Big stylish bag for dragging round requirements of toddler and newborn?

[PrincessOfPatna]

When I was pregnant with my first I lusted over this very very hard nico but the price tag put me off (£150 is not far off a week's wages for me).

I wish I'd bought the bloody thing now. DC2 due very soon and I am not going to be able to get away with just shoving one nappy and a pack of wipes in my handbag with two of them.

As an experiment I tried packing an existing handbag with all the things required to go out for the day and failed - well, the kids' stuff fits in but I can only have a set of keys and a phone! The only bag I have that's big enough doesn't zip across the top and I will lose something vital if I fill that up.

Has anyone seen any nice big bags, changing or otherwise, in the shops lately that would do the job? Or an Il Tutto for £100 or less [clutches straws] - I've checked Ebay but they only tend to have the leather ones coming up which are way over my budget (ideally less than £50 but I will go to £100 for the right bag) even pre-loved.

I looked at Babymel change bags in Boots yesterday and I can see they're very practical but the mumsiness of the designs makes me want to cry, ditto skiphop, Cath Kidston etc. and I would rather use three Morrison's bags than carry one of those "Yummy Mummy" things, practical though I know they are (friend has 2 under 2 and fits everything in hers, but I just...can't). The thing I love about the Il tutto is that it doesn't look like a baby bag.

Please help me avoid making a hormonal purchase that will send me overdrawn!

marking my place as I'm looking for the same thing. I bought a skip hop bag for DD1 but really bored of carrying it around now and want a more stylish bag. I would like a real leather bag and most of the ones I've looked at are over £100. I might get a satchel type style, TK Maxx have some fossil bags in so might check them out. I like the style of this bag but it is not real leather. www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+tan-changing-bag-in-baby-changing-bags-and-mats+b7296

Storksak emily, the nylon one is less than £100 I think but the leather one is lovely.

The Storksak is a bit mature looking for me iyswim, but anyone who would like one get a load of this!

for £100

I wish I liked it :(

That JJMB tan one is good, I just wish they had a darker brown, I don't really like that colour. I think I might buy a Babymel one and then treat myself to a really nice handbag when the kids start school! There's a Fossil outlet fairly near to me so I should go have a look there at some point. I can't face TKMaxx this late in pregnancy!

I've spent about three hours looking at bags online and I've still got about 15 tabs open to go! If I find any other bargains I shall report back.

If anyone has £120 to spend John Lewis have a nice Lisa Stickley one with sort of stripes on it...

d'oh, didn't actually put the link in!

bargain Storksak Emily here

Debenhams have 30% off a Radley changing bag for those who like that sort of thing (not me sadly) here

Right, I have decided to get a Babymel Amanda Quilted in either black or pewter - not my style exactly but won't depress me and looks nice and practical. I haven't found any bargains for it though, the sites who are slightly cheaper don't have it in stock so will be paying the full £55 I think.

Anyone who likes the "normal" Amanda in the rose chocolate colour this one , Boots have an offer on instore at the moment and you can get this for £39.99.

I love that bag, very similar to the yummy mummy pink lining ones though! Your post reminded me that pink lining did a chocolate leather changing bag for a while, originally it was £150 but I saw it a while ago on their site for £50. I think their usual type of customer goes for the bows and cakes style so probably didn't,t sell very well for them, might be worth a look.

www.oxfordpramcentre.co.uk/product_Pink-Lining-Leather-Messenger-Chocolate-_4238_0_index.php it was this one

Ooh they had to go spoil it with the cutesy bow and the stripy strap didn't they...I can see how it wouldn't really appeal to someone who loves their usual stuff (they should have done pastel colours, I can see a pale blue version of that being popular) but it's a bit too twee/babyfied for anybody else...hmm, maybe I should study bag design and try and fill some gaps in the market!

I have this. They do it in leather too but the only picture is in gold which is really not nice! It is a lovely bag, I put spare pants and snacks for big children in the outside pockets, there are little pockets inside for keys/phone and I can fit nappies etc (I use cloth, if using diposible there is stacks of room) easily.

Try TK Maxx. I got a lovely large leather bag in there that isn't a 'changing bag' but is certainly big enough for all the stuff. The leather is beautifully soft and it is much nicer than any 'changing bags' I saw in the same price bracket. I paid £70.

I do like those bags Indith, maybe I'll get one when I go back to work!

I just can't face TKMaxx at this size - the bags are quite squashed in at the one near me and you have to elbow your way in and beware snatchers, I'm not sure I'd fit my ginormous bulk down the handbag aisles even :(

Try the online TK Maxx.

I used any old bag with a couple of zip locks inside

There's an online TKMaxx? I did not know this!

Perry the thought makes me shudder, I can't deal with bags that don't have lots of sections, I just lose everything. I did use makeup bags within a big handbag when DC1 was a little baby but feel the need to be more organised with 2 - also don't fancy changing runny newborn bf poo on a tea towel (which is what I use as a portable mat).