Good changing bags come with a changing mat and bottle holder, which should, says the company, be expected as a minimum. 

Consumer advice forum AskBaby suggests your customer pack twice as many nappies as she thinks she might need, baby wipes, a changing mat and nappy sacks. Spare clothes are a must in the event of a nappy leak or food spill, and since the British weather is 'changeable' at the best of times, suggest packing clothes for all seasons!

Encourage your customer to take a look at your feeding range, emphasizing the importance of a good supply of drinks and snacks: "Whether it's a bottle of milk, trainer cup of water or a carton of juice," says AskBaby. How much feeding equipment your customer has room for depends largely on the bag she takes with her. Changing bags come in many different sizes, shapes and styles and can vary significantly in terms of functionality.

Don't forget to ask your customer where she is going and for how long. Swimming nappies or swimming costumes are well worth buying before a trip, to save paying inflated prices in holiday shops or hotels on arrival. Sun hats and sun creams should always be carried, other than in the bleak mid winter of course, as sun protection is vital - as is a first aid kit.

Whether away from home for the day or overnight, toys are important for relieving the boredom of a car journey or providing comfort and security overnight.

If your customer needs to save space and travel light, says AskBaby, there are several things on the market that will help: some brands of nappy are available in travel pack size; most brands of nappy are also available in resealable travel packs; travel potties come with disposable potty liners and fold up into a travel bag; while portable, inflatable, soft baby baths pack down very small and come in their own travel bag."Universal pushchair attachments (suitable for any make or model of pushchair) give parents the option to attach the bag to a pushchair to give their backs and shoulder a rest whilst allowing both hands free to attend to baby. A wet wipe case eliminates the need to carry around a large supermarket pack of wipes as you only carry what you need.”

If your customer is planning an overnight stay, a travel cot together with any associated items to help baby nap during the day or through the night, both during the journey and on arrival, will be useful. It might also be worth your customer taking their own travel chair or booster seat, so that baby can be sure of having somewhere comfortable to sit and eat at all times, in all locations.

With so much to remember, your customers will be relying on you to ensure they are never stuck without something they need. As ever, there are huge opportunities here for linking sales, from bibs to car and cot blankets, rattles to travel brushes, the possibilities for maximising your customers’ spend are endless.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---