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Photo of Babymel Amanda Printed Changing Bag in
Jungle Floral Hot Pink. Photo courtesy of Babymel. |
My sister-in-law had been asking me if I could get her a changing bag to review as she was fed up with trying to pack all her necessary baby gear into her current Boots Parenting Club changing bag. She was struggling to get everything in and she really wanted a prettier bag. The Boots one is very practical as it is black and has an adjustable shoulder strap… but she wanted something with a bit more pizazz! Well…let me introduce you to the award winning
Babymel! They make really gorgeous changing bags that every yummy mummy would be proud to be seen with! My sister-in-law was ecstatic when I told her that Babymel had said she could pick a bag from their site to review and keep.
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| Tags on Babymel changing bag. |
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| Tags on Babymel changing bag. |
In the end she made her decision….the Amanda Printed in Black and White Floral. The bag can be pre-ordered for the beginning of July. But my sister-in-law was one very lucky lady as she was sent the bag early!!!
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Photo showing Babymel Amanda Printed Changing
Bag in Black and White Floral Print. |
But I was even luckier! The kind people at Babymel HQ had decided to send me a couple more bags to review. 🙂 This made my day….I could now be the proud owner of a Babymel bag too!
I was sent the Amanda Printed in Jungle Floral Hot Pink which is one of their new releases and I was also sent the changing bag called the Big Slouchy. This is one of their new changing bag styles for Spring Summer 2011. The olive green colour I received is not yet available but you can pre-order it for the beginning of July.
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Photo showing Babymel Big Slouchy
Changing Bag in Olive. |
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All Babymel changing bags feature their patent pending StrollerStraps. This is a unique strap that velcros around the handles of your pushchair and this then keeps the bag securely attached. The Strollerstraps are in addition to the shoulder strap (except for on the Tool Belt. This only has the strollerstraps.)
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| Photo of Strollerstrap courtesy of Babymel |
1- Lift up velcro strap
2- Pull strap through ring
3- Wrap strap around stroller handle. Thread strap through ring
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Photo showing Babymel Big Slouchy
Changing Bag in Olive. |
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The Strollerstraps on these bags really make the Babymel bags worth the premium price. It is so reassuring to know that your bag is securely attached to your buggy and not just dangling over the handlebars by a shoulder strap. Obviously it can’t 100% eliminate someone trying to steal your bag …but I would say it would certainly put them off trying!!
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Photo showing Babymel Big Slouchy
Changing Bag in Olive. |
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At first I didn’t think I would really use the strollerstraps much as I am so used to just hanging the bag over the bars and old habits die hard. However I am pleased to say that I like the added security but also the fact that when the bag is fixed to the handlebars it eliminates the bag swinging backwards and forwards when I am scrambling around trying to dig out my purse or keys from the bottom of the bag. Also using the strollerstraps bring the bag higher up the back of the pushchair which is much more convenient to access the bag but also better for when the seat is reclined on the buggies that I own.
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Photo showing Babymel Big Slouchy
Changing Bag in Olive. |
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If you choose to use the strollerstraps it does take a little extra time than just putting the shoulder strap over the handlebars as you have to unfasten the velcro and then refasten it around the handles. This is only takes a minute though…probably less than that. It’s worth taking that extra minute though if it can help prevent you have your bag nicked though.
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Photo showing Babymel Big Slouchy
Changing Bag in Olive. |
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The Amanda Printed bag is available in 6 designs. There is the black and white floral that my sister-in-law picked, the Jungle Floral Hot Pink that I received, the Jungle Floral Blue, the Linear Floral Red and Black, the Seaside Stripe Multi and the Seaside Stripe Pink. My favourite is definitely the vintage style print of the Jungle Floral print that I received. I love the faded hues of the floral pattern …It is very shabby chic! Just what I love (as you’ll know if you read my blog regularly).
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Colour chart courtesy
of Babymel |
The Amanda bags that we received have an adjustable shoulder strap featuring the strollerstraps, an insulated zip-pocket (which is innovatively concealed in the side of the bag), a large pocket on on the back of the bag that fastens with a magnetic clasp, two deep pockets on the front of the bag, a medium sized zip-up pocket on the inside of the bag for phone, camera, etc, 5 deep elasticated pockets on the inside (3 on one side and 2 on the other) and a padded changing mat that fits in one of the interior pockets when it is folded up and fastened shut with the velcro closure.
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Photo showing changing mat for the Babymel
Amanda Printed Changing Bags. |
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My sister-in-law loves the black and white floral print on the Amanda Printed bag and she thinks it looks very classy. She likes that the black and white design goes with most outfits and pushchair colours. She has nothing bad to say about the bag at all. She thinks she can get a bit more in this bag than her previous Boots one and as this one also has lots of pockets it is much easier to organise the bag and pack it efficiently. She loves the idea of the concealed zip-up bottle pocket in the side of the bag as the baby bottle or drink can be easily accessed and you don’t need to search through your bag for it. She is not so keen on the bulkiness of the changing mat though as it takes up more room in her bag than her old changing mat did.
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Photo showing Babymel Amanda Printed Changing
Bag in Black and White Floral Print. |
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The strollerstraps have proved to be indispensable on my sister-in-law’s bag as she has a quinny buzz pushchair and she doesn’t really have anywhere to hang her changing bag from. The handles on the buzz are quite upright and there is nothing to stop the bag just dragging along the floor. If you Google Quinny buzz you will see what I mean. She has the special mini quinny bus changing bag that attaches under the pushchair but it is too tiny to be able to carry all the things you need for a day out with a baby or toddler….unlike the spacious Babymel bag.
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Photo showing Babymel Big Slouchy
Changing Bag in Olive. |
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She is absolutely over the moon to own this changing bag and it is being used daily. She has had lots of admiring comments from everyone and she said she would definitely pay the price of £49.95 for the bag.
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Photo showing Babymel Amanda Printed Changing
Bag in Black and White Floral Print. |
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I too am delighted with the Hot Pink Jungle Floral Amanda bag that I received. This bag is just up my street because of the retro floral print. When I first browsed through the Babymel site this was the bag that really called out to me. I am so grateful that Babymel also heard the bag calling ‘My Mummy Reviews, My Mummy Reviews’ and went ahead and sent it to me!
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Photo showing Babymel Big Slouchy
Changing Bag in Olive. |
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I love the strollerstraps and the amount of pockets on the bag is fantastic. I love being able to organise my bag so that I know where to find things in a hurry and the pockets really help me to do this. If you have read My Mummy Reviews before you will know that I already have my dream changing bag in the form of the red spot changing bag from Miracle Bag but I am pleased to say that I now love this Babymel bag too. It is about half the size of the Red Spot bag so very convenient for when I am just popping out for a short while. I can fit most things into the bag and I love the Signature Babymel heart charm for your keys that came with all the bags. It’s a lovely added extra and it’s very pretty.
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Photo showing Babymel Big Slouchy
Changing Bag in Olive. |
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Just like my sister-in-law I love the bottle pocket concealed in the side of the bag. I have never seen this on a changing bag before and I use it all the time for my daughter’s drink bottle. I like the fact that the changing mat is nice and padded and that it closes with velcro as it helps to eliminate the mat unfolding and taking up too much room in the bag. I have found that the bag has got slightly grubby but I expect that is down to the fact that the base colour of the bag is a beige/white colour and thus it shows up the dirt. The bag can be wiped clean though so I don’t have to worry too much about it getting slightly dirty as I know I can clean it down with a damp cloth.
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Photo showing Babymel Big Slouchy
Changing Bag in Olive. |
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Overall I love this vintage look bag and I shall continue to alternate it’s use with my red spot miracle bag. The only thing I am not too keen on is the beige canvas shoulder strap as I think it shows up the dirt too much and although you can wipe it clean I don’t think it is as easy to keep tidy as the body of the bag. If you would like to view the Babymel Amanda Printed bag please click
here. If you would like to view the alternative versions of the Amanda bags… the Amanda Quilted and the Amanda Zipper please click
here.
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Photo showing bottle bag for Babymel Big
Slouchy Changing Bag in Olive. |
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The Big Slouchy bag is made from a shiny laminated canvas material which is fantastic as it is so easy to keep clean. You just wipe it down with a damp cloth or even a baby wipe when you are out and about .(I use baby wipes for everything! Dusting, cleaning food stains off the carpet, cleaning toys . . .) The olive colour of the bag is ideal as it will not show the dirt very much and it is also quite unisex so your husband/partner will not mind using the bag when they take the kids out.
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Photo showing changing mat for Babymel Big
Slouchy Changing Bag in Olive. |
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The Big Slouchy bag also comes with a heart keyring and a fold-up changing mat. The mat with this one has a laminated exterior so it is even easier to keep clean. The Big Slouchy does not have a concealed bottle pocket like the Amanda bags, instead it comes with an insulated bottle bag. The bag has 4 deep elasticated pockets on the interior of the bag , an elasticated pocket on each end of the exterior of the bag and a large pocket with velcro closure on one side of the bag. The Babymel website have made a mistake in their description of the Big Slouchy bag on the website as they describe the bag as having 4 outer pockets when there are 3, they say there are 2 inner pockets when there is actually 4 and they say there is a zip-up interior pocket when there isn’t.one. I’m sure this was a genuine mistake and I’m sure it will be rectified straight away.
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Photo showing Babymel Amanda Printed Changing
Bag in Black and White Floral Print. |
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Photo showing Babymel Amanda Printed Changing
Bag in Black and White Floral Print. |
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The Olive coloured Big Slouchy comes with a beige shoulder strap like my Jungle floral Amanda and like I said before I’m not keen on this colour for the strap as it shows the dirt so easily and that is the last thing you want on an expensive changing bag. My mum loves this bag and she has nicked it off me. She says she intends to use it as a normal day to day handbag not as a changing bag (as she has no use for one of those anymore!).
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Photo showing Babymel Amanda Printed Changing
Bag in Black and White Floral Print. |
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The Big Slouchy costs £45.00 and is available in Olive, Black, Navy and red. My personal favourites are the red and black ones. If you would like to view the Babymel Big Slouchy please click
here.
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Colour chart courtesy
of Babymel |
In conclusion we have all decided that we love the Babymel bags! They are made to a high standard and the strollerstraps are a fantastic idea. It is great for peace of mind to know that if you need to you can wipe clean the interior and exterior of the bags . . . definitely essential on a changing bag. The bags are more money than I would personally pay but my sister-in-law has said that she would happily pay the higher price for them. I am by nature a bargain hunter so I would buy one of the bags…but I would wait for a sale or look for a discount code. 🙂
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Photo showing Babymel Amanda Printed Changing
Bag in Black and White Floral Print. |
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Babymel have some really innovative ideas for changing bags such as the award winning Babymel X2 which is a set of two matching bags in different colours that can be clipped together or used separately. The bags are perfect for mums of twins or people with 2 children. If you would like to view the Babymel X2 please click here.
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Photo showing Babymel Amanda Printed Changing
Bag in Black and White Floral Print. |
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Babymel was started back in 2006 by Mumpreneurs Melanie Marshall and Suzi Bergman. They also co-founded the deluxe baby changing bag brand
Storksak which is popular with celebrities such as Danni Minogue and Jools Oliver. Since launching their first Babymel bag (the Amanda bag ) back in Spring 2007 the company has gone from strength to strength.
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Photo showing Babymel Amanda Printed Changing
Bag in Black and White Floral Print. |
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To visit the Babymel website please click
here and don’t forget to follow them on
Facebook and
Twitter.
