It’s time for another PN reader question and answer session. Amanda, who hails from Seattle, Washington, sent us an email asking us to give a few tips for organizing the changing table in her baby’s nursery. She seems to always be fumbling during diaper changing time, and as anyone who has wrestled with a fidgety baby knows, it’s important to be armed and ready!
No matter what the space constraints or type of changing table, we always recommend setting up the changing table for success. This is one area in the nursery we think it is important to have ready before baby arrives home. It’s also helpful the first few months after baby is born to have a mobile diaper caddy stocked and ready, so that you can move it around the house depending on where you and baby spend time. I’ve got lots of stairs in my house, so another diaper changing area was key for me.
WIN IT! In honor of our wonderful community, we are giving one lucky reader the Beautiful Butterfly 7-piece crib bedding set, which includes the diaper stacker seen in this video (A $189 value!). To enter, share with us by commenting on this post with any tip, challenge or story relating to your changing station to enter. Contest ends Friday, October 14th, 2011 at 11:59 PST.
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CONTEST CLOSED
The hardest part about changing the diaper is definitely if anything in between happens
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My tip is to have a clean diaper open and wipes out ready to go before you change the diaper that way when you do change the diaper everything is in hand is an easy task ,and no mess!
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We found we needed a changing station the night I was changing our new little guy on the bed next to daddy, who was sleeping. Between removing the old diaper and putting on the new one, he ‘let it fly’. Guess where it ended up? Needless to say, daddy was thrilled with buying a changing table!
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I haven’t gotten my changing station yet, when I do I really want one with little walls or rails to help me keep the baby safe!
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I honestly feel that changing tables are a waste of money. Use a changing pad and a small pillow on top of a dresser. Works just as good and is a complete space saver!
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when they are real little, I put a waterproof lap pad under their bum on the changer-on top of the soft, cozy pretty changing pad covers. So often, these get poop and things on them and it’s so much easier to throw the small pad in the wash than pulling the whole cover off to wash, pulling the new one on, etc. I like a wide bookcase-style changer with baskets to hold everything b/c I cloth diaper and it’s so nice to have a basket of each style, size, etc and all of the cloth wipes in one, all of the accessories and ointments and things in a small basket, all accessible I also keep extra lap pads and an extra change of clothes or 2 in a basket, just in case.
My best tip is to stock up on drug store disposable “underpads” or “bed pads”, the kind that they use at the hospital. For the first couple of months with a new baby, and for extra messy changes anytime, use the disposable pad on top of your changing pad. After the change, just scóop and and throw out the whole messy thing!
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I love my changing table. I have used it with all four of my little children. I have everything i need in baskets on the shelving. melaniecalcut@gmail.com
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Changing stations never seem to be convenient enough, I have always had problems with them
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I did not have a changing station. I used the floor.
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We have issues with our changing station because we cloth diaper and they can be very bulky, we had to find a system that allowed for lots of storage :)
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I have yet to create mine. Baby due in Nov( the fourth) I am actually moving on the 1rst. Cutting it close huh. I plan on using a changing pad on top of the dresser, or using the changing pad on the floor. This is my first child so we will have to see just what happens
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I follow both on twitter (@whitechocolatec) and tweeted here: http://twitter.com/whitechocolatec/statuses/124332195497259010.
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Our challenge was finding the perfect spot to put the changing station! Thanks for the chance! :)
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My tip is forget the cute changing pad cover. Every time I put ours on it is pooped/peed on immediately it seems, and it is a lot easier to wipe down and clean the naked pad!
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Chalese,
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Oh, and I did like and follow Project Nursery and NoJo.
I don’t have any changing table stories yet. While I am waiting to have a child of my own (03/05/12) I do know that with little boys a towel should be kept around their bottom after a bath until the diaper is ready to go on. Otherwise you will end up wet (not from the bath water).
If the changing station only comes with a thin changing pad buy a more substantial replacement, as once the baby can lift their head they can easily bang it back down and feel the wood through the pad. My daughter has the changing station, but I use the original thinner one on my bed to change my granddaughter.
My aunt made 2 pads for my son’s changing station using a foam mattress topper cut to fit and beautiful waterproof covers.
I’m sorry I don’t have any advice to give we’re expecting our first but thank you for the helpful tips!
Also, love PN and NoJo!
I’m just starting to set up my nursery so this is great help!
Thank you!
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My tip….don’t invest in a “changing table”…they become obsolete. Instead, put your changing pad and supplies on top of a nice piece of furniture, like a dresser, that will grow with the child! Not to mention…I don’t think changing tables are that attractive!
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our challenge was it was never convenient
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My changing station has wheels…the best thing ever….I can move it from room to room wherever I need it!
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I follow both on twitter and tweeted.
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My tip would be check at the end of each day to make sure you’re refilled for tomorrow.
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I try to keep ours simple and efficient! Necessity items ontop (even a diaper or two for the next round). I have our organized as wipes and creams along with a picture for our baby to look at. Then in our shelves we have the diapers on top, the second shelf is the refillable wipes package along with our bath items and baby kit. It seems to work for everybody, easy and efficient!! Always what a mom is looking for!
I really like your information Reader Q&A + Giveaway: Organizing the Changing Station thanks for sharing with us
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The best rule is “KEEP IT SIMPLE”.The changing table is always ready for the next change.Keep the essentials on top in a caddy(wipes,mustela,powder or the cream you use)…Baby’s favorite stuffed animals are a great distraction when changing.I have always used a cloth diaper or burp pad on top of the table so you don’t have to change the entire cover when those accidents happen.Always keep the diapers on the changing table,After a change and it’s put it the pail,see that the changing station is ready for the next time.It comes too soon.Fun to sing while changing…….Already love Project Nursery and will like NOJO right now!!!!!Remember,they all get potty trained so ENJOY THIS TIME IN YOUR BABIES LIFE!!!!
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Our biggest challenge seems to be remembering to refill the diapers and wipes. I constantly go for one and find the bin empty in the middle of a diaper change.
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We’re currently expecting our first baby and are just starting to set up the nursery. My biggest changing area concern is finding a way to keep everything organized and within reach, but still sanitary. It seems like you need so much stuff in such a small amount of space that you are bound to get baby’s “mess” on all your clean supplies. I will definitely be looking for cute waterproof storage options!
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I’m currently pregnant with my first baby. The biggest challenge I’ve faced so far is knowing what products I REALLY need to have. Some moms swear I need a wipes warmer while others insist it’s a dust magnet. I guess my husband and I will have to find out what works for us and our baby. :)
I recommend hanging a small wall shelf above the changing table for easy, quick, out-of-baby-reach, access. Before changing baby, you can have a set of everything you need on the shelf ready to go, then bring in baby and wa-la!
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I didn’t have a changing table so it was a mat and the floor
Love this! I’m 17 weeks and am just starting to explore all the ideas for the nursery. Look forward to your facebook posts!
i had a changing table for my daughter but i used it for the first baths so not to get belly button wet.. so really didnt use after that..every other place was more convenient.. but it was there and it looked fab
We’re expecting our first, so I don’t have any of my own changing table stories to share. I have a little sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters and her dresser is still the changing table dresser her mom bought when she was a baby. Surprisingly durable since it’s lasted 14 years.
Challenge! Moving baby diapers underneath. Wipes fall to the ground and mom only has two hands.
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I am going to actually admit how I completely broke my changing table! It was my first apartment and I was a single mom. Since I didn’t have a ladder or anything else to stand on, I somehow figured that the changing table was the PERFECT height, Needless to say, that wasn’t such a good idea….. Imagine my face when my whole body went right through it. I bet none of you can say you did that. hahahaha
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So far, our 7 week old daughter is doing well on our changing station, except that she is a very tall girl. Once those legs are arms get flailing she has kicked the rails of the changing table and it hurts on occasion. Are there bumpers for changing tables like they make for cribs?
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What to do with Desitin on your fingerss when you’ve just put it on the baby and have to attach the diaper tabs. Wipe your hands on inside of clean diaper
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well this may sound lame, but i’m pregnant right now, and my issue is finding the perfect items to put on the diaper changer, and the right diaper changing cover.. i need ideas!
I went with my niece as she changed her baby’s diaper in the bathroom of a restaurant, and I saw the challenges that young mothers face!
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For my first couple, we lived in such a small house that there was no changing table. I had a basket with everything I would need to change baby’s diaper. I kept one upstairs and one downstairs. Did lots of changing on the floor. Now our house is a little bigger. More room for more of baby’s stuff.
We used the top of a dresser as our changing table and we stored all of baby’s diapers and wipes etc in the top left drawer and all of her onsies and sleepers in the other top drawer so they were close while changing. I also had a mirror hung low next to the dresser so she could see herself and a haning mobile which really made changing easy!!
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Our changing station turned into a gymnastic mat so we had to move to the floor for safety reasons.
I agree, having everything ready to go, right by your baby is a must. We use cloth and pre-making diapers takes 5 minutes, but saves you from messes when you can switch them out quickly. I use a changing pad cover, but also use a clean, cheap, gerber diaper under baby’s bottom to protect from accidents and to wipe baby dry after using the wet-wipes and before powder. (No diaper rash yet!)
I use small sheets to put over my changing pad cover. that way if it gets messy while changing a diaper I don’t need to wash the cover. I just have to change the sheet. Oh and it water proofed
A must for us is something to distract baby! We have a mirror at eye level for our little boy. He’s always looking into it and cooing while I change him. Another great idea would be a mobile above the changing table. I haven’t done that yet but have seen it done before. Also, I always put my stash of extra wipes and diapers on the shelf below the changing station. Don’t want to have to pick up a poopy baby trying to find more wipes!