Bad backs

[MummyMeg]

Both my husband and I have bad backs and have been using a changing table ever since our 8 month old was born. But now, he's so big and so roly-poly that I'm afraid he's going to roll right off the edge of the table. The floor is difficult because of our backs and we want to restrict the nappy changing to his bedroom. Perhaps we need another piece of furniture for his room? Any ideas? Thank you.

Is your changing table small?
I am still using a changing mat on top of a tall chest of drawers for DS who is 15 mths and v big for his age. I just found that as long as I keep one hand on him the whole time he shows no inclination to roll off as it is just too high up. If I have to change him on the floor for any reason its a different story. He rolls over and tries to crawl away mid change. I find it much more of a struggle and plan to continue with my chest of drawers as long as possible.
I would say that as long as you don't let go it should be fine (as long as you feel comfortable that is)

If your bad backs allow it, you could try sticking your leg across his tummy to leave both your hands free. I resorted to it with dd for a while and the wriggle phase soon passed. Incidently, she'd only ever do it with me and would lie absolutely still for dh or grandma...

What about a changing mat with a harness?

There's one in the PHP catalogue:

www.thebabycatalogue.com/products/BY105_rabbit-change-pad.htm

Or if you think he is strong enough to take the mat with him as he rolls, maybe a changing table with a built-in harness - I'm sure I saw one reviewed somewhere which looked remarkably like those flip-top changing tables you get in the loos.

Thanks everyone for such good ideas. I'm going to look into the "cot top changer" and changing mat w/harness. We'll see how it goes...
Thank you!

I partially slipped a disc when my youngest was about 12 weeks old (had done it before!)and I resorted to sitting on the floor, back against something that wouldn't move (wall, piece of furniture) and putting the changing mat on the floor between my legs, which were in an outstretched V shape. Very useful when he started to move around (you can't fall off the floor!) and often had to gently hold his hands down with my feet later, to stop him wandering and putting his hands in all that sudocrem!

Things could shift for you over the next few weeks anyhow. I have always thought of our changing table as the 'Launch Pad'. Once ds could stand, albeit propped up, leaning against something, just standing gave him something to do when being changed and kept him happy.

By about 11 months and really wriggly, filling the hand basin with water and popping his bottom half in was much more satisfying then an all out fight. And you can do it any lou.

At 18 months, we can use the changing table again.

I've got a bad back and had a c-section so I needed to change nappies at a very exact height. Ended up using a cheapish desktop attached to adjustable legs (ikea), so I could put it at exactly the right height. I have also tilted it slightly from back to front so when ds pees on the mat it runs away from his vest/top and is easier to mop up.
The desk top is much bigger than a conventional changing table so my wriggly 8 month hasn't managed to dive off it yet!