Finding the Perfect Changing Table

When you are expecting it is always hard to know exactly what you will need and how long you will use it.

Here are some handy hints to help you find the perfect one when you are shopping.

When buying a changing table one of the key items to know is what the manufacturer says the weight limits are. One that has a 30lb capacity will be better built than one with only a 20lb capacity.

Check to see if it has barriers around the outer edges. Ideally you would want them at least 4 inches tall. This will help prevent your child from rolling off. Also make sure that it comes with safety straps, and USE them. It only takes a second of inattention for a baby to roll off.

Take a look at the height of the table. You are going to be spending a lot of time bending over it, is your back going to hurt? Check to see how accessible drawers or shelves are. Pretend to hold a baby while you reach for something, can you do it easily with one hand?

My daughter was quite large so she didn't fit on the standard sized changing table for long, but we found a way to work around it. I bought a credenza that was tall enough for me to use with out bending over too much and attached a contoured changing pad to it. I also mounted a strap so that I could secure her while I was changing her with out having to worry about her rolling off.

Now that she is older, I have taken off the pad and she uses the credenza for storing her clothes and playthings in.