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Congratulations, you are pregnant!  But are you ready to go shopping?! 

Choosing the right products for you and your baby is exciting, but at the same time, it can be confusing and all too often, overwhelming.  We are so fortunate these days to be spoilt with choice but when making decisions about what to buy for the pending arrival of your little person, having so much choice can be all too much.

You will be sure to get advice from everyone – family, friends, friends of friends and sometimes even strangers.  Whenever I am presented with too many options I try to remind myself that “there are many ways to skin a cat”.  Sometimes, you just have to jump right in, feet first and make a choice.  Whatever that choice is, remember, it will not be wrong if it is right for you!  And sure, there will probably be alternate products that may have done the job better, differently or more easily but you know what, it doesn’t matter.  The product you choose will do the job and as long as you and your baby are not in harms way, it will be fine.

So, how do you choose the right Baby Bag for you – the accessory that usually makes it onto every Mum-to-be’s ‘inventory’ list.  It’s not until you actually start looking that you realise how many baby bags are on the market and boy they vary.

After A LOT of market research and of course, a Mum myself here is our 5-step guide to choosing the right Baby Bag for you:

1. Colours – You might not think this is so important but nowadays Dads take a more active role in bringing up their children. So, if you’re hoping Mr Right will carry the bag (at least some of the time) he will be a lot more willing to do so if it does not have pretty prints or is a bright pink colour?  (I’m just saying…)
2. Size – don’t underestimate the amount of ‘stuff’ you will need to carry in your baby bag. There is nothing worse than having to carry two bags because one just isn’t enough.
3. Weight – when you are selecting you bag and putting various models on your shoulder to see how they feel, try to imagine the bag filled with a million things – creams, water bottles, milk bottles, food (for you and baby), nappies, clothes, changes of clothes (for you and baby). If it feels ok when it’s empty, it is sure to be too heavy when you’re actually a mum.
4. Ease of maintenance – there’s nothing worse than spilling a bottle of milk or mushy baby food in your bag (and believe me, you will!). If you cannot clean it up easily without that lingering odour or residue then it really isn’t worth it.
5. Durability – Sounds silly but once you’re on your second or even third nappy bag because the others have worn our or broken, you will understand what I mean. It is worth asking if you expect this bag to last multiple children, whether would you like it to be used after your baby is out of nappies (most children are toilet trained around 2 years of age), can you take it travelling, use it when they start their learn to swim classes.

Can you put your bag on concrete, wet grass, sand and not worry about it getting damaged? You don’t want to be looking for a ‘safe’ place to put down your bag every time you are out and about – it’s just too hard when you’re looking after a baby or toddler.

TIPS:

• Always have your nappy or diaper bag pre packed (with the exception of food and milk) so you are always ready to leave the house.
  As a new Mum, quick exits are almost impossible, just as you are locking the door there is more often than not a pooy nappy, a vomit or a screaming little person.  If your baby bag is packed and ready to go that is one less thing you have to do.  It saved me a million times.
• PRICE – You may wonder why Price or Budget has not been mentioned. Once you have carefully considered all of those points (and probably a million more) I guarantee there will bag within your budget – remember, we are spoilt for choice.
• Beware of the complimentary Accessories, more often than not they truly do end up in the bottom drawer. They add weight and unnecessary ‘stuff’ in your already full bag.  And besides, if the accessory is really needed, you will be likely to receive a better version as a gift so you don’t need two!
• Pockets, the more the merrier right? As new mums we think we’re going to be super organised and that includes our nappy bag. But how many of our handbags are neat and tidy? How many of us rummage through the pockets to find lipstick, change or a pen? The only difference with your nappy bag is that instead of lippy it’s baby wipes, rather than coins, it’s a dummy. Take if from me and many mums before me, the more pockets you have the more frustrating it is.. With a screaming baby, pooy nappy or vomit, you really do not want to be looking through six pockets to find a wipe – truly, just a couple of pockets enough for your essentials, beyond that, it’s free for all!

To see if our Nappy Bag is right for you, click here