Changing bags - worth the money?

[alliemarg]

My mum wants to buy me a changing bag - however, once I started researching them I realised how much they can cost. I'd feel terrible asking her to buy me a bag worth £95. My question is, do you need one do you think? I have seen some neat options, like a thermal pocket for bottles and a foldout changing mat. But surely a normal cheap bag with lots of pockets also suffices? With a changing mat added in?

What did you use?

That's what I've got - a nice big rucksack with a skip hop pronto changing station. I wanted a rucksack so I can use the sling and not just a pram too.

ive not used an official change bag. I used an oversized canvas messenger style bag I had from my uni days with dd and this time round have purchased a second hand cath kidston canvas messenger style bag.

I never used a foldy changemat or a thermal bottle warmer so I prpbs didnt need such a big bag but they fitwell over the handles on the buggy and were unisex for dh when he took dd out. The Kidston one is blue polka dot so again he is happy to cart that one rpund.

Kiddiecare, mother care and Ebay all have lots of changing bags retailing £20-50. I've not seen many at £95!! I bought one for about £30.

However you could also get a changing mat and a practical sized bag of your choice?

For the first six months we had the ikea fold out mat, but then when i neefed to take food with me it was just too small, so used the one that came with the pram.

I used a pretty oversized bag and bought a foldaway nappy mat (from H&m)

To store a bottle I bought a tommee tipee kit that came with a Velcro insulted bag that I attached to the handle of the buggy or my bag.

I never carry too much. Spare vest and gro, few nappy bags, nearly empty pack of wipes (lighter), toy, food if needed.

Nope. I used (and still use with a nearly 3yo) a large rucksack. Much easier to carry than a change bag and has more room.

if you join the Boots child club thingy you get a free one. everyone I know is still using theirs

I had one for DS1 but it was massive and a pain in the arse.

For DS2 I use a fold-out change mat from Jojo Maman Bébé and a Kanken rucksack. I can also fit a change of clothes for DS1 in there too, plus snacks, toys and other preschooler crap.

I got the Silvercross one that matched the pram as I plan to keep it hung on there with babies stuff and still have my own bag separately... I like handbags and refuse to give them up for the sake of having one bag. It cost £40. I may use the changing mat more at home for the bedroom night changes.

I just used the free boots one last time (wonder if they still do it?). This time round ill probably just use a weekend bag (ill have a toddler too) and put the travel change mat out of the boots one in.

You can buy the fold up travel change mats seperately, you can even get disposable ones.

Bag wise as long as it has lots of pockets and a long strap to put over the pushchair handles, then its fine. I never used the thermal pocket and as i always used a small cool bag (lunch box size).

95 does seem really rather excessive, id expect to pay 20-45 for a nice one from places like mothercare.

The changing bag we bought for our first was never really used. Far too bulky and heavy.

Second time round we have one of those pouches (the skip hop pronto one) that has a mat, a few nappies and space for wipes.

The extras you need depends on the baby's age, the time of day, length of trip and whether formula feeding. Impossible to accomodate all of that in one design.

My changing bag is the most expensive item I've ever bought for myself, but it is also the most well-used, so you can justify it.
If you don't buy a 'proper' changing bag, then I think you would still need a fold-out mat, and I also have a wipe clean pouch for soiled clothes - invaluable. You could DIY with a large toiletry style bag, the sort of thing you get in Superdrug.

We've got a skip hop nappy changer thing, it fits in my ridiculously large handbag. But I breastfeed so nappies are the only thing I need to take out with me (sometime I might remember to bring a spare sleepsuit too)

With regards to soiled clothes i just put them in a nappy sack in the pushchair basket.

I had a Cath kidson one first time round, it was way too big and bulky. So I just bought a lovely leather oversized bag from m&s second time round. Winner. Lovely handbag, way more stylish and practical than the Cath kidson one.

Seek out a lovely handbag I would recommend!

I've bought a Skip Hop pronto that clips onto the buggy. I plan to breastfeed so don't think I'll need space for bottles, but if I do I can always stick everything in a Primark canvas tote, with a change of clothes, in the under-buggy storage. I have a nifty buggy organiser that clips onto the handles with space for extra stuff too.

Got my changing bag in Argos for 12.99 it has a changing mag inside and it's wipe clean inside also. Just so black changing bag, nothing special

First time I had a toys r us cord one awful. Looked crap, second was a wallaboo one £45 but the strap couldn't hand a half full bag, this time I'm debating if to buy a parapodia, as I'm not sure it's worth the money but friends really do rate them. I have £100 budget, as it's our third so we have the big stuff from ds2 to use again no new pram, :( but determined on a nice bag.

£95 seems like a lot of money to spend but you can get one a lot cheaper? I have bought a Babymel one from M&P which I got on sale months back for £30 (normal price was £45), I've also got the freebie one from Boots but DH will probably use that as it's plain black so better for dads!

Rucksack

For Dd1, I used the bag that came with our pram (a Silver Cross). I wanted a fancier bag; couldn't justify the cost and so bought a Mothercare changing bag for around £30. That was great - not the most stylish, but I could have fitted the pram in there and you wouldn't have noticed.

With dd2, I didn't want to spend lots, so bought an overaized cheapie Primark one (about £10). Too roomy; not enough pockets. I wouldn't recommend.

I replaced it with an OiOi bag bought from Amazon for about £40: it should have been double but I got a bargain. As good as the Mothercare one and very, very stylish.

IMHO, you don't need to apend loads. Just shop around

Don't waste money on a changing bag I got a £45 huge stack from mothercare which I used for a matter of weeks before I got fecked off with it I ended up using the boots freebie when he was small and a rucksack now he's a toddler :)

For me, a baby changing bag needs:

• Pocket for nappies, wipes and cream, or separate compartment
• Pocket for bottles (preferably 2; preferably thermal)
• Wipeable inside
• Waterproof/ water resistant
• Pocket for my phone
• Zippable pocket for my keys, or a key strap attachment
• Enough room for a spare set of clothes for the baby and my purse

And a strap suitable for whatever handlebars your pushchair/pram/stroller has.

I've got a cath kidston one (second hand so cost £15) but it's perfect for me, not too big, fits everything I need and used daily so far!
Could you get to Bicester? There is a cath kidston outlet store there and the last time I went they had a selection of changing bags for £50. Or could you go halves? Make it less expensive for both of you.
FWIW I think they're worth the money for how often you use them.