Changing table / chest of drawers options/ height ?

[flowerchop]

Hi

So we naturally need to get a chest of drawers anyway before baby arrives as I do not have enough storage. I have space for a normal one drawer width dresser up to a metre wide.

I think the baby specific dressers are a little over priced. Is there any real reason to need them specifically?

What i would like to do is find a reasonable chest of drawers that blends with the other furniture and put a changing pad on top of it. I'm just wondering about height. What height have you all used that worked for you?

Online most changing tables seem to be about 80-90 cm but I've seen a handful say up to 110 is okay. Of course higher could be more convenient due to extra storage but don't want to have problems with changing convenience.

Thanks in advance x

Get a normal set of drawers and change baby on the floor! It won't be long until you are wrestling them to stay on a changing table. The floor is safer.

Just get a chest of drawers that you like and forget about it being a changing table. They're unnecessary really!

I naively bought one because I thought it was such a good idea. It was barely used.

I changed both of mine on the floor
Both were moving early - rolling at 4 months, crawling before 6. A changing mat at height seems a recipie for disaster to me.

I agree with previous posters. Normal chest of drawers, change baby on the floor or if you really must on your bed. Not worth it for something you use for a few months tops! You’ll be chasing them round before you know it!

Although there are loads of IKEA hacks for changing tables that look clever if you fancy some DIY…
https://thegempicker.com/ikea-dresser-changing-table/

Ordinary drawers well fixed to the wall, changing mat in the floor, safest and least expensive.

As per pp. normal chest of drawers and change on the floor. We didn't have a baby change thing and can't say I missed it.

We got the ikea one that turns into a bookcase. Two large drawers to store things in and the unit is very sturdy. I get a bad back so floor changing wasn’t an option. They’re usually available on second hand sites. Ours is 2yrs old now and we still use it as a changing table. They even stand by it with their arms out and say ‘up’ when it’s changing time! We have a massive child (comparable to a 3yr old!) and still works perfectly.

Thanks a lot all! I've convinced DH that we only need a normal chest of drawers at any height we need and not a baby specific one now 😂 gotta love the influence of other posters

We got a Hemnes from Ikea and change baby (now toddler) on a mat on top of that with absolutely no problems. Don't see why you'd need to to it on the floor and kill your back!

I never used a changing table, babies can't fall off the floor, they very much can fall off a changing table.

My baby has never fallen off the changing table because I'm always stood there with her?

I didn't get one at first and didn't think I needed one but after a few weeks I got one and my body has thanked me. I still change her on the floor a lot - at other peoples houses, if we're downstairs and in a rush etc but if I can comfortably stand for even 30% of her changes it makes a difference! Especially for getting her ready in the morning and after bath times etc.

Set of drawers with a mat on works

This. Babies can't roll off if you change them on a towel on the floor.

Always used my changing table, don't see why I need to break my back on the floor and never changed her in communal living areas. I found it better getting her ready on the changing table not just changing her nappies.
You could just buy a normal chest of drawers, attach them to the wall and put a changing Matt on top.

Why would you ever leave a baby unaccompanied on a changing table?

Nobody would intentionally but accidents do happen.

I always see posts about changing tables and everyone saying they're pointless.
We got one before DD arrived and still use it for her two years later! She has never fallen off - I don't understand how that would happen unless you leave them unattended. In which case, why would you do that?!? I personally wouldn't be without our change table and will be using it for the next baby 😊

We had a normal pine type chest of drawers and screwed buttons on three sides and stuck a changing mat in the top. But always either did it in floor or in middle of bed

So I'm still using our changing table almost 2 years later and it's great. I would suggest you want it to be about your hip height. I got mine on marketplace for £15 (it's Mama's and Papa's), in great condition.

However you don't NEED a changing table. It's good if you have back issues so you're not clambering up and down from the floor 8 times a day. If you do put a mat on top of the dresser, the biggest risk would be that it may slide off by accident. Babies can wiggle! So find a way to secure it in place - the Ikea hack above is a great idea.