Mums - what's in your change bag?

skintchick

My baby is 6 months old now and I find I need a skip to carry everything I need! I am struggling to find the right sort of bag that will fit everything, do up, AND be usable when wearing a sling (ie that has a shoulder strap that stays on your shoulder).

What is in your bag? Do I carry too much? I carry:

nappies - 3 or 4
change mat
wipes
change of clothing
purse
phone
keys
toy
muslin

And often a blanket, another toy, some food as she is weaning now, and my Filofax.

This seems to take up a lot of room but I don;t know why!

What do you all carry and which bag would you recommend? Doesn;t have to be a baby bag as such.

I seem to be spending a fortune on bags that aren;t right and that's not MSE!

savingmummy

I use just my handbag always have lol! Couple of nappies, travel wipes, juice/water in beaker, keys, mobile and purse.
If we are going out for the day i use a carrier under the buggy x

Rachel83

Hummm thinking about the question I think I don't carry enough?! must be a bad mum eh? haha
I've never done a 'changing' bag its just my everyday hand bag with bits for baby in it.
usually have...

2 nappies and either a 1/2 packet of wipes or one of those thin plastic wipe holders.
If we do go out for a whole day and this is going to require feeding I'll add feed stuff like a bottle and maybe a small tub for snack type finger food... But i tend to try feed him before/after we've been out, saves the faff with carrying food and finding somewhere to eat it etc. Just edited to add my boys 9 months old
Then theres the usual keys, purse and phone and any other bits thats usually floating around in my bag in it.
We go everywhere with the pram, he's a bit big for me to carry in his sling anymore, so has his blankie in the pram under his cosytoes. Don't usually take a toy.... He's in the delightful 'lemmie throw it on the floor' stage!! grrr

And just to add... If my daughters out with us also my bag also ends up containing allsorts of rubbish like pine cones, feathers 'pretty leaves' etc etc... Not that anything ever gets done with those?! lol

SugarSpun

I have a washbag, and in it are:

3-4 nappies (we use disposables when out and about but reusable at home)
a folded disposable change mat
a travel pack of wipes
a travel sized tube of butt cream
a spare vest
folded ziplock bag in case I need to transport a poopy vest

This fits into my regular-sized handbag, which also contains (just looking, we went out today so it was a representative day):

purse
keys
phone
A5 sized diary
notebook
book to read on public transport when the baby is asleep
tissues
spare dummy
toy
a single baby sock (grrrr Houdini baby)
0.5l bottle of water

My bag's about 5cm wider and 5cm longer than the A5 notebook, and can stretch to about 10cm deep. I don't bring a blanket because at the moment she travels in her snowsuit, and I don't bring an extra change of clothes beyond the vest because any fluid-splosions tend to be of the nether variety and don't normally damage the outer layers. Pukey babies (is yours pukey if you need a muslin?) probably need the full change of clothes.

I found that when I had a bigger bag with me I filled it, but my regular handbag can hold the stuff I need and no excess

Edit: my handbag goes across the body under the baby bjorn, and it came from Next in the sale about 3 years ago I got a M&P change bag free with the footmuff for the pushchair, and that also goes across the body but for some reason it is padded so I never use it because it makes me think of work (a long and complicated series of connections).

purply

LOL
Sounds similar to what I put in my change bag but i also have my handbag too!!

Actually, for me its been trial and error. For short trips, I take my handbag and just put a nappy and wipes and maybe a jar of food (plus my phone, makeup and purse). For longer trips I only take the change bag and shove my phone and purse in.
I have a mamas and papas change bag-its a grey colour and came with a travel change mat. I too have a change of clothes inc vest, which I very rarely need but you can guarantee its the day you don't have a change of clothes that you will need them!

(which has happened to me a few times hence Ive learnt my lesson)

I tend not to put any toys in which saves alot of space. Ive not really needed them TBH. It depends where you're going but if its grandparents I just make sure there are toys and spoons and plates etc there, so saving space, or I just chuck them in the car.

I can't wait for the day when I no longer need my changing bag!

Tigsteroonie

I must admit to only having a change bag for baby because I think I'm meant to - I haven't really thought about it!

It contains:

• 2 disposable nappies
• wipes
• nappy sacks
• small pot of nappy cream
• hand sanitiser
• clean vest
• clean 'gro
• muslin
• changing mat
• spare pacifier
• spare hat, mitts & bootees
• fruit juice & mars bar for me!
• bottle for babba

But I only take the bag when we're likely to be out over a feed time. Short trips out to the supermarket etc, I don't bother - we can dash home if he starts shouting or sicks up. And I don't carry it - it just goes in the bottom of the buggy.

SkintGypsy

When my girl was about that age I used an across body bag like this
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10001_64706_1163301_-1 and just had http://www.sobaby.co.uk/parent-baby-essentials/changing-bags/skip-hop-pronto-changing-bag.html this in it for the baby. Nothing else really whilst out and about.

ETA- maybe a beaker of water for baby too at that stage.

Spendless

Oh gosh, I went thru soooo many changing bags with my eldest, and he came out of nappies at 2 1/4! All were a 'baby changing bag'! When I had youngest I just had a 'normal' bag with shoulder straps, still going strong when she came out of nappies at 3 years old and tbh we've probably still got it somewhere.
As to what went into it, can't be sure now.:cool: If you find your items are filling up the space maybe you need to look at replacing them with less bulky items. What toy are you putting in? I had a mini humpty dumpty that came from Boots (still have it!) which took little room, also -you have a girl? A dress as a spare outfit would take up less room than a top and trousers.

LilacPixie

I have 4 nappies, 2 pair leggings 2 tops, wipes, pants, spare dummy, couple of juice cups and some books. I have 2 kids 3 and 18 months one potty training.

Iheart2poundcoins

Depends how long youre staying out. I try and get back within 4 hours of her feed.
All I take is a nappy - if I need to change her i'll buy wipes and bags - only once has she done a poop when out so I figure it isnt really needed.
I sometiems carry a wad of loo roll, but if I forget I always have a spare glove in my bag (well....!)
On the odd occasion I take a sterilised bottle and buy a carton of milk. My baby is 7 months and I wouldnt bother feeding her food outside - at 6 months just giving her milk is fine - food isnt essential.

Rockporkchop

In true MSE style I still use the free Boots changing bag I got when I joined their Parenting Club, you can fit tons of stuff in there and it has a good shoulder strap.