• A changing bag is an essential item that you need when leaving the house with your baby, so you have everything on hand when you need to change your baby.

• You need to make sure your changing bag has enough storage for everything you need to pack in it, is easy to keep clean, suits your style preference and is comfortable to carry.

• Some of the most important changing bag essentials include nappies, wipes, nappy bags, a spare change of clothes, bottles and formula (if formula feeding), soothers, muslin cloths and nappy rash cream.

• To keep your changing bag organised, stick to set compartments and places for each item, fold everything neatly to help you keep track of where everything is, place everything you use the most closer to the top of the bag, and use travel sizes products (e.g. nappy cream) where you can to save space and make it lighter.

Small babies need their nappy changed between 10-12 times a day, so if you’re planning to leave the house without incident, you’ll need a changing bag.   

There’s endless advice out there about what you should and shouldn’t pack (often, everything but the kitchen sink), so it can be hard for any newborn parent to decide what they really need.

While you won’t need to drag a suitcase around every time you pop to the shops, there are a few changing bag essentials you’ll need to take to make the trip enjoyable for you (and your baby).

If you’re struggling to decide, we’ve got you covered as we dig into whether a nappy bag is needed and what exactly should be in it.

Do I need a baby changing bag?

Yes, having a baby changing bag is an essential item for when you’re out of the house. Taking a changing bag with you whenever you leave the house means you’re fully prepared for when your baby needs a nappy change, making your life much easier and trips out of the house much more enjoyable.

You can technically use any bag to hold your change time essentials. However, specially designed changing bags are durable, easy to carry, and give you all the space you need to keep organised, with everything in one place.

What to look for in a nappy bag

Getting the right changing bag is key to make sure it has enough space and compartments that you need. Here are a few things you might want to consider before deciding which baby bag you go for:

• Does it have bottle storage? Built-in and insulated bottle compartments will keep expressed or formula milk at the right temperature ready for the next time they’re ready for a feed when you’re out and about.  If your go-to changing bag doesn’t have insulated bottle storage, we’ve got you. Shop our insulated bottle bags here.

• Does it come with a built-in changing mat? A detachable changing mat means you can comfortably change your baby’s nappy anytime, anywhere. A true lifesaver! If you can’t find a bag with a built-in changing mat, foldable alternatives won’t take up too much room.

• Does it have a dirty nappy compartment? If you can’t throw away dirty nappies immediately (believe us, it happens), you’ll want to keep them separate from their clean clothes and other essentials.

• Is it easy to clean?  Bags made from washable, wipe-clean fabrics make those (inevitable) messy moments much easier to handle.

• Are there plenty of pockets?  Who doesn’t love pockets? For parents on-the-go, nappy changes need to be fast and fuss-free. We particularly love bags with see-through mesh pockets and a light-coloured interior, so we can reach for all our bits and bobs in a flash.

• Does it suit your style? Consider not only the style, shape, colour and fabric, but whether the bag will feel comfortable for you to carry. Lots of changing bags can be worn multiple ways, come with adjustable, detachable, and padded straps for comfort, or have clips that can be attached to your pram.

Nappy bag essentials for short outings vs long trips

Okay so you might not need to carry everything with you if popping out of the house briefly (or at least not as much of everything), but it’s still important to be prepared for any accidents that may happen.

For longer trips out of the house you’ll want everything we’ve mentioned above, but if you’re on a brief shorter trip, it might be handy to have a smaller bag that contains:

• 2-3 nappies
• Travel-size wipes
• Nappy bags
• Foldable changing mat
• 1 spare outfit
• Soother
• Bottle if they’re due a feed during that time