Changing table dilemma

kingbaby2015

Hi all, so we have a small apartment and I don't think a changing table will fit and unfortunately the dresser is too narrow for a changing tray on top. Do you have any ideas, think it's not a necessity or think we should figure out a way to make room for a changing table? Thanks!

millette2015

I'm a FTM so I can't speak from experience. However, I have had many people tell me that it's not a necessity if there isn't space. Just getting a changing pad and use it on the couch/your bed/the floor/etc. The changing table isn't any safer for the baby then any other option. In fact, the floor is the safest since there's no risk of the baby rolling off anything. I wouldn't stress about it if you can't make it fit.

I don't know if you plan on having a pack and play in your house, but another option would be to use that if you do? A lot of them have change table attachments now.

erinboehme

Even though I use a dresser for a "changing table", I most often use my bed, the floor, or the couch for the actual diaper changing.

tbasinski

I only ever used a changing pad on the floor. It's way safer and easier. You can walk away if you need something and not have to worry about baby falling off. Obviously that's not a problem initially, but you never know when baby will start to roll, some do so earlier than others.

sdnyc99

Not necessary. I never used it with my first.

batmom05

I never had one the first time around. I always had a little basket that had my supplies in the livingroom. This time we added the attatchment to the top of the dresser, but I'm still not sure I'll use it a ton! I invested in a Sara Bear diaper caddy and know that will get used a lot! It's a great little basket that holds your changing supplies and easily moves room to room. I got the changer more for middle of the night convenience than anything else!

LiveNLove44

Great advice so far! I agree that a changing table is not necessary. I have one on top of her dresser, but I change DD elsewhere with a changing pad, too. If we're all downstairs, it's easier to just grab a diaper and wipes out of the diaper caddy and lay out a changing liner or pad. I definitely wouldn't try to squeeze one in if it isn't going to be a good fit.

Sweet Sadie Mae

The beauty of a baby is that you can change them just about anywhere. I don't even use my changing table. I keep the pad and diapers, etc. Under the crib and change them on the floor. You can keep everything right under your bed and pull it out as needed. Even if you put the pad on top of your bed and do it for. There. So many babies end up falling off those high surfaces and once my daughter became wiggly it just didn't make sense to keep her up on a high surface.

aah1013

I never used a changing table on the main floor of my house. We had a diaper caddy that stayed in our living room. It came with a space for diapers, wipes, and a drawer for diaper rash cream, etc., plus a fold up changing pad. We loved it and will absolutely be using it for baby #2. It's one of the best things we've had as far as baby gear goes. Here's a link (JJ Cole diaper caddy):

https://m.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=48766696&camp=PLAPPCG-_-PID19685376:BRUS&cagpspn=plab_19685376&eESource=CAPLA_DF:48766696:TRUS

MamaOwl15

I have a changing pad on top of the dresser DS used and DD will use. I haven't used it in about a year. It was nice to have when DS was tiny - it's just the right height to stand and change him and I could keep all my supplies right there. Plus in case he needed his clothes changed, they were right at my finger tips.c However, now I just change him on the floor because he's too heavy to lift.


You can just as easily use a changing mat on a bed, on the floor, wherever. And there are plenty of options for keeping diapers and supplies organized and handy. If you have a pack'n'play, you can get one that has space to organize.

Nukke

yep,either get a wider dresser, or just use the bed or floor.  It'll be fine.  It's just a poop station, after all

jenspeake

If you do end up getting one do you have room in your living room?  I know my sister keeps her's there because they spend most of their time on the first floor anyways in the living room.  

Rachel623

I may be in the minority. We have a changing table in the nursery and actually bought a second one for the den because it was so uncomfortable to change DD on the floor/couch. It hurt my back when she was first born and my husband complained of back pain too. Now that I'm big and pregnant, changing on the floor makes it hard for me to breathe because I have to be scrunched over.

kingbaby2015

thanks so much for the great advice everyone!

J1D

Rachel623 said:

I may be in the minority. We have a changing table in the nursery and actually bought a second one for the den because it was so uncomfortable to change DD on the floor/couch. It hurt my back when she was first born and my husband complained of back pain too. Now that I'm big and pregnant, changing on the floor makes it hard for me to breathe because I have to be scrunched over.

I'm right there with you. I have a bad back and knee so a changing table is easier for me. We will be having 2 stations as well, one in the nursery and one in the living room. 

That being said, when I was younger changing on the floor was no problem and by the time they can flip and crawl the floor is really the only way to go so changing tables do have a limited life span in my experience. But when the babies are little I use them!

JaqiDec04

aah1013 said:

I never used a changing table on the main floor of my house. We had a diaper caddy that stayed in our living room. It came with a space for diapers, wipes, and a drawer for diaper rash cream, etc., plus a fold up changing pad. We loved it and will absolutely be using it for baby #2. It's one of the best things we've had as far as baby gear goes. Here's a link (JJ Cole diaper caddy):

https://m.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=48766696&camp=PLAPPCG-_-PID19685376:BRUS&cagpspn=plab_19685376&eESource=CAPLA_DF:48766696:TRUS

I had this exact one for DD and it got way more use than the changing table, which was rarely used. The diaper caddy was easy to move around the house wherever we were, especially middle of the night changes when even the little bit of extra time to the nursery was too much.

JaqiDec04

Rachel623 said:

I may be in the minority. We have a changing table in the nursery and actually bought a second one for the den because it was so uncomfortable to change DD on the floor/couch. It hurt my back when she was first born and my husband complained of back pain too. Now that I'm big and pregnant, changing on the floor makes it hard for me to breathe because I have to be scrunched over.

I had serious back issues after DD, so the floor or too much bending over was not an option. So a I usually sat on the couch, and laid her on the couch as well, and that worked. Similar setup with a bed.

pippamom

we used the dining room table with our first born lol ....it was a tiny apartment and we just cleaned it with wipes before eating there... we bought a changing mat that inflates from IKEA and put it on the table. 

valerierose15

Yeah, especially in the beginning, we used the floor, bed, couch, table, and pack n play to change DD. we didn't used the changing table consistently in her nursery until around 4 months.

Don't let the "rules" of what you're supposed to have your newborn phase you. You'd be surprised how well you manage with what you have!

rue:D

Definitely not necessary. Baby won't care where s/he is changed, and you'll be doing it wherever is most convenient at the time. But if you want the pad, you could get a new dresser with a wider top. Some of the 3- and 4-drawer dressers don't take up any more space (width-wise) than a changing table anyway.

Or if you don't have a crib yet, I saw one at Buy Buy Baby that has a changing pad and a couple of drawers built in to the side of it. I loved it, but I needed two cribs and both of those would have taken up too much room...plus I only really need one place to change! Can't change two babies at once...although it would be AMAZING if I could!

laceyjaep

Someone bought us a changing table with our first. I think I used it 3 or 4 times. Ended up changing her on the floor on a mat because it was much easier.

jrenee956

We were given an antique dresser that isn't deep enough for a changing pad, so my mother in law and I are making one! We bought the supplies for the pad, two waterproof liners, and three slipcovers for $13 at the fabric store.

TheSouffleGirl

@aah1013 and @JaqiDec04 - Thanks for the caddy rec! We have a 1-bedroom and no space for new furniture or even a plush changing pad, so it'll be a lifesaver!

intheversa

I'm having a similar dilemma with the whole changing table. We will have a pad on the dresser, but the nursery is on the second floor and we spend most of our time on the main floor. We are looking at the Stuva changing table from Ikea for our living room because of the storage potential. We've considered using it for all of LO's toys and diapers and anything we need that we don't want to run upstairs for. Plus it converts into a desk for when she's older. Plus we have dogs so I think this may be a good way to keep them out of her stuff. Might be worth a look.