Do You Really Need a Changing Bag?

Is it really necessary to buy a bespoke changing bag? Can you use a backpack or tote bag you already own as a nappy bag? How does a changing bag differ from an ordinary bag anyway? Let me walk you through my journey, and I’ll answer these questions along the way.

What is a Changing Bag?

Changing bags, nappy bags, diaper bags. Whatever you call them, they have become quite the fashion statement for new parents.

In days gone by, most travel systems came with a matching changing bag. These were usually a fairly simple tote bag that hung from the handlebar of the buggy, with a single large main compartment to store all the essentials one might need when venturing out of the house with a baby.

Now, changing bags come in a variety of sizes and styles, from high street options to luxury brands.

But generally they all feature a few key ingredients.

1. A spacious bag made from a wipe-clean material.
2. A built-in or matching changing mat or changing station.
3. Multiple pockets to organise all the essentials.
4. An insulated pocket or pouch for bottles or snacks.
5. At least one secure zipped pocket for parent’s valuables.
6. A means to easily attach the bag to a pushchair or buggy.

Is it Necessary to Buy a Changing Bag?

In a word, no. Most new parents will own at least one large bag which will hold all of the key items they need for going out and about with their baby. It is perfectly possible to make do.

This was the main reason why I was initially very resistant to buy a changing bag. I already owned plenty of bags. Too many, if I was being totally honest with myself. In fact, I was trying very hard to pare down my possessions in a drive to adopt a more minimalist lifestyle. I really struggled to justify bringing another item into my home when I felt I already had items in my inventory that would do the job well enough.

When our baby first arrived, I started using a North Face back pack that I have owned for years as our changing bag. It has a large main compartment, and two smaller compartments with lots of pockets, easily accessible water bottle holders and is very comfortable to wear. I thought I had hit the nail on the head on the first try.

I was wrong.

The main compartment was not really big enough to allow any accessories for organisation. Well, it was not really big enough FULL STOP. The main points of friction were the reusable nappies, which are more bulky than disposables, and the wet bag for used nappies. It was a real struggle to fit much else in the bag, and even more difficult to find any other items once I had stuffed the wet bag back in the top of the main compartment after a nappy change.

But I made do for about six months. Until an emergency situation forced me to confront these problems and seriously question continued use of the back pack.

The emergency in question meant a journey to hospital, which is 75 miles away. There was no way I would have been able to fit enough nappies, snacks, toys and books for a full day out, in the back pack we were using. So I made the snap decision to swap to a large duffel bag with one large compartment and a small zipped pocket on the outside. I paired this with a small cross-body bag for my own essentials.

In the hasty transition to this new bag, I had thrown in everything I thought we would need for the big day out to the hospital, without any kind of strategy or organisation. Reusable nappies, spare clothes, board books, toys, snacks, muslins, changing mat, bottom cream; all were floating around in a tangled mess in this enormous bag.

In the days and weeks that followed, I did implement some organisation within this duffel bag, using make-up bags and toiletry bags to group items together. But time and again I found myself having to empty the entire contents of the bag out to find the thing that I needed. NOT ideal when you’re kneeling on the floor in a public toilet trying to change a poopy nappy!

This bag caused me some additional frustrations. It was too large to comfortably fit in the shopping basket of our buggy, but lacked any suitable means to attach it to the handlebars. It was also really cumbersome to wear as a shoulder bag, so I found it awkward to carry the baby and the bag together.

So once again, I looked at my collection of bags for a suitable alternative, and decided to give a smaller tote shoulder bag a try. This one had a couple of small pockets inside the main compartment and a larger zipped pocket on the outside. I think I barely survived a week with this bag. It was too small to carry everything I needed, there was no way to attach it to the handlebars of the buggy, and this bag was also awkward to carry whilst holding the baby.

All this trial and error had given me plenty of opportunity to reflect on what I needed from a changing bag. So I took to the internet in search of a bag that would fit the bill. I needed large pockets within the main compartment to take the reusable nappies and organise the other essentials, and some smaller external pockets to allow rapid access to wipes, dummies and teething toys. I was also looking for a backpack rather than a tote bag, and knew that I needed to be able to attach the bag to the buggy.

My Changing Bag: Storksak Eco Backpack Toffee

I scoured the internet, comparing the available options, before settling on the Storksak Eco backpack. I had hoped to pick one up second hand, but sadly neither Vinted nor Facebook Marketplace had any available. A cheeky Black Friday discount tempered the sting of purchasing a new one!

This beautiful bag is machine washable, and comes with insulated pouches for bottles and snacks. It has two large elasticated internal pockets which are the perfect size for reusable nappies, as well as some additional clever internal organisation features for quick-fire muslins. There are secure zipped pockets for parental valuables, and two external zipped pockets to keep important items close at hand.

There are snap fasteners on the shoulder straps for easy attachment to the handlebar on the buggy. It comes with a changing station that can carry wipes and bottom cream, so they are always there when you need them.

And it is made from recycled polyester!

I have been incredibly impressed and amazed at the difference this bag has made to my experience of getting out and about with my little one. Especially given my initial scepticism over the need to have a purpose-made nappy bag at all.

Truly I believe that the journey was key to arriving at this destination. Taking the time to reflect on the reasons why my first few bags were not working, and critically considering where the frustrations were coming from and how best to overcome each of these, allowed me to form an image of what my ideal changing bag would look like.

This has allowed me to buy once and buy well.

Key Considerations for Your Changing Bag

1. If you’re a first-time parent, everything about this adventure is brand new. It is hard to know in advance what exactly you will need. So I would advise against spending lots of money on a changing bag straight away.
2. Instead, shop your own bag collection first to see if you have anything that will work in the short term.
3. As you start going out and about with your little one, pay close attention to when the frustrations occur, if any, with your set up. Take some time to consider what would make things easier.
4. If you do decide that a purpose-made nappy bag would grease the wheels when taking trips out, do your research and find one that aligns with what you need. If you’re bottle-feeding, the ability to carry multiple bottles in an insulated compartment might be a priority. Or perhaps, like me, you need big elasticated internal pockets to take reusable nappies.
5. See if you can find your ideal bag second-hand. This will be kinder to the environment and your bank balance!
6. If you do buy a brand new bag, make extra sure you have chosen wisely. Buy once and buy well!