Before I begin, this review is not sponsored. Neither can I take any credit for the discovery of this amazing product, I blatantly copied my friend Lisa from NCT who had it first. I saw it, I wanted it and my parents kindly bought it for James and I as a Christmas gift.
I’ve written about my short trip Man Bag bargains before but it’ll come as no surprise to you that as soon as weaning was in full swing, Mabel’s paraphernalia increased ten fold – thus resulting in the requirement for an altogether roomier solution.
The Laessig neckline changing bag might actually belong to Mary Poppins, so seemingly never ending is the space and compartments available. I love a good “section” me, there are pockets for nappies, toys, wipes, food, bibs, muslins, spare clothing….and it comes with it’s own pouch that I use for cutlery, a bottle insulation case AND a sizeable travel changing mat. Yet it never seems to be bulky – certainly not compared to other designs that genuinely hold such vast quantities of stuff.
I love the soft grey textured material (purely aesthetic I know but I do have to take it practically everywhere with me) and even though lime green wouldn’t be my first choice of interior hue (!) it’s wipe clean and the contrast against everything I pack inside means I can find exactly what Mabel needs super quick.
The bag isn’t cheap at £109 but for me it’s already been great value, in fact I’d go as far as to say it’s been one of my best ever baby buys.
I’ve recently discovered that you can purchase a denim version of the Laessig neckline changing bag complete with a jaunty yellow leather strap – very cool. I am equally impressed by the John Lewis “Mama” model’s pairing of a gold shiny legging with a pixie-esque bootie….
Do share your nappy changing bag best buys and thoughts in the comments box below, I would also love to hear about any “travel” size necessities you would recommend and where to purchase if possible!
This is the bag i’m getting for my imminent arrival after lots of research and looking at some really horrible bags so glad to see you have had a positive experience so far! I’m also getting the smaller messenger bag for the husband as a new daddy gift! 🙂
A smaller messenger bag? Faye – I did not know this existed!
Oh no! I’ve already bought a changing bag! My small child is due a week tomorrow (please be punctual little girl!) and I have bought this bag from Mothercare – http://www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Satchel-Changing-Bag–Grey-Stripes/634105,default,pd.html
My husband and I looked in to alternatives to nappy bags – retro looking barrel bags were top of the list – because I hate almost every nappy bag going because of their cute designs or pastel colours.. Why are most of them embroidered in cup cakes?!
But when it came to making the purchase I went for a traditional nappy bag instead of another bag style because I too covet pockets so I can keep all the essentials in safe places.
I can’t really review our nappy bag because we’re yet to use it properly but I have packed it with all the essentials I think a baby needs and there are still some pockets to spare! It’s also something my husband wouldn’t mind taking about with him..
As a first time Mum I love these articles and the comments. It’s great to get lots of tips. I’m already using the nipple cream for all things other than nipples! Xx
Jennifer what a lovely looking bag! I do love a satchel…and a stripe!
I’m a little way off looking into or buying a changing bag (not due til summer) but after a quick peek I have to agree with Jennifer some of them are awful! I think I’d just go for an oversize handbag with pockets / zip compartments and then you don’t have to decant into another bag the whole time if you go out without the little one. A few friend have done this and seem to manage. Changing bags seem a bit of a con to an amateur like me and just another thing mummys “have” to buy and a mark up because its baby related (a bit like weddings!) Although I wait to be proved wrong!
Hi Victoria, I totally get what you mean – I was like that, and until Mabel was 6 months managed just fine with a brown leather Man’s satchel from Zara. It was only when Mabel started weaning that I found I actually needed something specifically designed – that would hang on the back of a pushchair/pram properly and that I can literally grab things out of whilst “on the move” x
Ah yes that’s not even on my radar! Ps totally unrelated but Charlotte please can you do a post on is it nearly spring yet new nail polishes?! Desperate to treat myself!
Ha ha yes of course! x
oooo Monday morning just got expensive! Thanks Charlotte, one less decision I have to make as this sounds like it fits the bill perfectly and husband will be nice and agreeable too as it’s lined with his team’s colours! I do like a Monday morning baby blog, cheers me up no end.
Hi Steph! Glad you like it, I wish I could’ve recommend an option that was a little less spendy but I just haven’t trialled anything to be able to give an honest review. Team colours for the husband are a bonus! x
Oooh, do you think I could just have one of these for carting all my paraphernalia about?!! I hated choosing changing bags and opted for a Cath Kidston cowboy one as the choices were so limited when I had Molly but went off it pretty quickly. A plain would have been so much better. When Alice arrived I didn’t bother with the changing bag and just chucked everything in these cute SkipHop bags. http://www.johnlewis.com/skip-hop-zoo-pack-owl/p579551. I found it so much easier having a small bag to hang on the buggy and do rather love all the SkipHop stuff! x
You probably could you know – such a well designed organiser!
Hi Charlotte yes if you Google Lassig or Laessig you can get the smaller messenger bag – I’m getting it from Amazon. They are both cheaper on there than john Lewis -http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lässig-Green-Label-Messenger-Melange/dp/B00GJY74IM.
Gorgeous Faye! I could be very tempted……x
Ooooh just look at all those sections! My best friend has a bag with 17 sections… its practicalities are the talk of all the trips out. I feel I must have something to compete.
My John Lewis lovely leather bag has 7 and has been a great change bag size wise but since husband-crammed-in-free-hotel-butters-on-a-hot-day-gate and after aprox 14 leaking mik bottles its not really the right thing for our ‘expressive’ (messy) family. If this one can go through the wash it may be a strong contender!
Amanda I always assumed it could but haven’t checked……will do though! I think it may just beat your friends 17 sections too 🙂 x
Hello 🙂 A friend and her new baby have just been round this mornings with this exact bag! What a coincidence. I am very tempted to replace my pacapod Oban as I’m struggling to fit everything in!
On a different (but slightly related) note, my little girl is starting nursery next week. Charlotte, do you use your changing bag or do you have a separate nursery only bag for Mabel?
Oooh yes, I’d like to know this too. We currently use our changing bag but I worry about it getting ruined.
Hi Megan and Louise! I send the aforementioned brown leather Zara satchel – Mabel’s nursery supply all nappies and food so all we pack is a spare set of clothes, her afternoon bottle and perhaps a hat/gloves if it’s cold and they plan to take the babies to the outdoor area. I wouldn’t leave my changing bag – I don’t need the room, also having a separate one means I don’t have to pack/unpack all of the time. I’ve noticed quite a few parents use a backpack for nursery which I might consider, trying to carry Mabel, a satchel and get keys out to open the car can be challenging! x
Has anyone else tried the Pacapod changing bags? It was a present for a friend of mine and she quite liked it, but I was wondering if anyone else has an opinion on those.
Late to the party on this post, can you tell I have a spare few minutes and am catching up?!
We bought the Pink Lining baby changing bag with pink flamingos on it. I understand the brand can be too “pretty” but it’s been an amazing changing bag, with so much room and good value I simply can’t fault it.
However, I’m increasingly finding it difficult going out with a changing bag PLUS my own handbag and find myself in a muddle in shops trying to juggle the pair of them. I’d actually taken to using the baby changing bag as my handbag also. I did want to consider something that was a bit more sleek if I was going to do this on a longer term basis, so my search led me to Storksak. They do a messenger changing bag similar to the Michael Kors messenger you posted about last summer, but with baby chaning built in.
http://m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/storksak-jamie-changing-bag-black/p527417?un_jtt_v_pdp=yes&un_jtt_v_from_product=un_product_31#page_loaded
The search led me to this bag….
http://m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/storksak-elizabeth-changing-bag-natural/p231108668?un_jtt_v_pdp=yes&un_jtt_v_from_product=un_product_1#page_loaded
that I have now purchased of eBay for a fraction on the price. It’s leather and has the same space inside as the changing bag you use. Have just started weaning so it has been brilliant for packing all the bits in. I also use it as a handbag when not with my bubba and fit my laptop in or papers. It’s super stylish and flexible so I beleive really good value for money, if you can find a deal (I know to buy from John Lewis is very expensive). I love it and I get so many compliments also.