Buyer's guide to changing bags

Avent Kitbag: £49.99

What's in a bag?

At its most basic a changing bag is any suitably-sized bag that you pack your baby's changing essentials in for out and about town or travelling. At their most deluxe, changing bags are smart leather totes featuring specifically designed inner pockets and co-ordinating changing mats that scream anything but harrassed mum carrying nappies and bottom cream.

You might find that you can easily commandeer one of your existing bags for the purpose of on-the-fly changing, and if style is of no matter then you can probably throw everything you need into an old shoulderpack or similar. But if you don't have anything that quite fits the bill then a specially designed changing bag is well worth considering.

There are any number of sizes and styles of changing bags on offer and which one you choose will depend on how and where you're most likely to use the bag - and who's going to use it. The two main bag types are the big, messenger or rucksack style bags, and the much smaller handbag styles.

Messengers and rucksacks

Big Stylish Momma - Oi Oi Messenger bag: £49.99

Bigger messenger style bags or rucksacks can be big enough to hold enough stuff for several changes and feeds and so are suitable for long day's out or even a weekend away, or for multiple babies. Features to look out for include a wipeable inner lining, easy-clean exterior, an insulated bottle holder, mesh internal pockets for organising and finding items quickly, a changing mat, a messy nappy bag, a key clip and separate pockets for mum's essential items. If you carry jars of baby food around you'll want to be sure there are suitable pockets to carry these in securely.

The smartest baby bags will offer co-ordinated accessories such as changing mat and messy nappy bag, and may also have a co-ordinated cosmetics purse for mum. Changing mats will either be of the removable variety, or in some cases the bag will unzip so that one side can be used as a changing mat. For obvious reasons it's good if the changing mat can be stored in its own sleeve. Outside pockets can also be very useful for keeping your bag well organised.

If you go for a big bag, whether rucksack or messenger style, make sure that the straps are adjustable and well padded. A really well-designed bag will allow you easy access to the contents when it stands alone so you can keep your hands free for changing your baby rather than rummaging around.

Colours
These days there are any number of colours to choose from, from the plain, boring and obviously functional dark colours to the bold and bright, stripy and floral, checked and chic. And because of the washable fabrics available, there's no reason why these more colourful numbers should be any less functional than navy blue. Plenty of these bags could have a life beyond (or even before!) babies, whether they go on to be weekend bags, beach bags or laptop carriers.

If you want the man in your family to be able to use the changing bag then you might want to be considerate about the colour - not all men will be happy traipsing around with a stripey pink bag on their shoulder.

Cute and practical - Fleurville's Escape pod: £45

Handbag styles

Small handbag-style changing bags are simply not for the men. They can be perfect for when you want to look really smart, sleek and elegant - with not a trace of mumsiness - yet carry everything you need for a couple of changes. Some of these bags look as smart as designer handbags, others are designer handbags, but made for mums in mind.

Simply lovely - Kate Spade Fulham Vickie: $335

Generally these bags can carry a lot less, so they're obviously not suitable for long days out or overnight stays. There'll also have fewer accessories and inner pockets. But you should still look for an easily wipeable inner lining, lined inner pockets, a roll-up changing mat and somewhere secure for your personal effects.

It's perfectly possible to get very smart handbag-style changing bags with washable exteriors, but clearly if you opt for a patent leather bag or similar, you'll have to take particularly good care of it.

Multi purpose - Fleurville's Sling Tote: $130

Variations and conversions

Between those two styles of bags are a range of different shapes and sizes with several bags converting from a sling tote to messenger bag with a detachable strap, and/or to pushchair bag via detachable handle clips. Fleurville's new Sling Tote is one example (yet to be stocked in the uk).

Whatever your needs you should be able to find a bag to suit your taste and budget, and with bags that look this good you might find a couple...

Essential checklist

Size- Is the bag big enough to accommodate all your baby's changing things and your key items you need to take with you?
Cleaning - Will the bag be easy to clean? Can you wipe it down with a cloth?
Organisation - Is the bag well organised inside with enough pockets of the required shapes and sizes?
Strap - Does the bag have a comfortable padded strap if it's large enough to need one?
Man friendliness If your man's going to need to carry the bag is it something that will spare him his blushes?