There used to be a time not so long ago when bags, namely “hand bags” were more the preserve of middle aged sedate women carrying them over the forearm almost as if they were a shield...

No longer! Open any fashion or gossip magazine and what is the accessory of the moment? The latest, must-have bag. Bags have names now and we are used to reading lines such as “Kate carries the Mulberry” or “Sienna carries her Tabitha”. Some of these bags cost the same as a small car and are almost the same size with acres of pockets to lose things in.

So now we live in a world of “bag pressure” and sometimes it’s easy to forget just what we need that bag for.

A baby changing bag is, quite possibly, the one bag in your life that it’s really worth thinking about. Although it’s a relatively short-lived item in terms of your parenting kit (unless you keep on having babies over many years) it will be with you day in, day out and will be a trusty item that you should love not loathe.

Not that long ago when Urchin was a mere egg waiting to be fertilised, baby changing bags were available in navy blue to match “the pram” or had an embroidery of winnie the pooh on the side or had an all-over print of frolicking bunnies. Fortunately for all of us, we now have lots of choice and can try and remain relatively stylish as we rush about our baby-filled lives.

What to look for in a baby changing bag

• Don’t buy a baby changing bag that weighs a ton before you have put anything into it – you will be carrying around your weighty toddler for longer than you care to think.


• Don’t buy a baby changing bag that is too huge – it’s like a house – the more space you have, the more you find to fill it.


• Make sure the straps are not too narrow or stiff – they are your shoulders and you need to look after them – they will bear a lot over the forthcoming years!


• You don’t need hundreds of fiddly little pockets – they will only get filled with sweet wrappers, foreign coins and used tissues.


• You do need a baby changing bag that is quick and easy to open – preferably with one hand.


• A baby changing bag that stands up on its own is good – a floppy bag can embarrassingly spill its contents in full view of the general public...not good.


• Choose an everyday bag that goes with your style. Life with a baby is too busy to be constantly moving baby paraphernalia from bag to bag each morning.


• Choose a baby changing bag that you can carry hands-free. Short straps are only ok if you have an entourage behind you to deal with the baby, pushchair, shopping, older sibling etc.


• Choose a baby changing bag which isn’t too rigid or fat – you don’t want a bag hammering into your hip as you walk and you do need to be able to fit through doorways.


• Don’t choose a baby changing bag in a very pale colour – it will look filthy far too quickly.


• Choose a baby changing bag which attaches in some way to your pushchair and doesn’t cause it to tip over.


• Choose a baby changing bag which you can clean. Both inside and out can become very grubby so machine washable or scrubbable is best.


• If both parents will be using one baby changing bag then make sure it’s suitable for both of your to carry.

Baby changing bag necessities

Whether or not your baby changing bag comes with accessories or not we suggest that you have the following items:

• A key clip so that you are not scrabbling to find your keys on your doorstep in the pouring rain.


• phone pocket.


• A removable, waterproof pouch to put wet/soiled items in (it’ll happen far too often)


• If you use a pacifier for your baby then ensure you have a small, clean pocket to keep this in.


• A compact, removable, washable changing mat to place over public changing stations.

It’s worth buying a baby changing bag you like – carrying something hideous doesn’t make you feel good about yourself. In those early months of your baby’s life when you are coping with dribble and vomit and exploding nappies, you want to look like a “lady with a bag” and not a “bag lady”....