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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Ready for a really silly question?!

19 replies

NoTeaForMe · 27/09/2010 14:16

Hi,

I'm 37+4 and moving house end of this week, so in between putting my feet up and bouncing on my ball I'm busy packing our flat ready to move to our first house!! To counteract this my mind is going crazy and I'm focussing on the silly little things, as it's better than thinking of the move and the impending birth!

Anyway, now I can't decide if I'm silly or not....you tell me!

For the nursery we have decided to get a chest of drawers to use as a changing table so that in the long run it's still a nice piece of furniture, the one we like and have put a deposit on is 42cm wide and our changing mat is 3.5cm wider than that. Does this matter or if we have the drawers away from the wall bit so that the small overhang is against the wall will it be ok? On the other hand is our changing mat particularly wide? Could we get a slightly smaller one? No websites seem to have measurements on them!

God I sound like a lunatic!!! Please be nice......

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Cluds · 27/09/2010 14:25

You don't sound like a loon at all! I didn't get a changing table with either my DS1 or DS2 and used a chest of drawers with a mat like you. I don't see a problem with pulling the chest of drawers away from the wall a bit so that the overhang of the mat is against the wall. Your baby won't be able to roll for a good few months so it will be fine in the early days. However, once the baby is rolling and is a bit heavier i would just put the changing mat on the floor. I ended up doing this after i stupidly turned my back for 5 seconds and DS1 rolled off the mat and drawers onto the floor. I felt like the worlds worst mummy! I used to keep the mat under the cot, and then just pull it out and do the changing on the floor. Will be doing exactly the same with this DC3, when it decides to make an appearance.....am 41 weeks today.....

kittycatcat · 27/09/2010 14:40

Goodness me Cluds are they going to induce you?

noteaforme good luck with the move (and baby). Can't comment as only 10 weeks PG. But wanted to see what your q was :)

MouseCostume · 27/09/2010 14:46

I'm with Cluds, put the mat on the floor then you can have everything you need shot all over the floor handy! and no chance of baby falling.

Isn't it funny the things we obsess over, now get on with that packing!!

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 27/09/2010 14:48

Problem is I get backache quite easily so really wanted the changing mat up high so I wasn't bending too much......

OP posts:

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 27/09/2010 14:49

Think I'm obssessing over this to get out of packing for a bit! It's so boring! Ha!

OP posts:

ZippyPippy · 27/09/2010 14:51

This is not a silly question as I'm wondering the same! I have a normal chest of drawers, but wonder if I should get a change table to put on top to stop baby falling off?

I don't really want to have to put the mat on the floor due to potential back ache.

Not much help to you, but I would appreciate advice on this too!

KnitterNotTwitter · 27/09/2010 15:00

sorry this isn't the most helpful of responses but I always hated the idea of my babies nappies and paraphanalia being in the bedroom. In my mind it is a bathroom activity. We put a board over the bath and changed DS on there - worked well as you have access to water etc... plus most bathrooms are much easier to wipe down than the soft furnishings of a bedroom.... when your baby does an explosive poo just after you've taken the nappy off...

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 27/09/2010 15:47

Don't think that the bathroom is an option for us really, like I said I want to keep everything high due to backache and our bathroom is too small to store baby changing things really.

So do you think a slightly too big mat is ok on a chest of drawers? We'll obviously never leave the baby unattended on there.

Thanks

OP posts:

KittyMee · 27/09/2010 16:26

Oh I am only 30 weeks and have been thinking about the exact same thing!

buttonmoon78 · 27/09/2010 16:54

I've done this for all 3 of mine and will be doing the same for no4 when I get pg!

Just pull it away 2-3cms from the wall, it will be fine. I too had a bad back so it was important for me too.

BTW, another useful tip if you're planning on using a baby bath... Put it over the loo (with the seat up). If it will reach, fill it with the shower head, if not, a jug. Then you can kneel to bath baby (put a folded towel under your knees). And when you're done... No lifting bath - just open the plug and it will drain straight down the loo! And you won't knacker your back leaning over the big bath either!

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 27/09/2010 17:01

Thanks for the tip buttonmoon I do have a baby bath and was planning on lifting it on to chest of drawers with changing mat underneath, to save my back, just thought I'd have to (or get husband to) lift it and empty it! Great tip for the loo!! Thanks!

OP posts:

japhrimel · 27/09/2010 17:03

As you don't have a rail, I'd get some grippy mat (stuff used on boats or to stop rugs slipping) under the change mat.

buttonmoon78 · 27/09/2010 17:09

Ahh, yes Japhrimel! I forgot that bit. I did that too. I think I got it from Tesco in one of their bargain £1 buckets. Failing that, you can get a decent sized one from Halfords that is meant to fit a boot but it's really easy to cut.

Tarlia · 27/09/2010 17:14

Def a good idea having the draws away from the wall, it'll be fine, just don't turn your back. However, if you are that worried about the mat slipping, how about using a travel mat, which will be smaller? That way you don't have to have the mat at all and can wipe and fold away after changes.. Or even a couple of towels, which can easily be washed.

KnitterNotTwitter · 28/09/2010 16:11

i always put a cloth on the change mat for the inevitable fresh-air-induced wee... My mum gave me the old terry towel nappies that she'd used on me and I just put one on there each time I changed DS.

FWIW (and I know it doesn't work for you) my board over the bath was also great for putting the baby bath on - filled the baby bath using the shower head and then drained the water into the bath without having to lift the baby bath up...

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 28/09/2010 16:19

Thanks all, I've actually found a slightly smaller changing mat so am going to take my one back and swap it for the smaller one, that way it will fit nicely onto the chest of drawers no problem!! Problem solved!

Thanks for not thinking I'm a lunatic though!

OP posts:

tanmu82 · 28/09/2010 17:14

Have you thought about maybe getting some heavy duty velcro to stick on underside of the mat and on the top of the dresser? It would make it more secure and the mat can't slip that way.....

biggrin · 24/11/2010 19:36

NoTeaForMe, could you tell me where you found the slightly smaller mat. We bought a really cheap table from Ikea but I don't like their mat cover (so plain) so I have been looking around for a mat and cover or colourful mat, but all the ones I find are longer (about 72 cm long). I need mat with 48cm x 68 cm dimensions. Any help will be great...

If all else fails I will probably get the Ikea one and then put a bright towel on it or something but would prefer a neater option.

biggrin · 24/11/2010 19:38

Actually judging by the date, the OP is probably too busy with her new baby now, so if any one else in Mumsnet could help me that would be great

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