Are changing tables worth it???

slabancz · June 2015

Hello everyone

so I am currently wondering if changing tables are worth the money? I am a FTM and I am clueless on what to register for. The MIL is telling me not to bother with a changing table but our house isn't the biggest and I'm not sure I would want to use the dresser every time since I do plan on putting stuff on top. I know she told me to use our sofas but we have dogs and I wouldn't want them getting in my way. So what is your personal opinion on this piece of furniture?

Seleyna · June 2015

We use my dresser, which has since become our son's. It's waist-height so it works out perfectly.

beccabeeee · June 2015

I'm a FTM as well and was debating on a changing table as well. I will most likely use the top of the baby dresser for the changing table where the pad will go. But I'm sure you could easily go without one. Maybe instead you can get one of those changing pads or portable changing tables that gold up or roll up and when it's time for a diaper change you just lay it out on your bed and do the change there. I've heard plenty of people who do that. And just put some towels down too just in case baby decides he/she isn't done going potty lol

ToneGirl · June 2015

I used the top of my son's dresser. Just had one of those changing pads on top. Plan on doing the same this time.

fmraglio · June 2015

We're just getting 2 changing pads that we can use around the house. The memory foam ones. We'll use one upstairs and one downstairs. If we did get a changing table at all it would be a cheap one from IKEA, they have a $15 one, but I don't even think we'll end up getting one.

elbou · June 2015

This is a case of personal preference.

I personally love my changing table. It's a change table/dresser combo, but it's a bit taller than most of our other dressers. This was important to me because I am tall, and changing my kids on any of the dressers we have requires me to bend at an awkward angle even with a changing pad on top. We have a two-storey house, and I would rather walk upstairs every time I need to change a diaper than change baby on the floor or couch. I don't mind using the floor when I'm out and about, but if a change table is an option, I always pick the table.

I do want to point out that if your place isn't the biggest, you may not have room for 2 separate pieces of furniture (i.e. a dresser and a change table). Also, having stuff on the dresser looks cute now, but as baby gets older, you may find you are putting it back a million times a day because LO wants to pull it down and play with it. (Please note that it is definitely possible to teach LOs not to do that, but shelves may be more practical.)

dp1320 · June 2015

As others said, we just use the top of a dresser with a changing pad. Or in the beginning the couch, the bed, wherever you are when they need to be changed and you don't feel like moving. Now I just change DS on the floor though because he's all over the place and I know he will go overboard otherwise.

lbo1212 · June 2015

We bought our changing table off Craigslist for like $25 and we love it. When DD was too big for it I still used it to hold all the diaper stuff and then just put the pad on the floor. Obviously its a little harder bending down but she moved soooo much I didn't feel like she was safe. Ours ended up being pretty multi purpose for us and now we are using it again for our second. We only had a small dresser in her room so this worked out great for us.

redfallon · June 2015

I also use the top of a 3-drawer dresser with a changing pad on top. It's a perfect height for me. I don't like changing her on a sofa or the floor, which involves a lot of bending over. I'd rather change her with her at my waist (or slightly higher) height since it makes it easier for me. We did not buy a separate changing table because it wasn't something we needed. If you have a smaller place, you may want to use the top of a dresser with a changing pad.

I also like having all of my supplies in one place. I always change her in her room where all her diapers, wipes, creams, etc are. Some people like to have a station located at different points in the house, but we have one spot and that's where we change her. I like having an organizer for all the stuff. This is the one that we have:

https://www.target.com/p/munchkin-diaper-duty-organizer/-/A-10753320#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=munchkin+diaper+station

vbrannin2010 · June 2015

Buy a dresser and a changing pad to put on top. It worked for us. In my experience, I'd end up changing the baby anywhere but it's room unless it was after bathtime/before bedtime. I find them a bit bulky when a dresser can do the same thing and has more storage. :-)

holly1811 · June 2015

In my opinon a changing table was the biggest waste of money. I just bought a cheap changing mat. Newborns tend to poop and wee alot so climbing the stairs everytime they need a nappy change just to use the table was a no go so i barely used it. Definatly looked good for show though!

dp1320 · June 2015

redfallon said:

I also use the top of a 3-drawer dresser with a changing pad on top. It's a perfect height for me. I don't like changing her on a sofa or the floor, which involves a lot of bending over. I'd rather change her with her at my waist (or slightly higher) height since it makes it easier for me. We did not buy a separate changing table because it wasn't something we needed. If you have a smaller place, you may want to use the top of a dresser with a changing pad.

I also like having all of my supplies in one place. I always change her in her room where all her diapers, wipes, creams, etc are. Some people like to have a station located at different points in the house, but we have one spot and that's where we change her. I like having an organizer for all the stuff. This is the one that we have:

https://www.target.com/p/munchkin-diaper-duty-organizer/-/A-10753320#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=munchkin+diaper+station

This reminds me ... as I alluded in my first post - in the beginning I rarely changed him in his room. We lived in a story home and he slept in the room with us for the first couple of months. I had this diaper caddy to take from room to room with me and it was so convenient - I definitely recommend!

https://www.target.com/p/munchkin-sarabear-portable-diaper-caddy-yellow/-/A-14012757#prodSlot=medium_1_2

redfallon · June 2015

We are all one floor, except for one room upstairs, so it makes it easier to make all changes in her room. When she started crawling and moving around more, we spent a lot of time in that upstairs room because it's carpeted. I changed her on the pool table a lot

laceyglowacki · June 2015

I never had one for my 2 kids I just changed them where we were. The only changing table we had was connected to the pack n play and we rarely used it for anything but to store extra diapers and pack of wipes. To me it was more important to use that money towards things I actually needed.

mbhurst1 · June 2015

We just bought the waist height dresser than was part of the set with our crib and tall dresser with DS. It is the perfect changing table. The tall dresser is used for his clothes and the waist height dresser has diapers/wipes/burp cloths/blankets/medical kit etc. Works out perfectly.

Mizuiro007 · June 2015

We live in a small apartment so it's a short walk to the baby's room and I figure even if I changed him somewhere else I still have to take the used diaper back to the diaper pale anyway.

It was important for me to have something for comfort since I have knee and back problems and hubby has back issues, we were able to try different methods at different people's houses with their kids and that helped us find what worked for us.

Whether it's on a dresser or a separate changing table just look for something multipurpose. I've seen changing tables later used as toy shelves. When I was little I had one in my room and the rim around the top was great for holding plush toys up on it for display.

Starting out we had a pack n play in our bedroom the baby slept in at night and there was a changing station on the side which was nice. That may be an option if it's something you're planning on, at least to start with and see how you use it.

jackiesue586 · June 2015

Im about to have #4 and never used or wanted to use a changing table.
We just lay a blanket on the floor or couch to change them.

bluelily9 · June 2015

For my first we used his dresser with a changing pad when we were upstairs and our pack-n-play downstairs. But honestly after a while the floor was the way to go, babies are squirmy & it seemed safer. Personally changing tables by themselves seem like a waste of space + money.

kanda0820 · June 2015

We use our changing table every single time when we change my son. Now that we're expecting a second, we'll have to start possibly changing our son on his bed.

rachael2784 · June 2015

If I hadn't gotten our changing table from a relative, I wouldn't have bought one. I'm pregnant with #3. For the first 2, I typically would and still do change them in whatever room I'm in. I keep a stash of diapers/wipes in living room and basement. I only use the changing table in the bedroom in the morning, nap time, bath time and bedtime.

rain0831boww · June 2015

I plan on just getting a dresser that she can grow with. A changing pad seems sufficient for me. I can always move it to the living room or my bed.

redfallon · June 2015

@sammykkkla said:
Hello everyone so I am currently wondering if changing tables are worth the money? I am a FTM and I am clueless on what to register for. The MIL is telling me not to bother with a changing table but our house isn't the biggest and I'm not sure I would want to use the dresser every time since I do plan on putting stuff on top. I know she told me to use our sofas but we have dogs and I wouldn't want them getting in my way. So what is your personal opinion on this piece of furniture?

For what you want to do, it depends on how wide of a dresser you get. A changing pad is about 30 inches long. If you get a wide dresser, you can put a changing pad on it with plenty of room for other things to also put on it.

misamima · June 2015

Definitely a personal preference. We use a dresser with a changing mattress/pad.

Mags128 · June 2015

Honestly we planned on using the changing pad on top of the dresser. But the nursery was on the 2nd floor and we spent most of our time on the 1st floor. So we moved the changing pad to our dining room table. We don't use the table much and we obviously cleaned it if we side

Now that DD is older I just change her on the floor with the travel changing pads. It's much easier these days.

ksrkim · June 2015

We were given a dresser with a changing table on top. We were not going to buy one. Once he started rolling, we moved the pad to the floor and have been changing him there ever since. Maybe because of your dogs, you could put the pad on your bed. Downstairs, we keep diapers and wipes and a fold up changing pad (the one that comes with the diaper bag). Also, at the beginning, we used the changing part of the pack n play downstairs.

MegStark · June 2015

We use top of dresser as well. I use the drawer right below the changing pad for diapers/wipes/rash cream/etc. I bought two plastic adjustable bra organizers to put on each side of the drawer to hold the diapers, then the wipes fit perfectly between. Keeps everything organized and off the top of the dresser. I love it and will be doing the same with baby number 2.

caseybeth1213 · June 2015

I had a changing pad on my sons dresser but never used it one time. I would just change him wherever I was. Living room=couch Bedroom= anywhere else in the house = floor lol

Magnolia+Mama · June 2015

We bought a set from PBK with a "changing table topper" for the dresser. It basically has 3 compartments ~ 2 smallor diapers and products, and 1 large for a changing pad. It has worked out perfectly for DD and I plan on using it for this baby (and any future!).

Magnolia+Mama · June 2015

I also had a "changing station" on my pack and play, which we used a lot until DD got too heavy for it. You will find your own system for everything but I found having. The changing table helpful in my house!

ellebaby4 · June 2015

We used to have a two story home and baby's changing table was upstairs. It hardly ever got used, lol! We would just keep a changing pad down stairs. After our last baby, we had a small one story house and pretty much always changed her on the table. I'd say either one is perfectly do-able.

Em102012 · July 2015

We used ours 3 times I think. I always changed my daughter on the floor but we don't have any pets. I didn't like that everything was within her reach on the changing table. Dirty diaper included. Plus if I needed to go get extra clothing or something and she was on a mat on the floor I could just go get it and she was in a safe spot.

kerrderr · July 2015

We used the changing table a lot for our daughter when she was first born andddd we decided to ipt out this time.

We've used the couch/floor for over a year now and its wayyy easier. We have a closet organiser thing we just put diapers etc in and grab them when we need them. She is almost two though so its not so many changes a day.

We will probably keeo a basket handy for newborn changes

LMJL · July 2015

I'm a FTM myself, but I found this website where a cool, handy lady makes a changing table topper, which you can attach to a buffet, (or a dresser I suppose, for me a dresser would be too high.) I might try my hand at making one myself, although it will probably be easier & faster to ask my handy man to do it. There's also instructions on the same site for how to build the buffet if you're super motivated!

https://ana-white.com/2013/11/plans/emerson-changing-table-topper

elbou · July 2015

Em102012 said:

We used ours 3 times I think. I always changed my daughter on the floor but we don't have any pets. I didn't like that everything was within her reach on the changing table. Dirty diaper included. Plus if I needed to go get extra clothing or something and she was on a mat on the floor I could just go get it and she was in a safe spot.

That's so funny. This is exactly why I love my change table/dresser combo. I never had to go anywhere if I needed extra clothing or anything, as I could reach it all from right where I was already standing, and didn't have to go anywhere to get it. Further proof that it really is a matter of personal preference.

Rratledge · July 2015

We loved my son's changing table and I imagine we will use it a lot for our second child too. We live in a small one story home so it was easy to run to his room for every diaper change. We used it until he moved to his big boy room when he turned two. I liked that everything I needed was right there - diapers, wipes, diaper pale, dirty clothes hamper and clean clothes because his dresser was close enough to reach while keeping a hand on him.

kdoak2015 · July 2015

I had two options, 3 drawer dresser with change table or 5 drawer dresser, I opted for 5 drawer dresser because I thought this would be a long term piece of furniture. I personally don't see myself using a change table, we change my nephew wherever he lies down(ottoman, couch, floor etc.) I am however registered for the change pad which I will us until they no longer stay on it.

redfallon · July 2015

My daughter is almost 2 and we still use the change pad on top of a three drawer dresser. She's pretty calm most of the time through changes, though. I give her a book or the thermometer to play with.

amw2133 · July 2015

Rratledge said:
We loved my son's changing table and I imagine we will use it a lot for our second child too. We live in a small one story home so it was easy to run to his room for every diaper change. We used it until he moved to his big boy room when he turned two. I liked that everything I needed was right there - diapers, wipes, diaper pale, dirty clothes hamper and clean clothes because his dresser was close enough to reach while keeping a hand on him.

This is us. We live in a small 2 bedroom apartment. Babies room will be super close to everything so I think we will just put a changing pad on top of a dresser and call it good.

zbtolman · July 2015

Definitely a personal choice. Is it a necessity? No. A niceity? Yes. I must say with a csection it sure makes changes more comfortable and possible with frequency and lack of abdominal muscles functioning at 100%. With the first LO and no stairs after a csection we moved the changing table to our main level in a triplex as the command center where I was limited to. Second go I'm still using a pad on the three drawer dresser, a real back saver. Why not make life easier if you can with a newborn. Everything within arms reach.

Acorn1010 · July 2015

I for one with my twins and used it all of 3 times it was always just easier to change in living room or play room where we were then walking down the hall to their room which had the changing table.

maui2ks · July 2015

We set up a changing pad on a dresser for my daughter. Within a few weeks, we had "changing stations" set up in the living room and our bedroom because sometimes the designated changing pad was just not close enough.

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