Changing mat for out and about: what really fits in the bag
The changing mat that lives on the changing table at home is usually big, padded and heavy. Out and about you need the opposite: something that fits in the bag, lies on any surface and is clean before the child has their clothes back on. What matters here, and where the usual options fail.
What a changing mat for out and about has to do
It has to fold flat. A rolled or padded mat takes up more room in the nappy bag than the nappies themselves. Folded flat, it lies at the bottom of the bag like a notebook. It should not weigh much, because you feel anything over 300 grams at the end of a day with a child on your arm. It should be wipe-clean and not merely washable, more on that in a moment. And it has to grip on the underside, so it stays put on the park bench or the hotel bed when the child turns over.
Most changing mats for out and about manage two or three of these. The cotton or terry changing mats fold well and weigh little, but soak up everything. The thin PVC or plastic-film changing pads wipe clean, but they slide about and smell of plastic when you unpack them.
Wipe-clean or washable: the difference that matters most
A washable fabric changing mat absorbs liquid. At home that is no problem, because the washing machine is three metres away. Out and about it means: after a wet change the mat is useless for the rest of the day, and it lies damp in the bag next to the spare bodysuit.
A wipe-clean mat absorbs nothing. That only works if the material is non-porous, meaning it has no fibres and no open pores that liquid can get into. Silicone leather is such a material. A damp cloth or a wet wipe, once over, done. The mat is ready for the next change, even if that is ten minutes later in the same café.
What silicone leather actually is and how it differs from PVC and PU faux leather is in What is silicone leather?
That is also why I consider a wipe-clean mat more hygienic than a washable one. Not because fabric is dirty, but because damp fabric sitting in a warm bag for hours is not something you want to put under your child next time.
Travel changing mat, changing mat, changing pad: which is which?
The three terms get used interchangeably, and the shops are no help. Roughly:
| Term | Usually means | For out and about |
|---|---|---|
| Changing pad | The padded topper on the changing table, often 50 x 70 cm or larger | Too big and too heavy |
| Changing mat | A flat mat you lay on any surface | The right format |
| Travel changing mat | The same as a changing mat, just another word for it | The right format |
So if you are looking for a changing mat or a travel changing mat for the bag, you mean the same thing. The changing pad stays at home.
Which size fits in the nappy bag?
A newborn is about 50 cm long, a one-year-old around 75 cm. The mat has to cover the bottom and the back, not the whole child. The head is on your arm, your jacket or the cushion anyway. In practice an area of around 65 x 35 cm is enough into the toddler years.
The Wriggle from Studio Huske is exactly this format: 65 x 37 cm, 200 grams, folded about the size of a notebook. It is meant as a changing mat and placemat, so it is deliberately small. For the eating phase at the table it is enough, for the floor under the high chair it is not. That is what the Roam is for. I would rather tell you that now than have you find out later and be disappointed.
Hygiene when changing away from home
Smooth side up, grip side down. The Wriggle has two sides with two jobs: the smooth one is the changing surface, the slightly rough underside holds on the bench or the bed and collects dust and hair while it does. That is its job, not a flaw. It is not meant to face up.
Wipe straight after the change, not once you are home. Damp cloth or wet wipe, back in the bag. At home, lukewarm water and a little mild soap. What really harms the surface is acid and bleach. With acid it comes down to how long it sits, so wipe up spills straight away and do not let them stand.
And: creases are normal. Fresh from the packaging, every folded mat has fold lines. They disappear with use, not with time in the cupboard.
The Wriggle is certified under OEKO-TEX Standard 100/1, the strictest class, the one that applies to products in direct contact with babies' skin. It is made of silicone leather, not PVC or PU, and smells of nothing when you unpack it.
What else the mat does
This is the part customers often write to me about: the mat was bought as a changing mat and then it stayed. As a placemat when starting solids, as a painting mat, as a mat in the hotel, on the desk. One mother, writing in German, put it like this:
"Ich habe die kleine Matte eigentlich als Tischset für später gekauft... als echten Gamechanger erwiesen." (I actually bought the little mat as a placemat for later... it turned out to be a real gamechanger.)
And another, after five weeks of travelling:
"This mat was such a lifesaver! We traveled for 5 weeks staying at hotels."
My own Wriggle now mostly sits under the coffee cup on my desk. For a stay in someone else's home, it is still the one I would pack.
Frequently asked questions
Which changing mat is best for out and about?
A flat, wipe-clean mat of about 65 x 35 cm with a non-slip underside and under 300 grams. Padded changing pads and absorbent fabric mats are impractical for the bag.
Is a wipe-clean changing mat more hygienic than a washable one?
Out and about, yes. A non-porous material absorbs no liquid and is ready to use again as soon as it is wiped. A fabric mat stays damp until the next wash.
How big does a changing mat for the nappy bag need to be?
Around 65 x 35 cm is enough into the toddler years, because only the bottom and back need to rest on it. Anything bigger quickly becomes unwieldy for the bag.
How do I clean a silicone leather changing mat?
Out and about with a damp cloth or a wet wipe. At home with lukewarm water and a little mild soap. Acid and bleach harm the surface, acid especially when it is left to sit.
All Studio Huske mats are made of silicone leather, OEKO-TEX Standard 100/1. See the changing mats.