IKEA dressers as changing tables?

thaisac1 · November 2015

Have any of you used IKEA dressers as changing tables?

I went baby nursery browsing today and I am unfortunately attracted to higher price items. I suck. But something I thought I could do is replace the $1300 dresser with a $300 IKEA Hemnes 8-drawer dresser. I just wonder how sturdy it is and whether it holds the weight of a baby well? Any experiences ?

allaire314 · November 2015

I have no experience with it, but I am planning on doing the same thing! Love the Hemnes!!! I got the natural Tarva set and refinished for our own bedroom, very sturdy. The Hemnes is better because the drawer slides are nicer. It is wide enough for a changing pad.

thaisac1 · November 2015

allaire314 said:

I have no experience with it, but I am planning on doing the same thing! Love the Hemnes!!! I got the natural Tarva set and refinished for our own bedroom, very sturdy. The Hemnes is better because the drawer slides are nicer. It is wide enough for a changing pad.

That's good to know. Do you have it attached to the wall, or is it so sturdy that it has no risk of tipping?

I'm planning on checking it out at the store. If decide to go for it, I'll get some cute knobs from anthropology to make it look nicer.

allaire314 · November 2015

Ha ha I hadn't thought of Anthro... But I picked out some nicer one at the hard ware store! Ha ha. The have them set up at our local store, and they seem really nice. Almost tempted to pay to have them put it together because at least on the Tarva, the slides needed some fiddling to get the drawers all lined up straight. The joys of IKEA...

thaisac1 · November 2015

Speaking of IKEA, I'm also planning on checking out this cart https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30216536/ to leave next to the dresser with diapers and cleaning products. Will also check out this table https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/40265871/#/70263998 to put next to the glider.

allaire314 · November 2015

My friend has that cart!!! It is perfect for diapers and wipes and everything!!! Very handy, I totally recommend! The second link didn't come up

sprocketsngadgets · November 2015

There were a bunch of people on my last BMB that used ikea dressers. We plan on going the ikea route this time and painting it to go with whatever we decide to do in the nursery. DH will build a changing topper like he did for DD's dresser.

thaisac1 · November 2015

allaire314 said:

Ha ha I hadn't thought of Anthro... But I picked out some nicer one at the hard ware store! Ha ha. The have them set up at our local store, and they seem really nice. Almost tempted to pay to have them put it together because at least on the Tarva, the slides needed some fiddling to get the drawers all lined up straight. The joys of IKEA…

Yeah I know. I hate assembling things; hate it hate it hate it. This is one of the reasons I am considering the Oeuf Elephant crib, because it is so easy to put together (and I like the look; (fast forward to the 2:00 mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKW641cYGBA ).

It is pricey, but if I will be spending less on a dresser, then my conscience won't be so heavy for splurging on a crib.

allaire314 · November 2015

What an incredible crib! Why can't everything be that easy to assemble???

thaisac1 · November 2015

allaire314 said:

My friend has that cart!!! It is perfect for diapers and wipes and everything!!! Very handy, I totally recommend! The second link didn't come up

Really? That was for the Canadian site; try this link for the USA site: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40265871/#/70263998

thaisac1 · November 2015

allaire314 said:

What an incredible crib! Why can't everything be that easy to assemble???

My thoughts exactly.

AEG84 · November 2015

I have an older hemnes dresser and it's quite sturdy. I had a huge, heavy tv on there for a year and it held up just fine. I would still install the anti-tip hardware, though.

MrsCayEye · November 2015

I don't have ikea stuff, but I know the hemnes is a very popular choice! Quite a few from my last BMB had it and recommended it, so it seems like a great option.You can always throw the changing pad on the floor and just kneel in front of it, you'll be doing that sooner than you think when LO starts becoming more mobile anyway.

pinottoparenthood · November 2015

We have a Hemnes coffee table/TV stand and love them... solid wood, much nicer than the typical Ikea stuff! We use a low dresser in our son's room with a changing pad on top and always had. No need for a separate changing table!

We also have an Ikea crib and that has been great, too :-)

imrachellea · November 2015

I have an ikea dresser in addition to a changing table. Honestly, the dresser is sturdier than the changing table, which is plenty sturdy on it's own. It would make a perfectly safe changing table, except it's too tall (5 drawer). My concern would be counter space. We have a lamp, extra toiletries, her turtle wave nightlight, two piggy banks, and hair stuff on top of the dresser. We need both the changing table and dresser top space.

brie_and_almonds · November 2015

I have a three drawer Hemnes that we used as a changing table through around age 2 when she got too big and wiggly and fell off once (not the dresser's fault... mine), so now we just change her on the floor. The dresser is sturdy and I've been thinking about getting the bigger one for her "big girl" room. We do not have it anchored to the wall, and it hasn't been a problem. When we first got it, I was worried it was going to be too tall since I am quite short, but I found the height comfortable and I was glad I didn't have to hunch over.

Something to be aware of: my sister has the white version and it is not solid pieces of wood like the other colors -- it's pressed laminate.

mrstrax · November 2015

I don't know about the dresser specifically, but I would use the anchor stuff for anything taller than ~3'. It unlikely anything would happen in the first year or really ever, but as soon as kids can climb you don't want to take any chances of it tipping over on them. Same with bookshelves etc.

tara4910 · November 2015

@thaisac1 we have the hemnes 8 drawer in our bedroom and it's very sturdy. My only advice would be to consider the height. I am 5'7" and I think it would be perfect for me, but with the changing table topper it may be too tall for someone in the 5' - 5'4" range.

elasticheart13 · November 2015

Former IKEA employee here lol, Hemnes is definitely a sturdy (and really nice) drawer and I am planning to use it as a changing table as well

NachosAndPeaches · November 2015

Anchor it!!!! Anchor everything.

Also just an FYI for those who hate assembling, we got our changing table on Amazon and it was a nightmare to put together. Soooooooo much worse than anything Ikea has every sold. So basically if you love the ikea one go for it. No guarantee you'd skip installation anyway.

thaisac1 · November 2015

tara4910 said:
@thaisac1 we have the hemnes 8 drawer in our bedroom and it's very sturdy. My only advice would be to consider the height. I am 5'7" and I think it would be perfect for me, but with the changing table topper it may be too tall for someone in the 5' - 5'4" range.

I'm also 5'7''.

Pinguinageddon · November 2015

In my family, we've always just used a blanket on the floor or couch, lol
When I babysat kids who had actual changing tables, I liked that everything was right there, but it just seemed like such a hassle to me.

sarahufl · November 2015

thaisac1 said:

@thaisac1 we have the hemnes 8 drawer in our bedroom and it's very sturdy. My only advice would be to consider the height. I am 5'7" and I think it would be perfect for me, but with the changing table topper it may be too tall for someone in the 5' - 5'4" range.
I'm also 5'7''.

I was going to say the same thing. My brother in law is short and I don't think the Hemnes would work for him. They do have a dresser (rather than a changing table) but it is shorter than the Hemnes.

If you are near an IKEA, they are all assembled in the store, so you can go stand next to them and see if it works for you.

thaisac1 · November 2015

sarahufl said:

thaisac1 said:

tara4910 said:
@thaisac1 we have the hemnes 8 drawer in our bedroom and it's very sturdy. My only advice would be to consider the height. I am 5'7" and I think it would be perfect for me, but with the changing table topper it may be too tall for someone in the 5' - 5'4" range.
I'm also 5'7''.

I was going to say the same thing. My brother in law is short and I don't think the Hemnes would work for him. They do have a dresser (rather than a changing table) but it is shorter than the Hemnes.

If you are near an IKEA, they are all assembled in the store, so you can go stand next to them and see if it works for you.

I found this video which I think will be helpful:

https://youtu.be/iNBK-tgZrHs

Julesby · November 2015

NachosAndPeaches said:

Anchor it!!!! Anchor everything.

What she said! I worked at a Children's hospital for 4 years. You wouldn't believe the number of kids who pull furniture and TVs on themselves - even "sturdy" furniture. It was heart breaking receiving those pages.

[Deleted User] · November 2015

We used an Ikea dresser as the changing table and kept all diaper related things in top drawer. Still do actually. Worked out well. Looking term tho we are going to get DD1 a sturdier set as a few drawers got the bottoms pushed out as they are just a thick cardboard.

Poppy16 · November 2015

We used an ikea dresser (8-drawer malm) as a changing table for my older kids for several years and it worked out really great. It was so convenient to have all their clothes and diaper stuff right there. My husband just put some velcro on the bottom of the changing pad and on the dresser top, so keep the changing pad secure.

thaisac1 · November 2015

Poppy16 said:
We used an ikea dresser (8-drawer malm) as a changing table for my older kids for several years and it worked out really great. It was so convenient to have all their clothes and diaper stuff right there. My husband just put some velcro on the bottom of the changing pad and on the dresser top, so keep the changing pad secure.

I've been thinking of getting a foam changing pad for this reason... It doesn't slip or slide. Plus it can be cleaned with baby wipes. https://www.keekaroo.com/peanutdiaperchanger.html

AllyDogg · November 2015

I'm 5'4" and we have been using the 8 drawer Hemnes dresser as a change table for the past 2 years! Sturdy and perfect for our needs! We bought the drawer inserts and put a large square and a smaller rectangular bin in each of the top drawers for our toiletries and have never needed to keep on top of the dresser! Totally recommend it.

lalala2004 · November 2015

We're using this one:

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