Pram Caddy v’s Nappy/Baby Changing Bag

[Kelsie1985]

Hi everyone

I have a 10 month old daughter and I’m due to have a son in about 4 months time. In preparation, I’ve purchased a 2nd hand Bugaboo Donkey.

I currently have a Babymel sachel style nappy/baby changing bag that I’ve absolutely loved, but most of the time I’ve never been able to close it (I panic and overpack all the time… despite having seconds if everything I could ever need in a baby emergency in the car etc…) and it’s definitely looking worse for wear these days. With another baby to pack for soon I can’t see my beloved overstuffed Babymel sachel being up for the job.

I'm looking to replace my nappy bag but I’ve come across “pram caddy’s” recently and I can’t seem to get them out of my head. Initially I thought it would be good to get 2 small pram caddy’s to attach to my Bugaboo Donkey handle - one for my daughter and one for my son, and have a nappy bag underneath in the basket. Or maybe 2 nappy bags - one for each. Or maybe one larger pram caddy filled with items I use regularly (like wipes, dummy, my phone and purse and current bottle/water), and the nappy bag just for spare clothes, snacks, blankets, additional toys, changing mat, additional bottles, nappies etc?

I’m usually a really organised and I like to have my bag ready to go at a moments notice (getting out of the house is hard enough with one baby haha!). The more I think about it, the more I’m wondering how other families (ideally for more than one baby, of different genders as slightly different ages) remain functional on the go? What are your go-to/favourite nappy bags and pram caddy’s? What is in your nappy bag/pram caddy? Ideally I’m looking for something to complement my bugaboo donkey - I’ve had a custom hood, liner and footmuff made in vegan leather cream quilt and cream fleece with an Alice in Wonderland theme (I’ve added an image of the patterns as I’m still waiting on the set to be competed and sent to me) and I'd really like to match the vegan leather cream quilt.

Thanks in advance for the help/inspiration 😊

xx

[Parker231]

I don’t know anything about the products you’ve listed but I wouldn’t recommend anything in a pale colour. For the DT’s I used a rucksack and had a changing mat folded up inside together a few nappies, wipes, bottles and changes of clothes. Either DH or I restocked it after every time we used it. I put my purse, phone and keys in one of the pockets.

[InTheRainOnATrain]

Don’t get pale colours. I just use a large long champ pilage tote (the luggage one that has a long strap) and pack everything into extra large bags and write what’s in them with sharpie where it’s not immediately obvious eg Baby 1 spare clothes, Baby 2 spare clothes, size 1 nappies, size 5 nappies. Restock nightly so it’s always ready to grab and go the next morning.

[Roollie]

I've got a donkey. Absolutely love it by the way.

I also have a caddy which I love, but I just use this for maybe some wipes, muslin, toddlers water etc. I still used a changing bag (although youngest is 16 months now so I've now downgraded to a smaller bag). Mine was just one from Aldi which I loved and lasted me both kids, it was a rucksack so handy to put on my back if basket was full.

I have a large hook on the buggy as well which is handy. The basket is big but still sometimes end up with an extra bag/shopping etc which the hook is good for.

[nestaj]

I use a Kipling rucksack as a changing bag. It's not marketed as a changing bag but I find all the zipped sections so handy, and it's completely gender neutral which is good as DH always carries it when we're out together. It has a huge capacity - about 35L I think, as I carry nappies, wipes, changing mat, spare clothes, packed lunchx3, snacks x3, water bottles, cutlery, toys, books, colouring pens, face cloth, rucksack raincover, spare shopping bags, toy spade. I carry valuables and keys in a Uniqlo bag that I keep with me. I don't put it in the rucksack as I'll often park the buggy and leave the rucksack with it to save carrying it around when chasing after the toddler, eg looking at ducks or in a playground. But I obviously bring anything valuable with me.

I don't use a caddy as I use public transport daily, so I need to have everything in one bag ready to put on my back in case I need to get the baby out and fold within 5 seconds. I'm not one to leave the buggy unfolded and have to wait 15 mins for another bus!

[CrispAppleStrudels]

For DD1 i used a babymel nappy bag rucksack style which was great as i always had two hands free. Im also an overpacker plus we had a couple of emergency hospital admissions with DD1, so it was always really well packed, including with a phone charger and change of pants for me!

I switched to a storksak pram caddy after she was 1yr plus. I personally dont find them big enough for all the baby paraphernalia but it has been brilliant for when DD was bigger to just have a couple of nappies, wipes, one change of clothes + a small snack / water bottle.

I'm expecting DC2 and am planning on going back to the nappy rucksack for all the baby's stuff and then keeping DD1's small items in the pram caddy as usual. My buggy still folds with it in place so i dont need to worry about detaching if i need to fold the buggy down.

I keep phone, keys, purse in a small cross body bag that i wear on me at all times in case i have to park the buggy up somewhere.

Agree with pp - I'd be wary of pale colours. My babymel bag was pale grey and it looked dirty quite quickly.

[Parker231]

Don’t buy anything advertised for a baby - will always cost more than something else which does the job perfectly.

[Kelsie1985]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I’ve also been reading up on inserts for your “normal” totes (I have an old LV Neverfull MM) so I may bring that out of storage and enjoy it again… decisions, decisions… 🤣 x