With two kids we LOVE a roomy change bag. We’re not great at clearing them out so you can usually find the majority of the kids wardrobes stuffed in beside nappies, bum cream, wipes and enough bottles to keep an adult hydrated for a week. It’s almost like we’re envisaging an apocalypse every time we venture out the front door - Bear Grylls would be straddling somewhere between impressed and disdainful.
Our brand new Fun and Funky bag from Caboodle Bags certainly ticks the box in terms of space. It’s a super sensible 42cm x 33.5cm with a depth of 16.5cm giving it a life beyond carrying the kids essentials. It would make an ideal hospital bag if you’re due to drop, and we took ours as hand luggage on the plane to Lanzarote. With a nice metrosexual design it was perfect for daddy to sling over his shoulder in the airport - not a flower or a cupcake montage in sight, and the coordinating lime green zips give it an extra layer of interest for the style-conscious.
Yet there’s so many practicalities a good change bag should have. Pockets galore are essential for keeping food, drinks, medicines and ‘bum bits’ separate. We’ve all been there when your storage cup of breast-milk has drenched your nappy supply, or even worse, the cap escapes off your Metanium and coats the children’s jackets in yellow gunk. Well the Caboodle Fun and Funky design has a whooping five internal pockets. Each is really generous with all-important wipe proof lining to curb any cross-contamination and put an end to mishaps, and house any stowaway toys!
So that’s 5 pockets already before you consider the two outer pockets. If you haven’t discovered the advantages of side pockets yet, these will literally transform your outings. When Child 1 is running into newsagents and pinching Creme Eggs, and Child 2 is screaming from the pushchair, easy access to a bottle is essential for freeing up those hands and diffusing the situation. If you’re looking at a fancy change bag without these, don’t bother.
Change bags generally come rammed with extras too. The Caboodle bag is no exception with a coordinating changing mat, grubby stuff bag (fabulous if you’re faced with wet or poo-saturated clothing) and insulated bottle bag. These will set you back a good £25 if you buy them separately making its £40 price tag seem even more attractive.
Like Cath Kidston’s bags, our Caboodle Bag is made from oil cloth. If there is one thing I would recommend above all else when selecting a change bag, it’s this. Having a wipe clean material is just sooo essential. I have no idea why so many mums choose cloth when you think what a change bag will go through. It will be set down on the floor of public toilets, it will be set down on muddy grass, bottles will leak from the inside - It’s common sense to pick something that’ll survive parenthood.
Finally, like all good change bags, this one comes with a webbing handle for grabbing, and an adjustable shoulder strap for flinging over your pushchair… I know, I know we’re told not to hang things off buggy handles, but you’re going to do it anyway - Just be super aware you aren’t popping rocks in there or it’ll tip over your pushchair.
So do I love it? Yes. This is exactly what you want out of a change bag. Yes I have a super posh one for when I’m showing off, but for everyday, I can’t fault it. If you’re bucking the Pink Lining trend as you find it a little too twee (and expensive), this is the bag for you.
If you enjoyed this Fun and Funky Caboodle Bag Review, head to CaboodleBags.co.uk to buy your own, or follow on Twitter and Facebook for competitions, chat and more reviews.
