Changing diapers, and changing diapers, and changing diapers! Diapers, diapers, diapers.
That’s life for the first year or so, and then it starts to slow down, thankfully. Something that can make the whole experience much easier is getting a good diaper changing table for your nursery.
They will become your baby changing battle station; all of the tools of the trade can be stored inside, and the comfortable pad is the ideal place to change baby.
So, what is the best baby changing table and pad? It’s up to you, but we have some suggestions that you’ll probably really like! Before we get to that, there are a few other things we should cover, first.
Should I Buy a Changing Table?
Let’s get one thing clear: you don’t absolutely need a changing table. Sure, they’re really useful and convenient, but they aren’t necessarily vital. They’re a good way to stay completely organized; the drawers are good for storing everything you need to change diapers and more.
There are some great benefits to changing tables. They include:
- Really helps save your back and knees from pain, especially for tall parents. Since changing tables keep your baby at a high level, you don’t have to bend over to change their diaper. Since you’ll be changing diapers around the clock, this can really take a toll on your body, and a good changing table really helps.
- They’re great for storage. Since they’re basically a drawer unit, you can store not only diapers and diapering supplies but also clothes, wipes, toys, etc. The double functionality is something a lot of parents really like.
- Rolling changing tables can be moved from room to room.
Of course, there are some downsides to changing tables:
- They’re expensive. You’re not going to get one for cheap
- They’re large. You need to have room to store it in the nursery!
- You have to change the diaper where you have the table, unless you get one with wheels.
You really have to weigh the pros and cons. Not everyone is going to need a diaper changing table, but they can be really helpful, especially if you have a bad back already, or are tall.
MomTricks Picks: The Best Changing Tables
Here are our choices for the best diaper changing tables and why we chose them.
#1. Athena Leila 2 Drawer Changer
This beautiful changing table & armoire is made of solid wood, not particle board. (See it in white, cherry or espresso!)
This means it’s heavy, but it’s very solid, well-constructed and high quality.
Being wood, you might think that it’s difficult to assemble, but not so; it’s actually quite simple, especially if you have a helper on hand! All you need is a screwdriver and the included tool.
It comes in three colors: a nice white, cherry, and espresso. All three of them are really nice, and one or the other is sure to fit in with the rest of your nursery decor.
The top fits a standard 16 x 32″ changing pad, which is sold separately. I’d recommend the Summer Infant contoured changing pad, which is pretty cheap and fits perfectly with the Athena Leila.
It has two roomy pull-out drawers that you can use to store all of your diapers and diapering supplies, along with clothes and other stuff. There are also 2 square cubbies to put items that you need to have in quick access.
The unit measures 34 x 55 x 42 inches and weighs 70 pounds, so it’s definitely not small or light. Remember, it is made of solid wood!
This is a really awesome changing table for the price. You’re just not going to find something this high quality, made out of solid wood, for under $200. Highly recommended!
#2. Delta Children Eclipse
A lower-priced and smaller option, the Delta Children Eclipse (click here to see it on Amazon) is also a really great changing table that just might work for you.
It has 2 storage shelves to store all of your diapering supplies and also comes with a changing pad, so you don’t have to purchase one separately.
The table requires some assembly to put together, but it’s really simple and takes only about 20 minutes to do so. The structure is pretty solid, but the material used isn’t quite as high quality as the Athena Leila; it’s not solid wood.
The changing pad is adequate and comes with a strap to keep baby secured in, and the sides are all high. The structure itself measures 39.4 x 24.4 x 5.9 inches and weighs just over 33 pounds when assembled, so it’s light enough that you can move it from room to room if need be.
The only downside is that you can’t really use a 3rd party changing pad with the table, as it’s not quite big enough to fit a standard-sized one. That’s not really a big deal, because the supplied one is pretty good on its own.
The Alternative: Best Diaper Changing Pad
If you don’t want to go all-out on a bulky piece of furniture, you can opt for a diaper changing pad that simply sits on top of an existing piece of furniture. This is also a much more cost-effective solution, as you can expect to pay under $50-60 for a good one, on average.
If you’re going to go this route, make sure you secure the pad to the surface you’re using. The manufacturer should include instructions to do so safely.
These are pretty simple. If you’re going to go this route, look for one with four contoured sides and a baby restraint strap.
Our Recommended Diaper Changing Pad: Summer Infant Contoured Changing Pad
This no-nonsense, inexpensive changing pad is awesome! (Click here to see it on Amazon!) It has everything we want in a changing pad: contoured walls, a safety strap, soft material, and easy to clean.
They do sell plush covers for these can you can see here, but I personally don’t think they’re necessary and they just make it more of a hassle since you have to machine wash them.
Without the cover, you can just wipe it clean with a rag.
The bottom surface is sticky to make it stay put on the dresser or table you set it on, and there’s also a security strap you can use to firmly attach it. Believe me, this thing isn’t going anywhere. It’s very lightweight and easy to move, so you can move it from room to room if you want.
What surprised me is that some parents use this to change diapers in the car! It actually makes a lot of sense; the contoured walls make it great for this purpose, if you have a larger vehicle that can hold it.
What else can I say? If you want one of the best baby changing pads, you can’t go wrong with this one.