Changing Pad Question

MouseMama817

My MIL has a strange obsession with my changing table arrangements. She has a friend that offered us her old changing table, which I've explained multiple times we don't need. Not only because we don't have room for another piece of furniture, but also because we have already purchased a contoured changing pad for the top of the dresser.

Tonight, she told me my changing pad is dangerous to the baby. She said it will only work for a month or so. I'm a FTM so I don't have any experience with which to judge her comment. Is there an age limit to the changing pads and if so, what is it?

mariafordon

We don't have a changing table either, or even a changing pad for the dresser and everyone has assured me that it will be fine and you can change a baby pretty much anywhere.

Joie80

mariafordon said:

We don't have a changing table either, or even a changing pad for the dresser and everyone has assured me that it will be fine and you can change a baby pretty much anywhere.

This. I find that they're convenient, but not necessary. Changing tables aren't designed for long term use. I think the idea is to use them before LO is mobile. But we used ours until DD was at least 1.5 because it was so easy keep her confined during diaper changes. I'm not really sure about what your MIL means,but I think you'll be fine.

We're doing what you're doing this time around. LO's room is too small for additional furniture.

hclzmm14

We have our pad on the dresser. I still use it for my 16 month old. You can screw the pad into the dresser to make it safer, it should come with the screws and directions.

jesselayne8

As long as you are standing right there it's safe to use for 1-2yrs.

Seed0824

Our pad goes into a topper on the dresser but if we didn't have the topper it came with screws to attach it to the dresser as extra safety.

emmacake08

I still use mine on 18 month olds while they usually watch an app on my phone so they don't roll. I know a lot of moms switch to changes on couches and the foor but with how pregnant I am, I don't want to bend over for changes 12 times a day. A pad on a solid surface will work great. Your MIL has weird/strong opinions on diaper tables!

victoriaaa1

I think you just pretty much use them till they grow out of it ? It's common sense .. I don't see how it can be dangerous unless your leaving them unattended or your baby moves around a lot when changing them. Then that's where they are dangerous .
Now using a table i dont know . We aren't getting a changing table because they are extremely useless , a waste of money and space , if you need to change baby you're going to change him/her where you are , not go the extra mile to take them to the changing table 10 times a day(like if you live in a big house or a 2 story /busy etc).. Unless you're out in public where their are changing stations in bathrooms then different story . Also , I've seen some babies that absolutely do not like changing pads and rather be changed on the couch , bed , floor for example..

meli1112

I'm a FTM and we are doing the same thing...using a dresser instead of a changing table. I know we won't be able to change DS on it forever, but it will definitely last longer than a month.

It sounds like she is trying to scare you into taking the changing table from her friend.

thesportsgal

We use a pad on her dresser still at 19 months. I don't see how it's unsafe. The one time she rolled off was my fault, not the pads.

e1223

I had a pad on top of the dresser that I used for both of my kids for at least 18 months each. I didn't even screw it on. I was always right there, no one ever fell off.

hclzmm14

victoriaaa1 said:

I think you just pretty much use them till they grow out of it ? It's common sense .. I don't see how it can be dangerous unless your leaving them unattended or your baby moves around a lot when changing them. Then that's where they are dangerous .
Now using a table i dont know . We aren't getting a changing table because they are extremely useless , a waste of money and space , if you need to change baby you're going to change him/her where you are , not go the extra mile to take them to the changing table 10 times a day(like if you live in a big house or a 2 story /busy etc).. Unless you're out in public where their are changing stations in bathrooms then different story . Also , I've seen some babies that absolutely do not like changing pads and rather be changed on the couch , bed , floor for example..

I change my kid upstairs in the same place every time. I like having everything in one place rather than having to have stuff all over the house. It makes the house feel less cluttered but to eat their own. I also don't like poop germs on my couch.

Saratiff

We are doing the same thing. We bought a dresser and are putting the changing pad on top. I don't see the issue

CaliforniaDream87

Never had a table with DS and we aren't having one for this DD. We had a changing pad in our diaper bag for when we were out. For us a changing table is useless. We change baby wherever we are on a cloth blanket. Easy enough for us. It really is up to you OP.

MouseMama817

This is pretty much what I thought, but I wanted to be humble and give her the benefit of the doubt. Thank you guys for the input!

My husband thinks she's only saying these things bc we have the option of receiving her friend's changing table, ie what @meli1112 said. I was thinking it's either that or she's not familiar with the concept of a changing pad since she hasn't had a baby in 20+ years. Either way, I hope the pressure ceases. I don't appreciate the implication that I'm preparing to care for my daughter in a manner that would put her in harms way.

victoriaaa1

cllgarrison said:

victoriaaa1 said:

I think you just pretty much use them till they grow out of it ? It's common sense .. I don't see how it can be dangerous unless your leaving them unattended or your baby moves around a lot when changing them. Then that's where they are dangerous .
Now using a table i dont know . We aren't getting a changing table because they are extremely useless , a waste of money and space , if you need to change baby you're going to change him/her where you are , not go the extra mile to take them to the changing table 10 times a day(like if you live in a big house or a 2 story /busy etc).. Unless you're out in public where their are changing stations in bathrooms then different story . Also , I've seen some babies that absolutely do not like changing pads and rather be changed on the couch , bed , floor for example..

I change my kid upstairs in the same place every time. I like having everything in one place rather than having to have stuff all over the house. It makes the house feel less cluttered but to eat their own. I also don't like poop germs on my couch.

I know alot of people who do as I said and I preferably would rather change my kid where I'm at instead of running around the house to do so especially if I'm in the middle of something or busy and just keep a few diapers and a pack of wipes near so I don't have to run to the room all the time. I wouldn't change him without a blanket or a changing pad under him (foldable/portable ones)of course because I don't think anyone wants shit or pee on there furniture .

laineyjewel

I've never used a changing pad or table for either DS1 or DS2. I find both completely unnecessary. I don't like the idea of having to go upstairs for each diaper change. I'd much rather just change them where we are. I have a small basket with supplies in the family room, and one in my room (which is on the 1st floor). I find that to be much easier. As a PP said, we just lay them on a receiving blanket and change away!

mjones0721

I bought one of the contoured changing pad with DS but it ended up being too big for our changing table so I just used it where ever I happened to be when I was changing him, the couch, the bed, the floor lol we used it for 2 years. I ended up using the changing table as a shelf.

kettlekitten

We have a changing pad on a dresser upstairs and one next to the laundry sink downstairs, and I'll use the same arrangement this time as I found it convenient. I still use the upstairs one to sit DD on to get her dressed at the age of almost 2.5. As long as you keep one hand on the baby if you have to turn away, there's no reason it's unsafe.

cosplaymom

My daughter is 2 and I still change her on thd pad on the dresser.

I'm getting a second for the dining table before baby arrives so I don't have to go upstairs to change. Changing on the floor is very uncomfortable for me.

Wering

We have a contoured pad on top of a short dresser as well. We still use it for getting my daughter dressed in the morning or doing after-bath care because it puts her at our height. She's 2 and a half. And honestly, we never used the seat belt or secured it to the wall/dresser. The key is just never to walk away from baby when they're on it.

irohspupil

The dresser we were given (yay free!) is too tall to put a changing pad on, and I'm not sure about buying a changing table now after reading these comments. DH and I will probably just use the portable pad that came with our diaper bag. We also have a changing table thingy that hooks onto our pack and play, so we can use that too.

Saratiff

What I think is funny is that she thinks a specific changing table is some how safer than a changing pad on top of a dresser. You have to watch them like a hawk no matter what your set up is.

MouseMama817

@Saratiff exactly! Does she think I'm going to plop my kid on the changing pad while I go make myself a snack? It's a *contoured* pad, not a pad w/ 40 ft of fencing on all sides. I'm fully aware she could roll off if I don't pay attention. But as you said, that's with all changing pad/tables.

ellie22343

Not sure went she would say it isn't safe. Ftm here too, but i learned as a teen when babysitting that you always have one hand on baby when you have them on an elevated surface, changing table, counter, near edge of bed, etc. Trust your instincts and don't let anyone make you feel bad for doing so.