IS THAT A CHANGING BAG? PACAPOD MIRANO REVIEW

Ever since becoming a Mum, I resigned myself to the fact I'd lost my identity. I was no longer Emily but instead 'Noah's Mummy' or Mama, and then Patrick came along and I because known as 'Patrick's Mummy' too. Had I really lost myself to motherhood? It sure felt like it for a while, everything changed, simple things like not being able to wear my hair down as it was yanked by chubby hands, or it fell in their delicate faces as I fed them. Settling for the fact I couldn't ever just leave the house, I'd have a bag to pack with 101 things and it took just as many hours to actually make it out of the front door. And though whilst all of this is true, there were some aspects of life that I didn't have to compromise on and how oh I relished them. Few and far between but firmly grasped at when they passed, I took real joy in those little things, and it just so happens, a changing bag was one of them.

Whilst Pacapod hasn't been around since the dawn of time, (ten years in fact) it has been around since my start in motherhood. I was a mere three months in when I faced my first Mothers Day, and deep in the struggle of working out who I was now I'd birthed a baby - Pacapod arose from the wrapping paper and suddenly I felt a little more like me again. Pacapod is a standard changing bag, from the inside, it has all the right pockets in all the right places, some snazzy pods so you're that little bit more organised than the rest of your baby group mothers and a changing mat to match. But at first glance, even second, third or fourth, you would truly have no idea that Pacapod is anything other than luxury handbag. Having owned both a Jura and Cromwell, I know how deceiving Pacapod are, 90% of the 'Oh I love your bag' questions, come from people without children, who are completely oblivious to the fact it's actually a changing bag and hosting an inordinate amount of nappies and wipes. It gives me far more joy that I'd care to admit when people retort with 'Oh, I didn't realise it was a changing bag', because that's exactly the reaction I want. I didn't want to gain a baby and lose my sense of style, I didn't really have much to depart with anyway and I have to hand it to Pacapod for really hitting the nail on the head with their designs. There isn't one bag I wouldn't chose to head out with, they're all so beautiful and the Mirano is no different.

So, why the Mirano? The choice is so vast with Pacapod, that it was truly hard to choose. But now I'm a Mum of two, I needed a lot more space in my bag, and the Mirano certainly doesn't compromise with space. Within one zip compartment you have your pods, what the brand pride themselves on and a complete unique selling point, till owning my first Pacapod I'd always had things in individual clear bags within my own bag, but they do it so much better. Secreted away at the back, inside I found the 'feeder' pod, perfect for hiding snacks if you parent two ravenous boys like me, but also equally as great if you're bottle feeding or weaning. Beside the feeder is the changing pod, with the plush changing mat tucked away at the back, you've got enough room to host plenty of nappies and wipes meaning you don't have to top up your bag every time you're leaving the house. I like to stick a load in there on a Sunday night and I know it'll last me all week. Over the years we've found real comfort in the pod aspect, especially when flying with the boys, it's meant I don't have to rummage around my handbag on a crowded plane whilst trying to balance a baby on my lap, I can simply reach for the pod I need and know where everything is in a instant. A little top tip, the pods can also be used as individual backpacks for older children - a genius idea and only reinforcing the glaringly obvious, that a parent designed the bags.

A changing bag isn't all about a baby, of course, and Pacapod really know their stuff with parenthood and my pet hate when I had my first son, was rummaging around through my bag trying to search for something. When a child needs something, they don't really have the capacity to wait, so trying to wade through nappies, wipes, keys, make up, and purses as well as all the other junk I carry around with me, to find a dummy or a sachet of calpol just wasn't cutting the mustard. Thankfully it's not a problem I have thanks to the division of compartments, a like to think of the pod side the 'baby business' and then main compartment is where I can host all of the things I never use when I'm out and about - as well as the essentials of course. I mean, I can't really remember the last time I had chance to reapply lipstick when out with the boys, but the fact I have the space to cart around the useless lipstick and therefore the option of multiple applications, settles me. It makes me feel a little bit less Mum and a little bit more Emily. The practicalities don't end there, with an across body strap along with pram straps, the Mirano is incredibly versatile and convenient for on the go. I can carry it on the crook of my arm, or attach it to our bugaboo if I need my hands free. The bag is hard wearing and wipes clean both inside and outside which I think when you have children is a must, as spillages are nothing but a guarantee.

Pacapod will always be my baby bag brand of choice, I'm over four years down the line in my Motherhood journey and the thought of adding to my collection thrills me more than it should. With each bag I've owned never looking much older than it did on the day of purchase, Pacapod really have hit the jackpot, and I'll forever recommend them. The Mirano sits comfortably at a price of £110, which when you compare to similar brands on the market, it's incredibly reasonable, you can easily rack up double the amount of a bag of much lesser quality and convenience.

*I was sent the Mirano in exchange for my honest review.