Essential nappy changing accessories for parents
While nappies and wipes are the vital pieces of kit for a nappy change, these days there is a host of additional accessories to make regular nappy changing a little easier.
1. Lupilu Nappy Sacks, 85p for 150
Lupilu’s Nappy Sacks impressed us by being functional at a fantastic price.
Less than a penny each, every bag is perfectly sized and has a fresh fragrance designed to not only mask smells but neutralise them too.
The pack also has a clip-top lid, a premium feature for such a bargain product, which helps keep curious hands safely away from bags.
A nappy sack might not be the most glamorous purchase, but its power is not to be underestimated – get it wrong and you’ll have unwanted odours that linger, and no one needs that.
MFM tester Krystie says: “Love these nappy sacks. I’ve even had comments on how nice they smell! Highly recommend.”
Available from: Lidl
2. Water Babies Twinkle Twinkle changing mat, £12.99
Getting your baby dressed and undressed for swimming is enough to make any parent break out in a cold sweat, but the Silver-award winning Water Babies Twinkle Twinkle changing mat takes the stress out of it all.
Made from super soft and naturally antibacterial neoprene, it proves a warm, soft surface for your baby to lie on for a change. It doubles up as a mat to place your little one on while you're jumping safely into the pool.
Super lightweight, it’s really easy to roll up and slide into your changing bag, wash and re-use.
MFM tester Rayna says: “I loved this changing mat. Easy to store and pack away and not cold on my baby’s back like normal changing mats.”
Available from: Water Babies
3. The Wriggler, £44.95
Changing fidgety baby bums is practically an Olympic sport, but The Wriggler changing mat makes the process ever-so-simple.
Say goodbye to your little one flipping over and crawling away – adorable bear arms hold your mini wriggler in place, a godsend considering you’ll change around 6,500 nappies on average before potty training.
The same price as the Shnuggle Squishy Cosy Changing Mat, the Shnuggle is a more permanent, practical feature in the nursery that is big enough to last into the toddler years, while The Wriggler is a more portable option and can be rolled up and taken out.
Parents say the snug hold and cute design of the bear keep little bums in place, a big win.
MFM tester Kafayat says: “I like that it can be used as both a standard changing mat, as well as in wriggler mode. It definitely appears to have a calming effect on my child.”
Available from: The Wriggler
4. Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment 30g, £3.99
Hailed by parents as a saviour of sore bums time and time again, Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment has proved its worth as one of the most essential parenting must-haves.
An impressive 9 out of 10 parents would recommend the provitamin B5 formula, which is free from perfumes, colourants, preservatives, and parabens and helps to effectively soothe nappy rash and form a breathable barrier to protect from the causes.
Many mums are passionate about the healing powers of this great-value cream that’s been cherished for years. As MFM tester Meena says: “It’s a great product that works well and for a good price.”
Available from: Amazon, Boots and Superdrug
5. Shnuggle Squishy Cosy Changing Mat, £44.95
A changing mat that’s squishy and cosy for little bottoms sounds good to us and we can confirm the Shnuggle Squishy Cosy Changing Mat lives up to its name.
A high-quality changing mat, it has a checklist of smart design features – the squashy material stays at room temperature, so there are no skin-chilling vinyl surfaces that stick to bums here, plus the raised edges help keep baby in place.
The mat lies at a slight incline, which is great for babies with reflux. Similar in price to The Wriggler, the Shnuggle has a longer lifespan – it’s portable and thick enough to use on its own, has an easy-to-clean surface and can even be used for tummy time and baby massage.
Available from: Shnuggle or Amazon
6. Tommee Tippee Sangenic Tec Nappy Disposal Tub, £27.99
Unless eau de nappy is the next big thing in fragrance, no one needs that aroma wafting around their house.
A nappy bin has worked its way to the top of most parents’ must-have shopping lists and the Tommee Tippee Sangenic Tec Nappy Disposal Tub is a leader in the field.
Its odour-busting technology twists and wraps each nappy in a fresh portion of multi-layer antibacterial film to lock away smells. As well as protecting against germs, it promises to be 100 times more effective at odour protection than nappy sacks.
It holds 28 nappies at a time, which means considerably fewer trips to the outside bin in the rain – score.
Available from: Amazon, Argos and Asda
7. Natural Like Me Day and Night Barrier Balm for toddlers, £9.99 for 60g
This all-purpose balm from Natural Like Me efficiently soothes sore bums and works its magic on patches of dry skin, too.
Free from parabens and other nasties, it comes in recyclable packaging and is a lovely, natural formula, made up of lavender and almond oil.
It’s pricier than nappy changing staple Bepanthen and the screw-top lid proved tricky for some of our judges to open one-handed, but they all agreed it had a sweet smell and it sunk into skin easily, making it feel super soft.
Available from: Toddler Barn
8. Onco Melody changing bag, £65
Backpack-style nappy bags are having a major moment with parents right now and the Onco Melody changing bag is the cream of the crop.
Offering serious space, easy access and more compartments than you can shake a stick at, it ticks all our practical boxes for a changing bag, but best of all – it looks pretty stylish too.
Our judges love its large zipped front pocket, internal bottle holders and easy access side pockets and they commented on how easy and comfy it was to wear, too.
Price-wise it’s pretty competitive, especially considering the lifespan of the bag has the potential to go well beyond the baby years. Plus it comes with a travel changing mat, wash bag and buggy clips, making it a worthy investment.
Available from: Amazon
9. Mum & You 100% Biodegradable Baby Wipes, £8.99 for 6 pack
If you thought an eco-friendly baby wipe would mean settling for a material that breaks in half midway through a change (no thanks), think again. Mum & You 100% Biodegradable Baby Wipes are completely naturally derived and biodegradable, making them as gentle on your baby’s skin as they are on the environment.
The brand’s green credentials don’t mean they compromise on quality, either – the wipes are strong enough to tackle even the biggest of nappy explosions or the stickiest face, yet gentle enough on the environment to biodegrade.
MFM tester Angelita says: “Since using these wipes I will never use any other brand. They tick all the boxes – good for the environment, strong, kind to my baby’s skin and a good price.”
Available from: Amazon, Mum & You and Ocado
10. Pampers Aqua Pure Wipes, £2.70
Made with 99% pure water and just a touch of organic cotton, Pampers Aqua Pure Wipes are kind to delicate skin, a must-have quality for anything that comes into contact with a precious newborn.
Our testers highly rated the wipes’ cleaning power, how easily dispensed they are and how moist they feel.
While they don’t contain much more than water, they still deliver the Pampers signature outstanding performance – restoring your baby’s natural pH with every use.
MFM tester Rebecca says: “Great packet, although the wipes are much shorter than the actual packet. They didn’t cause my son any irritation and they were neither too wet nor too dry. Overall really impressed with these wipes!”
Available from: Asda, Amazon and Boots
11. Ikea Sniglar Changing Table, £25
With the super useful Ikea Sniglar Changing Table at your disposal, the days of bending over and potentially hurting your back as you change your baby’s nappy are long gone.
At the perfect height for a no-bend nappy change, this practical piece of furniture will save sore backs and its storage shelf underneath keeps everything from wipes to nappy cream all within easy reach.
It comes in beech or white and it’s slim enough for even the smallest of spaces.
Its understated, streamlined look will disappear into the background of most nurseries – just pop your changing mat on top and you’re all set.
Available from: Ikea
12. Mamas & Papas Welcome to the World Nappy Stacker, £29
Start as you mean to go on with a nursery that’s spic-and-span – this charming Mamas & Papas Welcome to the World Nappy Stacker will help keep nappies in order and it looks charming to boot.
Part of the brand’s beautiful Welcome to the World range, which comes in on-trend soft grey and white and includes curtains and bedding, this simple organiser keeps nappies within easy reach and it easily attaches to dressers and wardrobes.
It’s machine washable and featuring an adorable bunny and hand-pleating, it will make the perfect finishing touch to your nursery.
Available from: Amazon
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