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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

it happened im pregnant :) but now ive fallen in love with the pacapod is it worth it???

26 replies

030213babytime · 30/07/2012 17:50

Im so excited to being pregnant! the plan is to buy everrything cheap on sale or 2nd hand, but its my birthday and i would love something special for me.

but 80-200 pounds for a bag is crazy! i think my most expensive bag is 30pounds.

tell me the pros and cons...

and if there are any of you out there wanting to sell cheap pm me i cant justify buying one new but 2nd hand maybe.

thanks

OP posts:

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mrswee · 30/07/2012 18:27

I don't know pros ans cons but I share your desire and have asked for one for my birthday which is 3 weeks before hte baby is due.

I am the same, everything is second hand of from my last baby and most of that was second hand too, so it sems crazy to buy an expensive bag..

How ever I just used what ever bag the last time and I was forever raking around trying to find what I needed. I am hoping a pacapod will keep me more organised as it doesnt come naturally to me!!

mrswee · 30/07/2012 18:28

There's few on ebay every week by the way. I like the 'marino' one.

funchum8am · 30/07/2012 18:35

I could have posted exactly this! I am 32 weeks pg and have today ordered a pacapod Logan for £65 which my mum is paying for as my birthday present. Almost EVERYTHING else for this baby (our first DC) has come from friends, family or eBay and the only things that I have bought new so far are from the supermarket. I can afford to spend more but as one of the last of my group of friends to have kids they've all said it's a waste and offered stuff they were getting rid of anyway (some I have paid them for as it was such a saving to us and so expensive originally e.g. car seats) but I just HAD to have a decent changing bag. It helped that a friend who is a few weeks behind me in her first pregnancy is actually treating herself to a brand new Storksak, which makes me look frugal!!!

Pros of a decent bag - convenience of having one with decent compartments, bottle warmer etc and not having to get a new one later because you can't bear the cheapy one you started off with. Also the warm feeling of having treated yourself, esp if it is your birthday present.

Cons - could have spent the money on something else, and feeling shame at a time of austerity.

Could you wait til you have saved the cost of the pacapod by buying other stuff second hand and then buy it out of the savings??

minipie · 30/07/2012 18:36

I don't have one but there are reviews of the pacapod on mumsnet reviews section. To summarise:

Positives: good if you like being uber organised and having a separate little bag for everything. Stylish. Pods can be used on their own.

Negatives: The pods take up a lot of space so you can't get much else in. Pods aren't v big so limits how much you can take (also not so good for older babies as their clothes/nappies are bigger). Pods make the bag heavier than other changing bags.

I'm more of the "stuff it all in" type so think I'm going to go for a storksac or an ordinary large handbag/messenger type bag.

Spoutlet · 30/07/2012 19:43

I have been using my Pacapod for 15 months - I have never used the whole bag, I just take one pod which contains nappies, wipes, bags, mat and a change of clothes. So, from my point of view an entire bag is unnecessary. I did, however, BF so didn't have to lug around bottles, etc. Now DD is older, I tend to used a rucksack if we're going out for a while and need food and drinks as well. IMO, changing bags are cumbersome and I don't like hanging things off the pushchair, preferring to be able to stow everything in the basket or carry on my back.

Loislane78 · 30/07/2012 20:24

You sound pretty sensible about your other purchases so you go girl! Get that nice bag! :)

Not sure when you're due but you could just ask for money/vouchers from everyone for your b'day/Christmas and get it that way :)

31down · 30/07/2012 20:36

I have sent you a message babytime!

sweetkitty · 30/07/2012 20:38

I bought mine when expecting DC4 needed a big bag, I loved it even DP said it was worth it. The zip burst but that was after 2 years, I still have the pods.

Loved it

SlimJimBra · 30/07/2012 20:47

I love love love mine - I did a lot of research before buying it and waited about 3 months after ds was born to see what sort of stuff I was carrying around and whether the pacapod would do the trick. It I
did :o I have two now - the Napier and the picos ( I bought the picos as the outer shell only - about £30/40 and used the pods from inside the Napier bag) I would totally recommend them and would say you can get loads in the pods but not so much in the main bag section. I use cloth nappies and there's plenty of room for 2-3 nappies with wipes etc and the food pod holds a 1ltr ice cream tub and a more -I have put a picnic lunch for both of us in there before now!

Heartbeep · 30/07/2012 20:52

I was just looking at this bag. Had a skip hop for DC1 & didn't like it, it was too skinny to get stuff in.

I wondered that the pacapod might be too big & thought I might just buy the changing pod instead. spoutlet is it worth it? Or is the feeding bag better? Im hoping to BF (DC 2 so I know it might be possible,) but wondered which of the 2 had the best compartments. One thing that puts me off the changing pod is it only seems to come in 'stone' colour.

brettgirl2 · 30/07/2012 20:57

I just used an old rucksack but am clearly just weird

LittleCatZ · 30/07/2012 21:03

Ladies I struggled with a cheap bag first time so treated myself to this with DC2. It has both compartments and a good space for stashing anything and I'm still using it now (about to potty train) and am able to fit 2 spare sets of clothes in easily as well as drinks, snacks, toys for 2DC and my bits and pieces. A good bag is well worth the investment if you expect to continue sing it for 3+ years. Cost per use justified my purchase - easily less than 10p already and it's nice and wipe clean and not flowery enough I think I could use it for years more

LittleCatZ · 30/07/2012 21:13

A plain design and about colour also help if you have a DP or Grandad who might get some use out of it.

Sorry you didn't love your skip hop heartbeep but I do think the studio is a good skip hop. It also stands up by itself on little feet above all the public toilet floors I've toured in the last few years which is useful.

My first bag was the only mothercare bag DH and I both liked but it was knackered after 9 months and was never quite right for the job.

Spoutlet · 30/07/2012 21:15

Heartbeep, I have the Pacapod Logan. Just had a look and the changing pod that can be bought separately is different to the one which comes with the bag, so not certain how similar they are internally. But, in mine, it holds 4 nappies, a pack of wipes, many nappy sacks, mat, vest, top and leggings and a couple of muslins, which is all you need for an outing if BFing! I wouldn't worry about the colour, nobody will notice it if it's in the basket . HTH .

georgie22 · 30/07/2012 21:22

Hi OP - don't want to dampen your enthusiasm for a Pacapod but wanted to let you know my experience before you part with your cash. The changing mat started to fray about 7 months into use of the bag and they replaced this. Then about 10 months into use of the bag the main zip broke. I contacted them but because I had bought the bag before dd was born they said it was out of warranty period. Shortly after this the zip broke on one of the pods too. So not a good experience - it wasn't worth getting the zip replaced so I'm now using a rucksack which is far more practical (and cheaper!). Good luck with the new arrival!

SlimJimBra · 30/07/2012 21:36

heartbeep the animal pods sold as 'toy' pods are also changing pods, they have the same innards as the plain changing pods. They also double up as a kids rucksack with reins if you think that is something you'd make use of?

SlimJimBra · 30/07/2012 21:40

But they don't come with a change mat like the plain ones does :(

KnockedUpMell · 30/07/2012 21:49

Don't like mine tbh.. It's just too heavy and although it looks large, you can't fit much in because of the pods. Now use a lassig bag which can fit so much more stuff in and is lightweight. It has a zillion compartments and so much less gaff to get food out rather than having to reach for a pod and unzip it.

KnockedUpMell · 30/07/2012 21:51

Or just get something like this then you aren't restricted to baby bags, as it'll fit into any oversized handbag. And it's great for changing them in awkward places (benches, train seats etc) as everything stays in the pocket and doesn't go flying off when you have a narrow space to work with.

BranchingOut · 30/07/2012 21:58

Ooh, that Skip Hop mat has been one of the most useful things we have bought. Useful just to sling in a lightweight bag once your child is walking and you don't fancy taking a heavier bag around with you.

I also had a Skip Hop Dash changing bag to match my pram and loved it - it clipped to the pram so I just kept it there fully loaded all the time. The only downside was that the interior was dark, so you could lose things a bit inside. However, I was very strict about what went in each pocket eg. always a cloth or muslin in the front right hand pocket, spare clothes always in the top zipped pocket, so that more or less kept me on track...

debdee · 30/07/2012 22:24

I got a gorgeous large leopard print handbag from tk maxx when pg with dd, was big enough fit everything & looks really good & usable when not pg. Love it!Will be using it for this baby too!

Heartbeep · 30/07/2012 23:06

Thanks for the tips (sorry to hijack OP ).

I should qualify that I had the skiphop duo deluxe last time. It's really good quality & clipped on the pram well but its just too skinny to be practical. I'm sure there are others which are a better design.

I'm going to pop into JL tomorrow see what they've got on display.

ArtyJennie · 31/07/2012 09:29

If you were choosing between the leather pacapod or storksak which would you go for? I can't decide!

Original poster

030213babytime · 31/07/2012 12:06

thank you so much for your replies :) i love the phoenix it is stunning, but 200pound! my second choice is the oban i think its quite beautiful, but a lovely mumsnetter has pm me about a logan so if all goes to plan i might get that.

they just seem so ideal and prctical! i love the idea that you can make 1 bag into 3 :)

happy bag hunting

OP posts:

trilottie · 31/07/2012 16:44

I'm eyeing a Pacapod up too. I'm waiting til they bring out the new range in August though before I order. I've also signed up to their newsletter just in case they send a discount code through.

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