Before my daughter was born I was given a great large nappy bags, with pockets and pouches for everything. It really was one of those ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ bags, and I was thrilled. Then she was born, and I steadily began to loathe that bag! I could never find anything, no matter how much I tried to keep the compartments separate, and keep ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’. It was impossible, and it was heavy!
As a baby wearer, I found that the nappy bag was heavier than the baby, and was really weighing me down. Sometimes we’d go out for an hour or two, and I’d lug the bag around with me, and never actually use it! Something had to be done!
Then I came across a ZPM Junior nappy bag for £15 in a sale, and I was immediately in love.
The main compartment:
- Although designed to be big enough for an entire bag of nappies, we normally make sure there’s a one day supply
- I keep two rolled up muslins – very handy as a feeding cover, a ground cover for her to play on or its intended spittle duty.
- There’s a rolled up feeding cover, serves as a blanket or ground sheet too, when I run out of muslins
- A change of clothes, normally an all in one long sleeve- long leg baby grow.
- I also keep two small soft toys, for variation, and change these from time to time.
- Depending on need, I keep Rescue Remedy (great for shock, like from bumping her head), Kali.Mur for her current upper respiratory tract infections, and Calc.Phos and Chamomile spray for teething, but these come and go as required.
- Two reuseable grocery bags, good for shopping, but also to keep jerseys and coats in when we’re indoors
In the clear pouch above that is another teething powder, Ashton & Parsons (we have really bad teething time around here), a sample sized nappy rash cream, and usually there’s also a hand sanitizer in there which I use exclusively on my own hands after nappy changes if we’re out and about, since my fingers often end up as chew toys.
Above this there are two pouches which are the piece de resistance of this excellent nappy bag. A waterproof, slitted wet wipe pocket (which keeps them wet) and above that a plastic bag dispenser. Although not a fan of the general use of plastic bags, they do come in very handy when disposing of a stinky nappy in a friend’s rubbish bin!
The top pocket has replaced my handbag really, with travel sized makeup, a folded hairbrush and pocket mirror.
At the bottom, in front of the main pouch, is another pocket, ideal for bank cards, membership cards (like the library), and a pen and notebook for exchanging contact details with all the new moms you’re going to meet. This is also where I keep the compact camera that goes everywhere with us (and is being used to take these photos).
On the sides are two bottle pouches for those who are bottle feeding, and at the back is a neatly tucked away changing mat.
The only downside to this bag is that it can only be carried by hand. I have circumvented this by attaching my own shoulder strap, but not having the correct fittings, this can sometimes cause it to scrunch up a little. I have contacted the ZPM customer care team with this feedback and they might incorporate it in the next batch.
(P.S. I had a look at the ZPM website, and unfortunately these are currently out of stock, but there are more coming in a couple of months!)
A big fear for me about becoming a mom was the frustration in taking forever to get ready to go out that I’d heard so much about. I can honestly say that has never been a problem for us. I prepare the nappy bag after bath time in the evening and it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice the next day. Friends have even commented on how little ‘stuff’ we cart around with a baby, yet we’ve never been lacking in anything we’ve needed. Proof that it can be done, and doesn’t have to be a stressful thing!
So, is there anything I missed here? What else do you need or not need to kit out a perfect nappy bag? Add your thoughts in the comment section below!
Wow thats crazy, you could get the whole kitchen sink in that thing!
.-= Auction Tips´s last blog ..Radley Designer Handbags, Purses and Accessories =-.
@Auction Tips, Just about! But it’s so compact, you’d never know what all goes in there!
Wow! What a lot you’ve got in there. Sounds, and looks, incredibly organised. I’m a rucksack girl, myself. Am also a baby-wearer (though have a buggy, too – probably get equal use out of them both) and find a rucksack is the easiest and most comfortable way to go. I own about six different nappy bags and use none of them. I just got a new rucksack, today, and it’s almost exactly the same as my old one, which broke (had it for over 5 years) recently.
In the front pocket are wipes. In the middle pocket are 2 nappies, a handful of nappy bags, a fold-up changing mat and a change of clothes. The main compartment is for shopping, big girl’s stuff, books, lunch… whatever is needed. There are two net pockets on the side which usually hold a brolly and a drink (for me, if I just have the baby; for big girl if she’s with me).
I keep forgetting to bring toys, though. Must put a couple in the bag tomorrow.
.-= Tasha (Coding Mamma)´s last blog ..The One Cuddle Regime =-.
@Tasha (Coding Mamma), Your bag sounds about as full as mine! lol. I guess it gets a bit more complicated when they start weaning/ have siblings! I will have to revisit again then, I guess! Thanks for stopping by!
WOW seems you got everything you need and good on you for having it all organised and ready to go.
I just sewed a diaper bag although i dont have any babies my youngest is 2 and potty trained i made the bag for me
Check it out when you have time 🙂
.-= Mayya @ Sew Chic and Unique´s last blog ..Diaper/Messenger bag for Sew It =-.
@Mayya @ Sew Chic and Unique, On my way to check out your lovely blog Mayya! Thanks for stopping by!
Cool bag! At first we brought everyone in earth with us, but now we use a simple backpack with a few diapers, wipes, and my son’s 2 favorite books. 🙂
.-= Maya´s last blog ..In Which I Exam My Crow’s Feet =-.
@Maya, So much better an idea, isn’t it! thanks for stopping by!
This looks so easy to use. I can’t find anything in my diaper bag.
.-= JDaniel4’s Mom´s last blog ..Two Giveaways End This Week! =-.
@JDaniel4’s Mom, I recommend it! The diaper bag drove me nuts at first! The sanity is well worth the expense! And when they bring out their new range, you’ll be able to get it through my site at a discounted rate too, I think!
What a great idea…I’m waaaaaayyy beyond nappies, but will keep this in mind for my friends who are expecting. SITS sent me by, and I’m glad they did!
All That Glitters is not Gold
.-= Melissa B.´s last blog ..There’s a New Sheriff in Town =-.
@Melissa B., Thanks Melissa. It is SO good – I can’t swear by it enough! It will definitely be the gift I give expectant mothers! Thanks for stopping by!
First off, I absolutely love your blog. It’s stylish, easy on the eye, and very user friendly (especially for someone like me who finds technology difficult). I notice you use WordPress. I’ve been think about something like this for a while now but haven’t come across a website as lovely and welcoming as this one. I do hope you accepted the reward I gave out on my blog yesterday.
The bag is fab. I know exactly what you mean about lugging a heavy bag around, and it being heavier than the baby! I did it too and I imagine a lot of mums do. The one you feature is very nice indeed.
CJ xx
@Crystal Jigsaw, Thank you so much! That’s such a lovely compliment for my blog! You are most kind!I shall have a look at your award!
The bag really is great, which is why I featured it without the company even asking! Lol. I just think it’s such a great tip for moms and for babyshowers! Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it!
I literally took everything but the kitchen sink with me when my girl was a baby. I would like to highlight that the change of clothes is a must-have item for the first three, maybe even four years!
.-= Joey´s last blog ..Dealing Beanie Babies =-.
@Joey, Thanks for the highlight Joey! I’ll make sure to keep it in mind! Yeah – i took everything but the sink the first few weeks too! Got so fed up with it I was so glad to get this bag.
Great post! I find that I absolutely detest carrying more than one bag and with three children, that can be a challenge. I’m about to switch everything into a medium-sized pocket book with a bunch of compartments. I too, always carry just enough diapers for one day, feeding supplies (bottle feeding IS a pain in the butt, btw) and a change of clothes, plus whatever other women keep in their purses (I’m just NOT carrying two bags anymore!!!!).
.-= Rebekah C´s last blog ..Wish List! =-.
@Rebekah C, Oh, I can imagine! I really struggle with my nappy bag and camera bag, so I can imagine it with three children! What a nightmare! I would seriously recommend you have a look at this bag – it’s so so so flexible and compact, lightweight, easy to clean – fab, all round! And I don’t get commission or sell them myself! 🙂 And yeah, I’m putting off weaning till six months cuase I so don’t want to give up mommy milk being enough! Thanks for stopping by!
How about going minimalistic????
nappy, wipes, extra set of clothing… tadaaaaa!!!
LOL!!!
It works xxx
🙂
.-= Yuri @ urbanvox HQ´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesdays =-.
@Yuri @ urbanvox HQ, Oh, I often do, if I’m only going to be out for an hour or so, but I’m often out for the whole day going from place to place – take it from one who has been there – a darkened cinema, a nappy explosion and run out of both nappies and wetwipes =nightmare, a fun count of 0 and no joy! lol.
http://www.towtab.com/many_uses_baby.php
@Andrea, Thanks for that link, they are excellent! I wish they were available further afield than North America and CA!
I have found these wonderful little things called towtabs, the come in roll like a pack of sweets, but each is a very useful little cloth, all you need is water and the little compacted tablet turns into a wet, chemical free, biodegradable cloth. the best thing? they fit into a water bottle cap! This has become a staple in my diaperbag!