This week I have been given the opportunity to product test the Skip*Hop Forma Changing Bag Backpack, and so thought it was about time I did an update on my how to pack a changing bag post which I did about 6 months ago, as quite a few things have changed, and unfortunately and frustratingly the zip broke on my previous bag too, and what I take with me has vastly simplified, since the boys have come off milk during the day (they now just have it first thing and last thing), so it’s actually a great time for a new bag and a new blog post to tell you all about it. 😀
I have to say right from when I unpacked this bag, I really was super impressed with the quality and design of it, you know I always say it, but there are just some products on the market which have clearly been designed by parents of young children and there are some products which have not, this is definitely one which has!
This will be replacing my Ju-Ju-Be BFF which I have had since the boys were born and I did love the design and would say it is pretty as a picture, however, the zip got caught in the fold of material behind and has been dodgy ever since and considering the bag is marketed at £150+ I’m really not impressed with this happening and am as a result quite happy to be moving on from it to this Skip*Hop Forma, which is marketed at a far more reasonable £60-£70.
Features I really like:
- It’s a Backpack! – I’m really of the opinion; why are any changing bags anything other than a backpack? – I mean really guys! It’s just so practical (admittedly even more so with twins) to have your hands free when you are trying to deal with a little person/people!
- It’s a nice design, very similar to quilted jackets which have been so popular in recent years, it’s splash-proof and comfortable to wear and is gender-neutral so Mummy and Daddy can feel just as comfortable wearing and using it day-to-day. It also has really funky bright green lining to give it a bit of a designer edge and nice touches like a leather piece on the handle for a premium finish.
- It has a ton of internal and external pockets for all your needs, including two front pockets and insulated side pockets for drinks inside it includes a decent size changing mat and two internal pockets, ideal for wipes and bags.
- I actually love these two pop out pods which are included with the design…they make organising the contents even easier. I have been thinking for a while now, as my boys have now mastered zips, I need to store any of the medical supplies which I use in a separate bag within my changing bag to make them less accessible, so that is exactly what I have chosen to do with one of the pods and the other one I have used as an internal nappy bag which happily holds the four rolled size 6 nappies I take with me for a day out. 🙂
- The bag includes two clever clips to let you easily attach it to your buggy or pram with no drama and no separate products – what a great idea 🙂
Right, now my update on how to pack now I’m packing for two toddlers….
I’m still all about the rolling, it just saves so much space on everything which can be rolled, from clothes to muslins to nappies.
I still do always start off my changing back with a basic change of clothes, my boys are currently in 18-24 months clothes size and so I do still generally go for the sleepsuit and vest combo, as mentioned in my previous post, most the time, however I am aware that this will have to change into a proper outfit as we go into age 2-3, but I still plan to roll regardless, to keep things neat and as small as possible.
The second item I always pack two off is muslin squares; my goodness they have so many uses; comforter, wiper, bib, to name but a few, but so so useful to always have to hand when you are out and about. I fold these lengthways twice before rolling and then put a normal rubber band around them to keep them together (this is also how I store them in the nursery drawers so they are ready to go when I need to go). You may have seen in previous posts that I’m a big fan of machine dying second-hand/worn items, just a side note here that this works excellently for refreshing muslin squares as they are pure cotton, especially the white ones which do start to look both grey and stained with mass usage!
Next is bibs (at least 1 per child, sometimes 2 if doing multiple feeds whilst out), it actually took me till very recently to find that there is a larger material bib you can get called a “feeder bib” which is much more practical, as the name suggests, for both feeding solids and milk alike. Again with bibs, I fold in half and then roll and seal with a normal rubber band to keep them neat (again this is how I store them in the nursery drawers so they are ready to go), but don’t fret if you do forget your bibs, use your muslin squares folded in half to make a triangle first works as an excellent bib. :). Also one more point on bibs, always go for popper seal rather than Velcro, given the option when purchasing, as then you don’t need to remember to seal each one before washing in order to prevent them from ruining your delicates!
Please find photos and links below to some cute ones currently on the market:
- George at ASDA Zebra Print Bibs 2 Pack
- George at ASDA 4 Pack Muslin Squares
- George at ASDA 5 Pack of Short Sleeved Vest
- John Lewis & Partners Baby Long Sleeve GOTS Organic Cotton Zebra Sleepsuit, Pack of 3, Grey/Multi
Next, I’m going to list out the essential change items which I always pack, I am a great believer, having tried and tested, in supermarket own brands of all these items being just as good as big brands and much better value. I have linked Morrisons items below as this is where we currently do our weekly shop and we have been really happy with these and their equivalent at Tescos, Aldi, Salisbury’s and CO-OP:
It is nice to use Waterwipes on brand new babies, but not necessary usually after the first couple of months. Also in my ideal world, it would be nice to go for the biodegradable nappies like Naty, Bambo or Kit&Kin but frankly, with twins this was simply not financially viable, it does frustrate me that this is still not more mainstream in this day and age but I personally think that changing that should be down to the suppliers making it more affordable to the mass market rather than the consumer having to bankrupt themselves to be green.
Anyway I digress… here is my essentials list:
- A pack of Fragrance-Free Baby Wipes
- Petroleum Jelly/ Vaseline – I never leave the house without it as it’s so useful for any dry skin, but it is also a really good barrier cream for nappies, as advised by my HV so I always keep some in my changing bag
- Nappy Cream, I’ve found this Morrisons one to be a very good general cream and a little less sticky than Sudocream
- Nappy Sacks, these Morrison ones are really large so good for happily holding “double trouble” nappies or soiled clothes too.
- Nappies – I usually pack 4-6 when we go out so I know I will be covered, as I say I am more than happy with all the supermarket’s own brands.
- Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment – This stuff sinks, and I didn’t feel comfortable using it on newborns as it is strong, but my goodness does it work on that nasty, blistery nappy rash you get on a teething baby, definitely worth keeping in your bag for that!
- Baby Bonjela – Really has helped us many a time with teething discomfort when out and about
- Anbesol Liquid – Is the same active ingredient as Bonjela but it is a liquid so can be easier to administer
- Calpol – Yes I always have some on me, because it is a pretty much fail-safe for when all else fails and that in itself is a reason to always have it on you. To save space I take it out of the box and put a rubber band around it to hold the syringe on so it doesn’t get lost.
- Baby Sun Lotion is something I only keep in the bag during the summer months but is essential then so I thought I would add it to the list
- Antibacterial Hand Gel – well worth having in your tool kit if you are doing a change anywhere where there isn’t a sink! Also good if you want to use it to sterilise a changing area before or after changing your little, just squirt some onto a baby wipe and away you go! I like to go for the one with some added moisturiser so my hands don’t get destroyed in the process.
My final category is feeding items…
In terms of food, I generally pack a packed lunch now using a separate lunch bag, I put these Rex London ones on the boy’s birthday list last year and my lovely friend Marie bought them for them and we use them pretty much every homeday I have 🙂
In the changing bag, therefore, food and drink items are now happily limited to a bottle of water each in our Munchkin cups and a mini Tupperware or two of emergency snacks, generally rice cakes or raisins or both 🙂
- I found this Munchkin Straw Cup by accident really, I just liked the idea of trying a straw cup with the boys after seeing a Mummy friend using one with her little of the same age, as we do our online shop with Morrisons I thought I would do a search for straw cups and this one came up and its turned out to be a complete game-changer for water and for milk! The great thing about it is your kid can drink from any angle as it doesn’t leak (at least not very much at all, considering the level of abuse) and the straw is weighed at the end so follows the drink around the cup to the very end. This really is an amazing feature as my boys were struggling to understand to hold alternative cups at a specific angle in order for them to work :). I use these as water bottles for when I’m out and about.
- Little Clip Lock Boxes like these are so handy for carrying all manner of snacks in.
- Emergency Rice Cakes – have got us out of more than a few meltdowns, I usually have a little stock with me at all times in a Clip Lock Box. This brand is the best value I have found and are just flavoured and sweetened with natural fruit juice, so no nasties and the boys love them and they’re the perfect size for their little hands, you can also get equivalent own brand ones at Aldi a bit cheaper again – but man I wish Aldi did online delivery as I never make it there 🙁
- Raisins or Sultanas – please don’t waste your money on mini boxes, buy a big pack like this and put it in a small clip lock box 🙂
Right – that’s it! All the advice I currently have on packing a changing bag! I hope you have found it to be a useful read. I’d love to know anything else which has worked well for you, please do comment below. 🙂
You can see Skip*Hop’s full product range at skiphop.com
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I am open to doing product review posts, please contact me at jamjargill@gmail.com if you are interested in sending me a product free of charge to test and I will get back to you as soon as I can.