How Many Changing Bags Do I Need? – You Might Be Surprised!
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When your new baby arrives, you’ll have to start carrying more than just your normal handbag. Babies require a lot of accessories, from nappies to wipes, spare clothes, toys, and bottles. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the extra gear you have to take with you, and that’s where a changing bag comes in.
You’ll likely only need one changing bag. However, there are some advantages to having more than one, including aesthetic preference and ease of travelling. Additionally, you may find it easier to have a designated bag for your car and one for your home. However, additional bags aren’t necessary.
If you’re unsure and still asking yourself, “how many changing bags do I need,” keep reading. We’ll walk you through the pros and cons of having multiple changing bags so that you can decide how many you need for your family.
What Is A Changing Bag?
A changing bag is a bag for storing nappies, wipes, a changing pad, and other baby items. Some changing bags are backpacks, while others are worn crossbody or over the shoulder. Many changing bags are waterproof so that they’re easier to clean in case of spills.
Changing bags have more pockets and compartments than a tote, and they’re more spacious than most handbags. A quality changing bag should be able to hold everything you need when you take your baby out of the house. You should be able to find essential items fairly quickly.
Many mums stop carrying a handbag altogether when they start using a changing bag. The changing bag usually has enough room for your keys, phone, and purse in addition to all your baby’s necessities.
You don’t have to buy a new bag if you need a changing bag, either. You might find a backpack or satchel that has enough space and compartments to hold everything your baby needs. As long as you can leave the house prepared for nappy changes, feedings, and playtime, you’ll be fine.
Advantages to Having More Than One Changing Bag
The main reason you might want more than one changing bag is aesthetics. If you and your partner have different preferences for style, it’s convenient to have multiple changing bags.
For example, maybe your partner likes a cross-body bag while you prefer a backpack. Maybe they like a rugged khaki bag while you want something chic and feminine. In this case, you might want to have your own separate changing bags to suit your preferences.
If you plan on travelling a lot with your baby, then you may also want multiple changing bags for different kinds of outings. You can keep a small changing bag ready for everyday errands around town and a larger bag for long distances.
You may also find it useful to have one changing bag permanently in the car. That way, even if you forget your regular changing bag at home, you have nappies and wipes with you no matter where you are.
That said, you don’t have to purchase an extra changing bag to keep nappies and wipes in your car. You can store them in the dashboard compartment or just in the backseat – a changing bag just makes things more organized and makes it easier to find what you’re looking for quickly.
Drawbacks to Having More Than One Changing Bag
The biggest drawback to having more than one changing bag is having to keep track of the supplies in all your bags.
You need to regularly restock your changing bags with nappies and wipes. The last thing you want is to change your baby out of the house only to find you’ve run out of nappies.
As your baby grows, you have to swap out his or her nappies and clothes for larger sizes–including in your changing bags. Multiple changing bags means more restocking, and it can be easy to forget about one of your changing bags if you don’t use it often.
Furthermore, if you go more than a few months without checking it, your changing bag could also be full of clothes and nappies that won’t fit your baby anymore, making them pretty much useless.
If your baby has a favourite bottle, toy, blanket, or dummy, you’ll also need to be mindful of which changing bag you last left it in. You don’t want to be at a friend’s house looking for your baby’s special muslin only to realize that you put it in the other changing bag. Leaving your home with your baby can be stressful enough without losing your baby’s favourite toy or dummy.
Before you leave the house, you’ll need to thoroughly go through both changing bags to ensure you have everything you need in the bag you’re using. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that life with a new baby can be chaotic, so it might be easier to just keep one bag with all your necessities.
There’s also the cost to consider. Changing bags aren’t the most expensive pieces of baby gear, but you’d probably be better off spending your money on something besides a second changing bag. Buy an extra box of nappies or get a better model of pram – you’ll get more use out of them.