Do you really need a Baby Changing Station?
As a parent to be, its very easy to spend huge amounts of money on those essential pieces of nursery equipment which you think you will need to get you through those early days. But you really have to wonder how essential are ‘the essentials’? Parents with toddlers will be more than aware of just how much money is wasted on baby equipment which is supposed to simplify and ease the process of parenting but is in fact never really used!
According to most parenting magazines, one of the ‘essential’ pieces of furniture which ‘every nursery should have’ is a changing station. Before you go running to your local baby shop or searching for the cheapest deal online to get yours, save yourself the hassle, cost and effort of buying, using and having a changing table and consider the following facts:
- Changing your baby on an elevated surface can be dangerous. The SAFEST place to change your infant / toddler is at floor level.
- A changing table / workstation can cost from £80 upwards depending whether you wish to have a basic table or one which matches with a particular theme / brand name.
- A changing table takes up valuable room in your nursery / bathroom
- A changing table is simply another surface which can harbour germs and needs to be cleaned regularly!
So what you essentially want is a baby changing mat / waterproof sheet / towel to lay your child upon comfortably (on the floor), a packet of wipes/ cotton wool and water and finally a clean nappy.
For simple storage simply tuck your changing mat under the cot or perhaps down the side of the sofa for ease and accessibility during the day.
By simply using a changing mat on the floor you will find it is now more convenient to change your baby in any location as the mats are light and easy to transport. The price of a changing mat is fairly cheap and therefore you could even splurge and buy almost ten for the price of one changing table, that’s one for every room of the house and probably a few more for the car too!
If you are adamant that you must have a designated changing surface, then the best option has to be a baby cot top changer. It simply sits across the cot /cot bed forming a secure work surface. Please note that the cot top changer should have a safety buckle or strap which is secured to the top rail.
Unlike the changing station, the cot top changer can be stored away without taking up vast amounts of space and its a fraction of the price!
Save yourself from wasting the ‘real essentials’ (money, time, effort, space, safety risks and more) and don’t bother with a changing station!
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About Author
Childs Play Sussex is an online baby and nursery store with several years experience selling infant products. We are putting together a series of informative articles to aid parents when making important decisions about the pros and cons of different products.
I don't have any experience of shopping with these websites but I read a diaper changing tips article on http://www.baby-changing-stations.com It was nice.
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Some do, some don't.
Really depends where you are.
Places that have high traffic and oriented towards kids will certainly have them. (theme parks, malls, arenas, theaters etc)
Everything else is a case by case scenario.
You could always do a search on Yahoo or Google for "Changing Table"… I like to purchase big items from Walmart online (not great quality furniture, but inexpensive nonetheless. And, for something that you will not be using forever, I think inexpensive is a good idea) because they have "Site to Store" delivery options, where they will ship your item to the nearest Walmart store for free. Then, you can go to the store and pick it up.
I agree waist high for the average height person.
i dont even use my changing table… change her on my bed most of the time
Many mens restrooms have baby changing stations in them to address this exact concern.
There may even be a national law requiring such. I would not be surprised if such a requirement was part of the National Family Medical Leave act or some other large legislation.
However, they are commonplace in most public mens restrooms that I can remember.
400 lbs. according to the manufacturer (you can search their whole site to find the exact model, which may have slightly different specifications, but this is the one I see most often).
Do not change your baby on the floor!! Those things are filthy and crawling with germs. I really even hate to use changing tables for the same reason, even with a blanket or paper towels laid on it. I usually change her right in her stroller if I have it with me or go out to my car.