Best Changing Table Style? One with Rails or One on Top of a Dresser?

You'll find that you are going to change diapers here there and everywhere eventually. I think that the best benefit to you would be to buy the dresser as it is universal in its use.

Hi H.! My son is 7 months old, and we have the dresser style table. That was the only "must have" for me! As far as storage, mine has the 3 drawers under the changing side, and then a drawer, and tall cabinet with 2 shelves under the taller part of the table. I keep diapers and bulk wipes in the cabinet part. Knick Knacks, like xtra pacifiers, etc., go in the drawer. In the 3 drawers, are pajamas, socks, onesies, and other stuff that isn't hangable. Good luck with your decision!

A.

I didn't use either. I typically used the floor or the bed or whatever flat surface was handy. I found that having to take the baby to one paticular area to change the diaper was just unrealistic. Maybe I am lazy lol. I had a basket I kept in the living room with all of her diaper stuff and one in the bedroom. Therefore, I would just get a piece of furniture that can be used else where later. You may find you prefer the floor or bed or whatever lol.

I've used the contoured changing pad on top of a dresser for the past two years and have had no problems. My husband screwed the back safety strap of the pad to the back of the dresser so it wouldn't fall off. I can now use the dresser without the pad and don't have to deal with the bars/rails on top. No matter what, in regards to safety, you can never walk away, that's the best safety precaution. Good luck and enjoy!

Definitely go with the dresser-top style. We went one better-- we purchased a used, but very sturdy oak cabinet at a yard sale for less than $10 and refinished it and used it as the "dresser". We purchased the topper online-- I forget the brand now, but if you google "changing table top" or something like that, you'll find several. It comes with attachments so you can screw it into the back of the dresser and into the wall if you want, and also has straps for the child. I think it was a good investment, because it's versatile, and you're right-- once the child is too old for the traditional changing table, you're stuck with a piece of useless furniture. I've also known of people who used this topper on a desk, rather than a dresser, which can also be reused later-- just check the height of the piece of furniture you're using so you don't find yourself bending over too far for every diaper change, which will become annoying very quickly! Good luck!!

I didn't read all of the responses, so I apologize if this is a repeat...our changing table is by Baby's Dream. It's a dresser, but when the baby's is little, you turn it upside down and the decorative molding (normally at the bottom) becomes a rail around the changing pad. The drawers come completely out and flip over so they're functional either way. It wasn't especially cheap, but it's back to being just a dresser now, and it's still useful (and it doesn't look like a changing table. If you check out the Baby's Dream website, you can look for a retailer near you. Good luck!

Hi, I am a first time mommy to due in June. And We have the actual changing table with rails and such. We really have it cuz it came in a set with the crib. My sis has the one you were talking about, where it sits on top of the dresser. Many people dont use the strap. Your not suppose to leave your baby even if strapped in ya know. But they are nice cuz you can use them later. I might keep using the changing table just maybe add some fabric so its not open at the bottem and still kind of use it like a dresser or bookshelf. I will figure something out. I think with this though its more with preference. You may want to get the dresser, saving money is always a plus. I hope it helps a little.
~Sandi~

We use a dresser top. We had a sturdy dresser already. We purchased a contoured changing pad from Babies R Us and attached it to the top of the Dresser. One major bonus is that you can use the dresser alot longer than a changing table. My son is 2 1/2 and weighs 33lbs and I can still put him up in the dresser to change him. It saves my back not having to do it on the floor. A changing table can not be used past a certain weight. One thing. My son did fall off the table once while my husband was changing his diaper. Prasie the Lord he was not hurt. You have to be very carefully with anything you use. Good luck.

Hi H., my name is M. and I am also pregnant with my first child & due in September. I'm 31 so the majority of my friends already have children & all have told me to purchase a changing table /dresser combination versus the shelf type. Not only will you be able to use it in the future as just a dresser, but all of the diapers, cream, etc. can be in the drawers instead of out on display on the shelves. Congrats & best of luck to you!

Hi H.,
I choice the one on top of the dresser. You do always have to stay close but your likely to be doing that anyway when changing him or her. I loved ours and would use it again. It came from Babies R Us. It is nice to use later too:) Good luck with all the diaper changing. If you ever consider cloth diapers, Snap EZ (found online) has wonderful ones. I never gave in a thought until my baby got an incurable diaper rash! Boy do I wish I would have started out with them! I would have saved thousands and not put such an impact on our environment, not to mention, they are sooo cute! Not like the white cloth and big pin that we think of. I will be using them for my next baby. I know you didnt ask about that but hope its helpful. Best of luck to you and your family!!
Many blessings,
Jamie

I used the one that is a dresser. I love it. I still use it as a dresser. I cannot put my 2 year old on top any more to change her diaper, I lay her next to it on the floor and utilize the drawers for her diapers and jammies. A regular changing table, you will only be able to use for so long until the child gets to big for it and then you get a dresser. The changing table/dresser is what I would recomend you get, because you can use it until you decide to change all the furniture in the room. And I also suggest a crib that has the option of changing into a toddler bed. You will get the most use out of the furniture, and it holds up really well. I have used mine for both of my girls. My oldest will be five. Congratulations, I hope you find what you are looking for.

I wish I could have gotten a dresser top changing table but truth be told it would have been wasted too. I ended up changing in the living room most times so our changing table was just there, LOL! I just felt safer on the floor.

all i can say is that babies are just children. that may not make sense yet but once you have one you will realize that babies are babies so briefly that it is best to buy things that are "grow with child" items. I bought the dresser that you just put a curved pad on and went on. I will tell you that in all things you buy try to get "grow with child" like covertible car seats from 5lbs to 40lbs. I went with the car seat base, carrier that fits into the stroller. I would defintely suggest the locking base for the carrier; so much easier than strapping that stupid thing in over and over. Also dont spend too much on things unless you just have bookoo bucks because if you really look at function Graco, etc. is just a good as Tommy Hilfiger branded ones, etc. Just be sensible....I would look for function, extended use, and price.

Hi H.,
I chose the dresser that I put a foam contoured changing pad on and still use that dresser for my 5 year old as a dresser. With my first I used it for almost all changes, never had a safety problem, I was able to keep all supplies within reach. With my second I used that same contoured pad on an antique dresser, fit fine, but he almost was always changed on the floor for convenience sake. (bedrooms are upstairs). If you got the changing table alone, you could always keep it and use it for toys or other stuff that needs shelves.
V

I have this one from Kmart and I loved it as a changing table. http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_9990000013303112...

And it has the built on rails on top and we just bought a simple pad that went on it. But now my son is just about 2ys old and I hate the rails on top!! I wish I could take them off but hubby and I haven't figured out a way to do it without some other holes that are under it from showing. But oh, well. This was the first time between two kids I've even had a changing table!!

~S.

I think that both are okay to have because like another mom said you don't always change your baby just on the changing table. I had the one with the rails because like many it did match my crib. I also bought wicker baskets and an organizer from Target to hang on the side to store diapers, creams, lotions, etc. Everyone has already given such good advice that I just wrote to give you an idea my friend taught me was to buy a bunch of the wicker baskets and fix one up for your bedroom, living room or den, upstairs and downstairs with supplies you would store in a diaper bag. I had diapers, wipes, bib, teething toy, lotion, burp cloth, etc. so that I did not have to run and find things with my baby crying ( I only have one child so was a first time mom) and that helped me to stay calm. I also had changing pads and did many diaper changes in the floor or on the couch. My son is 3 and I still keep a diaper bag hanging on the end of my bed with supplies after bath incase I give him a bath in my bathroom and I just thought I would pass this along to ya! Good luck and enjoy being a mother because this will be your new best friend.

Hey H.,

You have tons of responses already so I'm not sure that you'll get to mine but when I had my son (about six months ago) my mom picked up a changing table with very deep shelves. I have found now that while the storage is great, (you can never find enough storage space for all those diapers, bibs, onesies, socks etc) I never actually use the table. I just put him on the bed. :) I also never use the strap. Now he's too big and he could probably just wiggle down out of it. Go with the dresser and get a book shelf or something for storage. Then you can use the shelf to house all thos Dr. Suess and Disney books later!

hey H.,

i would get which ever one you want. i have the one that is on top of the dresser and both my boys have been safe on it. no matter which one you get, you should always have a hand on them and never leave them alone up there no matter what age they are. so, as long as you are there they will always be safe. as far as the strap to go over your child while you change them, i have never used mine and i don't really think it is practical. i just like to get the job done fast and not even worry about the strap. well, good luck in shopping for your furniture--this is such a fun time preparing for your little one.

J.

The most important thing is height! You want it low - I would even prefer to have to lean over than to have to deal with a soiled diaper 12 inches from my nose.

Most changing tables are about the height of a kitchen counter (or higher, although I'm a little short) Every time I changed my baby's poopy diaper at the changing table at the daycare or a restaurant, it was awful - I wanted to throw up.

I have a very nice changing table at home that my sister got me, but it is used exclusively as a toy shelf. To change a diaper, I grab a waterproof pad and use my own bed. Or even the floor. (They can't fall off the floor!)

And those straps? Sheesh. Maybe they work for some parent out there, but I haven't met them yet. Just keep your hand on them. Either the kid is too young to roll over, or they are too squirmy and it's more effort to strap in than it is to hold them. For one thing, *doing* the strap wastes precious seconds - many big babies will wrestle you the whole time and straps just take too much time, and besides, the act of strapping them down freaks them out.

A changing table is totally necessary, but if you really want one, consider something that can still be useful after you pass that stage.

I had my changing table built by my father so that I could have it a bit taller than a store bought changing table. I have a small rail which is just a bit higher than the pad and then I have a contour pad with straps. I use the straps when my baby is wiggly for my children's safety. Trust me, when they start rolling and squirming, you can change a diaper fast but they can be faster! After they are a bit bigger, I use a pad on the floor for the same safety reason. I have enough room for the wipes and then a shelve and drawers underneath for storage. However, again safety is a key factor. When my son was moving around enough and now my daughter is pulling herself up, they can get into things stored on the shelf. So please weigh your pros and cons and save yourself some headaches when they get older.

I chose the one with the rails on the sides because it matched the crib. This one has huge shelves underneath, so I put wicker baskets that matched to hold 2 large bags of diapers and the biggest box of wipes, etc, etc. The rails made me feel safer because if he did roll a little he would not fall right away. this one does have straps to hold him if needed. We also got the changing pad that was firm and contoured that also help keep my son from rolling, he would roll and hit the edge and then roll back to the middle. Over all I love it and would not change my mind. Good luck! I know there are so many choices.
Johna :o)

You've definitely got a lot of responses. Both would have straps to strap the baby in. Just because you have rails doesn't mean you can walk away. I have the one that is separate because I needed the extra storage. I like the shelves below to house the diapers (from Sams) and wipes, and various bins that I got from Babies R Us to hold socks, diaper cloths, baby wash cloths and towels, PJ's and onesies, etc. I used our dresser for clothes, which needed every drawer. So, if you don't need the extra storage to house your diapers, etc., then go for the dresser.

Don't bother buying 'baby' furniture - it is way overpriced. We used an old dresser and attached a changing pad to it. There was enough room to put a basket next to the changing pad and that is where we stored diapers/wipes/lotion etc. Since the dresser doesn't look like baby furniture it will be used for a long time as my boys get older.

H., purchase the table that works best for you. If the one with drawers will serve you longer, then buy it. As for safety, the rule is simple: Keep everything you need within arms reach and NEVER take your eyes off the baby. Always keep one hand in grabbing distance. You'll do fine. :)

I chose the safe method of changing my son on the floor. It didn't cost a thing and he never fell off of anything. Save your money for all the other little things that your child will need like diapers. Good luck!

Hi and congratulations!

I am a newborn educator and I have to say that the safest place to change your child's diaper is on the floor. This is because they can't fall off! I know buying furniture is important and I used a changing table myself...for about a month. Then I just didn't use it. Babies, even newborns, can roll over. It became nerve wracking for me to constantly keep on hand firmly on the trunk of my baby while I stretched and reached for something I needed. So, I just started using the floor because I could step away for a second if I had to.

I guess I would suggest buying the piece of furniture that will last the longest. The one that could easily convert into something else. The rails on changing tables are NOT safe.

Good luck!

S.

from experience: save your money - the best changing table by far is the floor! :)

The only thing I'm going to say about this is to make sure that you, your husband and anyone else who is going to be changing your baby knows that they should NEVER turn their backs on what they're doing when they have the baby on top of the changing table ("strapped in" or not). Have whatever you need available before doing the change, where you need it. I have a friend who lost a child because the caregiver got distracted and the three month old rolled off and broke her neck. Naomi was born the same week as my second son. It really DOES happen, and it's a tragedy, but a preventable one.

rails are the way to go... they're not as $$. they dont allow the baby (boy especially) to wet in your dresser if the drawer is left open. and the dressers in baby furnature are too small to hold older clothes. we bought a broyhill youth dresser that can be used forever. then we bought an $99 changingtable b/c there will be a time when all baby furnature goes to the attic or yardsale.

Congratulations on the upcoming baby! As far as changing tables go, I have the kind with rails and shelves and it works fine. The only problem that I have is that we hardly ever used it. Our son’s room is upstairs and we spend the majority of our time downstairs so I would never make a special trip upstairs just to change a diaper. Therefore, I regret even buying a changing table. So I guess what I am saying is changing tables are great just make sure you put it in a convenient location.

We wanted funiture anyway and bought the dresser and attached the changing pad to it. It works well (my dresser also had rails that could be removed but we never used them). We also have a pack and play with a changing pad downstairs and have used it a lot. It is great for dirty diapers as it can easily be wiped down.

I love the changing pads at waist height as it is easier on me, but my friend loves the less expensive option of a towel on the floor/bed etc.

Hi, I have one exactly like you talked about and it works perfect. I use the bottom for his clothes and the top to strap him in and never had an issue, plus ur diapers and wipes are right there so no need to walk off.

From a safety standpoint, there is not really a big issue, because you will NEVER want to leave your baby unattended, even to take one step away. Even a newborn can "startle" and bounce of the table. The rails are not high enough to safely keep a baby up there. I never used the straps. You wouldn't want to be tempted to trust them to hold the baby in place. It's good to be in the habit of always having one hand on the baby. Make sure that everything you need is within reach. For this reason, the table might be convenient because you can keep wipes and diapers on the shelf underneath. Or, you could keep them in the top drawer of the dresser. Just make sure you will only need one hand to reach whatever you need.

When my son "outgrew" his changing table, I just moved the pad to the floor where we could change his diaper there. A squirmy larger infant/toddler can't fall off the floor ;-)

We used the dresser top style. Very sturdy. You stay right on top of your child anyway, so rails wouldn't make much of a difference. We stored diapers/wipes in one of the top drawers.