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Original poster

Where to change baby?

49 replies

malin100 · 14/05/2016 19:47

I am pregnant with my first and trying to figure out storage options and logistics at the moment. We have a very small house, we are quite minimalist already so the things we have are things we need but will really struggle fitting in things for the baby.

Realistically, I can't find anywhere to put a changing table. There's a chance I might need to have a C section (waiting for a re-scan) so I'm led to believe I might find it hard to change on the floor.

The bathroom is downstairs (and small and cold) and both bedrooms are upstairs. Would a fold down or cot top changer in the bedroom work or would I need water? Planning to mostly use reuseables but some disposables. Other than on the floor of the bathroom, I thought maybe a cot top type changer on the bath? I have never changed a nappy, if you can't tell already!

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nephrofox · 14/05/2016 19:50

Cot top changer, on the cot. No need for water just use wipes, or take the baby into bath if it's really bad!

MrsJayy · 14/05/2016 19:51

Changing mat on the living rom floor or sofa baby wipes or a cloth and bowl job done I didnt have a change table

SnuffleGruntSnorter · 14/05/2016 19:52

What about a folding changing mat and just using whatever surface you're nearest? I don't think a designated place to change nappies is really necessary and not really practical.

I had a little bottle of water and some cotton wool balls in the changing bag for the first few months so it was all very portable. When you're changing 10+ nappies a day in the beginning its just easier to do it whenever you are in my experience.

Congratulations on impending baby!

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superwormissuperstrong · 14/05/2016 19:52

We started off just doing it on our bed then stuffing the mat and the basket of supplies under the bed when not in use. Similarly downstairs - we have a mat and basket that live down the side of the sofa. Don't like those changing station things as they take up too much room.
The box of nappies, spare packets of wipes etc. are kept with all our other bathroom supplies, so just restock the daily basket when the nappies, wipes or bags run out...

TweeterandtheMonkeyman · 14/05/2016 19:53

You won't need water (well you are meant to use water & cotton wool at first but no one does after about a week!) I lived in a tiny house when I had dd and I changed her on the changing mat on the bed, and sometimes on my lap . the safest p!lace is really the floor as they learn to roll surprisingly quickly

PragmaticWench · 14/05/2016 19:53

You can use Water Wipes from birth, so no need to faff with cotton wool and water. I'd use a mat on your bed to start with, which you could store under or behind it, then when you're recovered you could just use a changing mat on the floor?

Nicknamegrief · 14/05/2016 19:54

Having had 4 sections I have always used a mat on the floor and not really had any problems. Once the baby starts moving around on the floor is easiest (generally did it in bedroom) but in early days wherever I have built my nest!

The only tip I would say is buy a quality mat- I went through three before getting a mamas and papas one, the M&P one has lasted over 6 years of use, compared to cheat boots/Mothercare/tesco ones that ripped within 6 months.

EsmesBees · 14/05/2016 19:54

You'll figure it out. These things always seem logistically impossible before the baby. Once he or she is here you'll just figure it out. However, when they are tiny and can't roll you'll probably be best with a changing mat on your bed. In most cases, wet wipes will be all you need not water and cotton wool.

Puffinsrock · 14/05/2016 19:55

Travel mat and floor / bed
Did that for dc1 doing it again with dc2 !
Ikea box under bed / sofa with wipes nappies etc
Change table is 100% unnecessary!

FuzzyOwl · 14/05/2016 19:56

You can get a foam changing mat and change the baby on it on your bed (I did after my section) then when the baby is starting to move, change him/her on the floor (after reading about a baby who wasn't fastened and fell off a cot too changer it scared me about using them - although I am sure they are perfectly safe if used correctly).

If you plan to use cotton wool and water when you change the nappy, then yes you will need water. If you want it to be warm you could always fill up a thermos to keep upstairs and another bottle, then add them to a small tub to reach the desired temperature. Wipes are much less hassle but, understandably, not everyone wants to use them.

Nicknamegrief · 14/05/2016 19:56

I use cotton wool and water (have a small bottle of water with nappy stuff, that I refill) until they go on to solids and the contents of a nappy worsen. I am a bit of a cheap skate though...

SillyBub · 14/05/2016 19:58

I had a cot top changer for both DCs, it did the job perfectly. It started on top of the court when they were little, but once mobile it was easy to pick it up and store it under the cot for sleep times.

ftmsoon · 14/05/2016 20:00

Our changing mat is on top of DD's chest of drawers. Is something like this a possibility? I didn't want to change on the floor as far as possible due to back issues.

MrsJayy · 14/05/2016 20:01

I used to do it on my knee sometimes you figure out a way

cheeseandcrackers · 14/05/2016 20:01

Cheap changing mat on top of chest of drawers in bedroom. Stick nappies, wipes etc in top drawer. If you're using reusable nappies, you'll want to change the baby in the bathroom once they are weaned so you can put poo directly down the loo but by then you will probably be changing them on the floor anyway (breastfed poo is very liquid so just soaks into nappy and can be washed as is, once weaned the solid bits can be shaken into loo, no idea about formula poos..).

Original poster

malin100 · 14/05/2016 20:47

Thanks all! Chest of drawers is not an option as the only ones we have are sky high because of needing to use every inch!

Sounds like for the moment I just need to get looking at a quality changing mat to start with!

OP posts:

Artandco · 14/05/2016 20:52

Get a changing mat. Then you can use that on dining table when newborn if you have a c section, on bed or sofa ( sit on bed/ sofa also you at a good height), or floor

We did use reusable nappies and wipes, but just put 20 wipes in a box with lid at a time with water. So box can just be kept where nappies are and used same as regular wipes. Empty plastic box for dirty nappy and wipes to go in whilst you finish changing baby, then can take to bathroom to change.

skankingpiglet · 14/05/2016 22:12

We had a cot top changer for upstairs and a mat downstairs. I wasn't going to bother with the changer but DM insisted on buying one for me. I had an elcs and it was great not having to change DD whilst all bent over. It got loads of use, and I was sad when I took the bars off DD's cot bed and could no longer use it!

As for wipes, if you are doing cloth nappies, have you thought about cloth wipes? You store them in their tub pre-dampened with water and a couple of drops of essential oil (although you can leave the oil out if you prefer) and they are suitable from birth.

Good luck with the nappy changes, you will soon be a pro though. If it makes you feel any better my first ever nappy change was my second night in hospital (first I had a catheter in so midwife did it, and DH did them in the day). DD was screaming, she was covered in meconium, and the cotton wool kept sticking to her so she looked like I'd tarred and feathered her. It was so dark I couldn't really see what I was doing and my bloody gown kept falling down and getting in the way! I ended up ripping the gown off and changing her stood stark bollock naked (behind my curtain) hoping the midwife wouldn't stick her head in until I'd finished. It was a baptism of fire! Within a couple of days I was an expert, as babies are kind enough to give you plenty of practice at it

Sunbeam18 · 14/05/2016 23:44

You just need a standard change mat for the house and a fold-up travel one for your change bag. We had a top and tail bowl that we used for the early days of water and cotton wool, and some containers storing nappies, muslins, bags and wipes and bum creams. Changing tables are totally unnecessary

Scotinoz · 15/05/2016 04:41

Jeez, changing nappies on beds/floors/sofas cripples your back. Then once they become anything close to mobile they fling themselves around and the danger of shit hitting nice surface becomes a real possibility. Save your back - get a foldy up change table for the cot or something.

And don't faff on with water and cotton wool...madness! Use wipes!!

Mummyme87 · 15/05/2016 06:48

Cot top changer. DS is almost two and I still use it.

I used cotton wool and water for a few months then went on to reusable wipes. Water wipes when out. Don't get cotton wool balls as they don't work, just get cotton wool pads. No issues with removing meconium this way

randomsabreuse · 15/05/2016 06:59

Didn't have a cs so can't comment on bending (we did) but would go with a location with an easily washable floor as the range a slightly gassy newborn can fire stuff has to be seen to be believed!

readingrainbow · 15/05/2016 07:03

My newborns always ended up with rash when I used wipes.

MrsA2 · 15/05/2016 07:28

Agree with PP that as soon as mine became mobile, changes on the floor would have been a disaster with her crawling around half covered in poo... Sounds like a cot top change table would be ideal in your situation. I considered a change mat on top of chest of drawers too (although sounds like that isn't an option for you anyway) but it would have been way too slippery.

Andbabymakesthree · 15/05/2016 07:41

I find it sad everyone us saying just use wipes. It's so bad for the environment.

Check out cheeky wipes . You can get a ton of baby flannels from poundland and make your own solution. Much cheaper than wipes. If using cloth nappies makes sense too.

As for a changing place we used this universal cot too changer. Sad we won't have a cot to place in on third time around ( space issues). Then a changing mat downstairs.

www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Universal-Cot-Top-Changer/748513,default,pd.html&loadMoreCurrentStatus=1&returnCgid=nursery_cottopchangers&returnSrule=null&start=&returnScrollPos=1

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