Cath Kidston vs OiOi - Round 1 (Changing Bags in General)

Member Name: numummy

Product:	Changing Bags in General
Date:	02/10/08 (965 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Carry all options for busy mummies

Disadvantages: Cumbersome and space stealing

When carrying No.1 son, and still earning a wage, I decided to treat myself to a changing bag from Cath Kidston (www.cathkidston.co.uk). It was a lovely pale blue with a vintage rose print, and contained a matching roll up changing mat and bottle insulator. It was very pretty and cost me around £50.00 if I remember rightly (a lot has happened since then!).
It was great for days out as I could fit in lots of nappies, a bottle, change of clothes for baby in case of 'accidents', wipes etc., and the oilcloth fabric meant it was wipeable, which was very handy.
However, babies needs change so quickly, that I soon needed to carry less changing stuff, more food stuff, which didn't fit in quite so well. Round tupperware+rectangular bag=not so useful. The changing bag was consigned to storage, and in its place I made do with a 'free' bag from the cover of a magazine for sometime.

The arrival of No.2 Son a year later saw me still using this now inadequate freebie, so my very kind and extravagant hubby treated me to a new changing bag (the old one was locked miles away in storage but thats another story!).

This was a large £50.00 OiOi bag, from an independent retailer in Winchester, in dark grey and aqua, and looked the business.
I have to say it was more impressive than the CK bag, as it had lots of pockets for stashing stuff, a changing mat, a plastic box I assume for wipes and a plastic wallet, which could have been for anything but I never used it! The design was stylish and slightly more masculine, & probably more appropriate for boys bits! I think it might have had a bottle insulator, but think No.1 son might have added this to his stash of stolen property a long way back!
On a short excursion I would normally carry:
x6 nappies (varying sizes)
Wipes
Umpteen nappy bags
change of clothes for No.1
change of clothes for No.2
Bottle & carton of milk
Several muslins
Purse
Snack for No.1 + drink cup
Lipstick and powder
Mobile
Car keys
Crayons for No.1 (usually as an extra snack!)
Taggie/soft toy for No.2

I could fit it all in reasonably enough, but the main flip side was that having a Phil and Teds meant No.2 was bumped on the head if I hung the bag over the bars of the buggy, so it had to be put in the underbasket, which left NO room for anything else and made it fiddly to access my stuff.

It was too heavy and large to carry comfortably on my shoulder, and not good for a post-pregnancy back. (good for hiding a mummy tummy though!!)

As money has to stretch further these days, I probably wouldn't buy one for myself, as I am already back to my freebie faithful for nipping out and about, saving the OiOi for longer days out.
It was a nice item to have, and didn't make me feel so out of place at the weekly yummy mummy gathering that is the Health Visitor Clinic, but it didn't turn me into one all the same!
My pregnant cousin has reserved it for use when her little one arrives so it wasn't a waste, and has served some purpose and worn well.

As with many of my reviews, I would say one to consider if you have the readies, but if you are a frugalista (I am now trying to be!), there are billions of other options (my friend doesn't use a bag at all but just shoves it all in her buggy basket which is one way of doing it!)

Happy changing!

Summary: Not a total waste of money but consider your longer term needs too