Changing Tables.. necessary?!!

McKenna04

My thought on a changing table is that its just an extra piece of furniture to buy that takes up space and probably will rarely get used.. am I wrong?!

kcrouse06

It's another piece of furniture, yes...but it also can give you more shelves, places to put diapers that are out of the way...The one we picked has two shelves, so that's room to put all of the diaper stuff, and even some toys that will be out of the way.

We don't have closet space, so that will be helpful along with a tall skinny dresser instead of a short fat one.

Aliliv

We've always had a dresser that a change pad can be put on.   

Dobie_Mama

We didn't have one for DD.  We did fine without it.

eris1995

We just used a dresser with DS.

However I'm thinking about getting a changing table this time.  My reasons are that LO will be in our room for a while with no furniture other than a PNP.  When DS goes into his big boy furniture (which is a hand me down) LO will get his crib and dresser. 

kimtritz

Nope! My SIL used her changer for about 3 months, and then put it in storage for the next baby b/c it was barely used & said she ended up changing the baby wherever she was in the house (i.e. on the living room floor on a changing pad, etc); she said she pretty much used it at nighttime/bedtime. I'm opting for a changing table/dresser combo b/c I need the closed storage space, but the changer top comes off, so I'll then have a nightstand/dresser thing as the baby grows up.  

nic326

I wasnt going to get one originally either but I couldnt have lived without mine. I like that it is its own piece that stores all the diapers/wipes/creams/lotions/etc.etc. I am really thankful I got one.

toyah81

I don't think you're wrong at all. Different people see it differently. Personally, I think it's pointless for us just because LO will be sharing a room with DD at first and they take up a lot of unnecessary space IMO. DD already has a dresser that she and LO will share, plus a huge walk-in closet, so the ones that are dresser like aren't helpful to us.

I saw a crib that had an extra extension that was the changing table with storage underneath. Now that seemed practical to me. A lot of people just use the baby dresser with the rails on the side and the diaper changing pad on top that can be removed. With DD, I had no problem changing her in whatever room we were in when duty called so to speak. I just whipped out the portable changing pad and took care of it. Whether it was on the floor or couch etc.

ashopaholicmom

We are just using a regular dresser with changing pad put on top.  Did the same with DS :-)

mrs.mickulz

We still use ours every day, both for changing and for storage.

nosoup4u

Aliliv:

We've always had a dresser that a change pad can be put on.   

This is what we use with DS. My sister ended up using a changing pad on the floor with her daughter, but I like having a baby up high when changing them. We got a cheap changing pad at Ikea for less than $10. 

BelhurstBride

My mom friends told me they found it to be completely unnecessary so we skipped it. We're using the dresser top and have the supplies in the top drawer. We're all washed and unpacked and still have empty drawer space as well as empty shelf space in the closet, so I think we're going to be all set to spread out as we get more stuff for the baby.

mama2many

With my first, I had a small apartment and a changing table with storage baskets underneath & it worked well. But with all the rest, I kept a changing pad on top of one of the dressers & well stocked decorative "diaper" baskets in strategic places in the rest of the house.

HorseyMama08

I used a changing table for all of about a month with DS. I'm planning to use a long dresser that is waist height this time around with a pad and baskets on it. This way I can store clothes and diapers in the same area and have quick access for when LO decides to mess their outfit in the middle of a change. When LO outgrows the changing table they'll have a dresser for their clothes.

hellopoppyseed

I find mine very useful. Your baby poops just about every time he eats for the first couple of months. Even now I always change a poopy diaper on the changing table. Plus they are prone to poopsplosions-pooping while being changed. I would not risk this in the living room. I also like having a center of operations for lotions and creams and changing clothes. We put ours IN the closet so you don't have to see it if you slide the doors. We hung a toy over it and it is a great distraction. I use it less now but I'm still very glad I have it.

barnwife

We were thinking of skipping the changing table. Then I found a super deal on one from craigslist. I think I will like having one place where diapers/lotion/wipes etc...will be organized. I know we'll change LO other places too though.

HuneyofJeremy

Aliliv:

We've always had a dresser that a change pad can be put on.   

This. It had a little screw to screw it on the back of the dresser.

cristiana

We used the top of a dresser with a changing pad.

wife1014

I didn't read the other responses so you may have gotten this info already but... I think a typical changing table is a waste of money, because you won't use it after baby.  I would suggest  paying a little extra $$ and getting a dresser that doubles as a changing table.  You just attach the changing pad to the back of the dresser.  something like this...https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4027844&moduleName=Brand+Name+Secondary&ab=BRU_HP%3AHotDeals%3A3%3A040910%3AJust-ArrivedIntroducing-Status-furniture-line-of-cribs-dressers-more  This was just the first thing I clicked on.  All of the baby furniture companies make them.

However, if you can't swing the cost of something like that, then yes I do think you should get the changing table.  I used mine (we have a dresser) all the time.  Sometimes, I will still get DD dressed on hers and she is out of diapers.

mbyoung

Aliliv:

We've always had a dresser that a change pad can be put on.   

We did this!  That way we didn't have an extra piece that won't have much use when our kids were bigger!

mr&mrswelch

no, not necessary.

W&J'sMommy

Mine has been in constant use for nearly 4 years and will be for another 3 at least.  I have a bad back and bending over to change diapers on a bed/floor/couch kills my back. 

starrkitten89

We found a crib that has a changing table attatched to one side with shelves underneath.We live in a small place,and a changing table separately was just as much as the crib,so we'll be getting the combo unit.

littleanomaly

We did not get a changing table. It's only good up to 25 lbs, My kid had darn well better be on the way to potty training by then, but I'm not going to lift someone a fourth of my weight. Rather change a wiggly kid in the floor. That I think most changing tables are ugly. What the heck are you going to use it for once it's done it's job? An ugly bookshelf?

We did, however, get a nice dresser/changer that has such a high weight limit that the kid will be out of the car seat before the table becomes an issue. And it's a dresser. It's necessary if you don't have much closet space (or if your kid is the first grandkid on both sides like mine will be). 

HarkelAD

I love ours.  Sure, when shes a toddler we'd change her whereever (since who'd want to life a 20 some pound kid up on a shelf type thing severeal times a day) but as an infant, I dont want to bend over on the floor or the couch.  I couldnt imagine not having it, especially with all the models out there that convert into "big kid" furniture.

RitaT22

I agree with you. This is why DH and I bought a combo unit that has drawers like a dresser and a cabinet for storage. We are placing a changing pad on top and once LO is out of diapers, we still have a dresser to use. Here is a link to the one we bought https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3535421

 

preciousmetal

Our changing table is really just an extra long dresser. We used the heck out of it when DD was little, but now we just change her on the floor wherever we may be. We will probably use it again for DS for midnight changes, but that's about it since we will be on a completely different floor of the house most of the time.

Mizz&Shizz

kcrouse06:

It's another piece of furniture, yes...but it also can give you more shelves, places to put diapers that are out of the way...The one we picked has two shelves, so that's room to put all of the diaper stuff, and even some toys that will be out of the way.

We don't have closet space, so that will be helpful along with a tall skinny dresser instead of a short fat one.

We don't either, and I never thought of doing it this way...thanks for opening my eyes, I may have to rethink my furniture choices!

2.red.heads

it would really annoy me if i had to change my LO on the floor (hard on your knees and back!) but some mom's prefer that.  i suppose you could use a bed....

i love our 'changing table'.  we bought a white multi-media cabinet type thing at crate and barell (w/glass doors).  it will look great in our living room some day.  i keep cute canvas storage bins inside for diapers, clothes, etc.

yellalakes

I think we changed ds on ours once but we had the crib with the changing table attached and it was a dresser too so that was nice having that extra space though we probably won't get one for this baby.

kessmd

 The babys room is on the main living floor so we just bought a low dresser that we can secure the changing pad to the top. Then remove when we are done with it. It has great storage for the diapers etc.... My sister in law on the other hand has the baby room upstairs and their main living area downstairs so she has on in the spareroom for diaper changes when she is downstairs. Hope this helps

 

ColieJ

I will be using mine for storage after we stop using it to change the baby. BFF used hers for well over a year for changing.

KellyD01

DS is 27 1/2# and nowhere near ready for potty training. Our table has a limit of 30# and we'll use it until then. I do use the bed, couch and floor at times... but that usually gets me kicked in the stomache so we try to keep it to the changing table. Ours has solid sides and I think is very nice. We'll use it as a bookshelf in the toy room once the twins no longer need it. The top will be perfect stuffed animal storage I think.

When DS went through his I hate changes stage it was so much easier to strap him onto the changing pad and do a quick change. The strap actually distracted him because he tried to figure out how to undo it. His only dresser is a chest of drawers, so a pad ontop of that doesn't work. Also ifyou're a taller mama, a changing table may work well for you because you're not having to bend down to change baby on the bed.