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How to Pick the Right Changing Table for the Nursery

How to Pick the Right Changing Table for Your Nursery

OMG the one thing no new mom anticipates is the number of diapers she will have to change every, single day. It's amazing that a teeny-tiny little baby can go SO MUCH! When I was changing diapers I tried to make the process as easy as possible, so each diaper change was faster and faster. I did this by setting up my diaper changing station to suit my needs perfectly.

When my first daughter was born I decided to go with an open shelf changing table, so I could keep diapers and wipes right there in the open. This seemed to help with speed and my daughter's safety since I didn't have to hunt for supplies...they were all right there. The only problem with an open shelf unit was that when I got lazy and didn't straighten up the supplies the sloppy shelves made the room look a little messy. Once I realized that I decided to get some pretty baskets and bins to hold the supplies and that took care of my clutter issue. When my daughter started to become mobile I also had to make sure that there weren't any dangerous items on the shelves because she would make a beeline to those shelves every chance she got.

	Open Shelf Changing Table The open shelf changer I got was very similar to the Charleston Changer by Graco Cribs. The top came with guardrails and a changing pad, plus safety straps so my cutie pie could wiggle all she wanted and she couldn't get free before the change was done. The shelves were open and allowed me to keep supplies organized in arm's reach. When my daughter finally got potty trained I transitioned the open shelf changing table into a display cabinet for her favorite toys and most-used items. This Charleston Changer would be a great choice if you like the open shelf design.
	Three Drawer Dressing Station When my second daughter was born I decided to go with the Three Drawer Changing Table option similar to the DaVinci Kalani 3 Drawer Changer. At that time I already had an active toddler in the home and knew that if I got another open shelf changer my toddler would definitely get into the diapers and wipes. For my second child I kept all diapering supplies in the changer drawers which kept the room looking neat, but made it a little more challenging to get to supplies during changes, but not too difficult. So as you can see both the open shelf and three drawer changers have different pros and cons depending on your taste or number of kids in the home.
	Corner Changing Table If you're working with limited space then you will absolutely love a corner changer like the Corner Changing Table by Badger Basket. These handy dressing stations fit right into the corner of the room, so they hardly take up any space, yet they have tons of room for keeping supplies organized and easy to grab, thanks to the open shelves. After the diaper stage this same piece can remain in the corner to hold your toddler's favorite toys and games and it will keep things organized yet out of the way.
	Combo Dresser / Changer Unit Another wonderful option is a combo unit like the DaVinci Kalani Combo Dresser / Changer. This option looks more like a dresser and includes more storage space for diapering supplies and baby clothes in three drawers and a cupboard with multiple shelves, so you can store everything needed for diaper and clothes changes. The top has enough room for a standard size changing pad and when your child grows out of diapers you can remove the pad and continue to enjoy this beautiful storage unit through your child's toddler and teen years. This Combo Dresser / Changer is designed to fit the Kalani Combo Hutch on the dresser top after the changing pad is removed. The hutch adds more storage shelves to the dresser top offering the perfect place to keep your kid's growing collection of do-dads on display.
	Changing Tray If you already have a dresser and don't have the space for a big, bulky changing table then consider getting a changing tray like the Hawthorne Dressing Kit for Changing Table. I had one similar to this that I brought with me on trips to use on dresser tops. It can easily fit on top of a dresser and comes with a changing pad with safety straps surrounded by safety rails. The side has an area for keeping diapering supplies organized. This particular changing tray can even be mounted onto a dresser top and comes with all the hardware needed for the task.
	Diaper Changing Bags One thing most new moms don't think about is how many diaper changes your baby will need when you're out on the town or away from home. You don't want to get caught having to ask other moms for a diaper and wipes when out in public, I know cause that happened to me, only once, and I learned my lesson. That's why it's important to get a diaper bag like the Stokke Xplory Diaper Changing Bag that comes equipped with all sorts of pockets for storing diapers, wipes and other baby supplies, plus a foldable changing pad that you can whip out anywhere to give your baby a soft and safe diaper changing spot while on the go.