A case of vanity.... (Mamas & Papas Vanity Case & Top N Tail Bowl)

Member Name: sambam000

Product:	Mamas & Papas Vanity Case & Top N Tail Bowl
Date:	29/06/09 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well designed, robust, neutral colours.

Disadvantages: Expensive.

Living in a 3-storey house, I figured it would be quite useful to have a box to keep bits and pieces relating to nappy changing/grooming etc in the lounge, rather than running hither & thither from one floor to the next to find whatever it was I needed.

So, I shopped around at the usual suspects - Mothercare, Toys R Us etc, but found that most of the baby changing boxes were tacky, cheap, garish or adorned with some sort of decoration. Then I spotted a classier, more neutral looking vanity case at Mama's & Papa's.

The case is ridiculously expensive for what it is. I know M&P products do tend to be overpriced, but I felt £32 for a vanity case was daylight robbery! So, without actually seeing the case in person, only on the M&P website, I had a quick check on eBay to assess second-hand prices. There turned out to be a good resale market for these cases - it took a few bids on a few different auctions before finally winning a case. Postage was quite high since it's a large heavy item, but I still saved a lot of money.

The case turned out to be bigger than I was expecting, so perhaps better value than I first thought. Upon opening the case there is a matching 'top & tail' bowl which can be lifted out to access the storage underneath. (M&P do mention the fact that the vanity case comes with a 'free' top & tail bowl, valued at £6...make up your own minds as to whether that makes £32 for the set reasonable, when you can buy a top & tail bowl for 99p!).

The case then features a removable base tray which has handy storage to keep bottles etc upright. The lid of the case also features additional storage which I think would be handy for such as soiled clothing if out & about/on holiday with the case. The handle is soft & easy to grip & folds out of the way. The colour is a neutral beige, with a discreet M&P logo on the closure, making the case quite stylish & useful for mums as well as babies.

Other useful information: Weight: 2.3kg (including top 'n' tail bowl). Dimensions: H: 10 x W: 45 x D: 27cm approx.

Overall, this has been a really good buy. I can store all manner of bits & pieces & help keep my home clutter free. I think it will also come in handy when travelling as it is a very sturdy item & will keep everything safe & in one place.

Summary: Doesn't look out of place in a modern home & will keep your home clutter free...(in theory!)