Travel change mat/clutch help

[Imnotatypicalsausage]

Recommendations needed! Baby due soon. I have decided not to get a "changing bag" and just to use a bag/bags I already have. I think I will need a travel change mat to go in it but am boggled by the choice available. Do I want a small light one so it's as least bulky/heavy in my bag as possible? Or do I want one of a decent size? Does it need to have padding? How many pockets for nappies/wipes does it need to have? Do I want one of these "changing clutch bag" things that incorporate a mat and enough room for several other change items - then I could potentially use it to help organise the inside of my bag/in other bags/on its own as a small bag? Can anyone recommend a good brand? Is JoJo Maman a good bet or no? Or should I just get a random one off Amazon?

Thanks for your wisdom!

I'm definitely no expert (FTM, 6 week old) but I got both a cheapish small one without pockets off Amazon and a larger one with pockets. I only use the small cheap one which came with a £20 changing bag. When we're out, I cover the baby changing plastic shelf things in tissue for hygiene (although our local ones seem to have paper for this purpose much like the rolls at doctors surgeries), then put down her buggy blanket folded a few times under her head to provide padding followed by the changing matt.

I didn't like the idea of keeping nappies/wipes in a clutch type bag or changing matt because they won't hold the quantity I keep in the changing bag. That's just my preference as we go through so many and I risk forgetting to replenish my changing bag stock (I carry a full pack of wipes and up to 20 nappies in fear of running out).

I also tried to use a large bag (longchamp medium sized pilage one to provide context) because I didn't like the look of any bags I saw in shops at the start. However, quickly discovered the need for millions of pockets to quickly find dummies, wipes, nappies, formula, bottles & need for a separate waterproof pocket for new clean clothes if accidents occur/pocket for dirty stuff. I got one for £20 off Amazon to try with the vision of buying a better one if the changing bag trial worked and it's been pretty good & have ended up not needing to upgrade! Came with 2 changing bags (one normal size and one very small for if you're going out for an hour & just want 1/2 nappies) and another mini zip bag I use to keep dummies together inside their sterile container. On Amazon it's the second listing down when you search for "changing bag". I've seen quite a few mums out with this bag as it's so cheap but functional. Only thing I would say is it depends if you want to attach the bag to your pram. Ours is a bugaboo bee5 so can't hold a bag over the handle as it doesn't have any clips or bulk to stop a changing bag slipping down so I keep the bag under the buggy on the storage shelf so it made no odds if it fitted onto the buggy. I actually prefer this set up now as there's no bag hitting off me/the buggy as we walk & I have a clear view of baby.

I am now looking at getting a backpack style bag but this is purely because baby feeds on the 200ml premade bottles of formula when we're out so I end up carrying half filled bottles around. The lids on them are rubbish and tend to leak if it kept totally upright & due to the changing bag being on its side under the buggy, have had a few leaks.

Sorry for the long winded answer but all in all the cheapy Amazon changing bag with the matt it comes with has served us well! I looked at the £100 bags in mothercare at the start and am so glad I didn't go for one of them.

We use a back pack with three sections as a changing bag, back pocket for clean clothes and toys, teething gel and dummies, middle section for nappies, wipes, nappy bags and it has a small section on the front which perfectly fits the travel changing mat we got off amazon.

I got a free fold up changing mat with a huggies freebie bundle thing, it was great. Few years ago now though. There is a list of "baby club" type shop promotions on money saving expert, if you don't mind sharing your details you can pick up some decent bits.

I have a lightly padded one with a small integral pocket for nappies and wipes. It works well for us because I can just grab it and head to the changing room, without needing the whole bag. The padding is great for those instances where DD decides to do sit-ups and then bang her head on the table. I'd say don't overthink it. A changing mat is easy to replace if you really hate it. (And I say this as the woman who had a spreadsheet to choose a car seat)

By the way I got mine fairly cheaply from Amazon and it's really good quality. It's called Polar Gear Baby Hand Bag Size Changing Mat (Black).

Thanks so much for your responses! Some really good tips. Defo going to check out money saving expert, @tshirtsuntan. And that's interesting @doublehelix79 I had looked at that mat on Amazon. I couldn't tell if it was too small or not but glad to hear you like it.

That's interesting @silkpyjamasallday and @user1497453941, I was planning to use just a normal Hershel backpack that we have so good to hear you think a backpack is good. It has a couple of sections. The other idea I had was to buy a Longchamp Pliage tote, like you said User. And then potentially buy a light organiser to go in it to provide separate pockets? I'm thinking either the backpack or the tote will go under the buggy too (unless I carry it) rather than over the buggy handles?

Ok so having bag pockets seems to be useful, whether I do that via a bag with them in already or maybe an organiser. And just a basic mat seems good, maybe with a small pocket in it...