)
Change mat
Muslin
Usual handbag contents, phone, etc.

I did manage to move to a handbag and one of those nappy/change mat rolls at about 1 or so!

When DS was new born.....
All my stuff in a make up bag
A see through sponge bag containing 3 nappies, half packet baby wipes, disposable change mat (which i reused if not too grim) and some nappy bags.
A large zip lock bag with 2 bottles containing sterilised water and a formula dispenser
Suncream if hot

All in a large but otherwise normal brown hand bag.

Obviously if BF you don't need the bottle. I made up formula in an not recommended way, due to ignorance, with cooled boiled water.

Never took a change of clothes for DS. Only needed them once, so for me that was the right decision.

now DS is 2 I just take the see through bag with the nappies and my own stuff. No spare clothes. Snacks and drinks only if likely to be out a long time, as I don't give him snacks.

i find taking a half full packet of wipes takes up less space and is not so heavy, you are unlikely to use them all up. ditto the disposable change mat. its about the size of one of those pocket sized packets of tissues, made by huggies, come in packs of about 20 I think, though I have only ever bought a couple of packets.

Just wondering how many nappies you would use when out for the day? Would you take an equal number of outift changes?

And thanks Bonzo. May check out the dispoasable change mats as we'll be using disposables for a couple of weeks in Hong Kong when the baby is about 6 weeks old...

Anything light helps!

Just thought I would say get the free change bag from boots its great then even if you don't use the bag you get the fold up change mat in a little bag inside. Still using my boots one and ds is nearly 2. Sometimes I have a separate handbag but sometimes I shove my purse keys etc in change bag and if I go to the park I use a back pack cos then I am hands free to grab toddler if needed.

I never bothered with a specific changing bag - I bought a large wash bag (drawstring type) which would fit in my handbag or a rucksack depending. I kept the following in there and have never found a need for anything else!

Close parent roll-up microfibre change mat
approx 3 nappies
Wipes
Muslin
Hand sanitiser
Bib
Bum cream
Spare body suit

If I'd ended up bottle-feeding I would have got something bigger for all the extras but even then you could spend a fortune quite unnecessarily! Having a baby is a bit like getting married, there's this whole industry geared up to grab as much cash from you as possible - most of it, while cute, is just not needed in reality :)

The freebie Boots bag might be a good trial / back up option. I've joined their club, but can't find any info on it.

Can anyone please tell me how I can get one? Ta!