Changing tables and mats (not sure where else to post - sorry!)

[mrsmo]

Hello everyone. Been looking at chests of drawers with a changing top in white for nursery. Can't believe how expensive drawer type units (as opposed to open trolley types are). Have found a more reasonably priced ordinary white chest of drawers without a changing top, and wondered if it would be safe enough just to put a changing mat with raised sides on this, rather than have a chest top with a raised wooden edge. After all I'm not going to leave DD unattended either way. Just a bit nervous as it's first baby of getting the wrong thing. (don't fancy a cot top changer BTW - just personal preference). What do you all think about this idea - safe enough? What do you use?

to be honest after a couple of days you will probably be sick of carrying lo upstairs for every change and will probably do it on your knee or the floor anyway. I wld def buy the normal chest and put a mat on top - like you say you're not going to wonder off and leave them are you .

Have a changing mat on the floor for a while to see if you really need the expense of the changing table.

I agree with the others - we used the kitchen table for DS1 - bought a changing table for ds2 in Ikea sale, but only because we needed the drawer space for storage - wouldn't have bothered otherwise.

i got 2 cheapo changing mats from a bargain shop, think they were £1 each. one for upstairs one for downstairs. upstairs one is pushed under the cot with a basket that has changing stuff in it. the downstairs one is pushed under the sofa, small basket with 2 nappies, small pack of wipes on top of it. easy peasy.

Dizzybint, we have the same method (except i only had one mat, used a towel downstairs)

poor dd3 doesn't even have a changing mat!
I use a muslin on the floor whereever - might be in her room or in the b athroom, or in the kitchen

you see I suspected that as a first timer I was getting 'lured' into buying all this stuff I don't need!! Thanks for all the tips/advice. Looks like I'll be saving quite a bit of money then not buying one!! Do need a chest of drawers for storage but they're cheap enough

OK, I can't do changing nappies on the floor - bad knees. So upstairs I have a normal chest of drawers, which is high enough, with a plastic changing matt on top - it's safe! And downstairs I actually have an old desk with one drawer, and another changing matt on top. It works well, and it's safe enough I think.

get the chest of drawers...amazing how much space tiny garments take up! we didn't bother with a changing top thingy...either do it on floor downstairs with a fold-up towelling mat from mothercare (keep a basket of stuff down here too) or upstairs on our bed...was too paranoid about baby rolling off to buy one!

yes do them on the floor

or on a table

As soon as ds 1 started rolling I gave up changing him anywhere but the floor. (He was quite a wriggler too and I didn't trust myself to hold him still with one hand and sort out nappies, talk, cream etc with the other.)
With ds2 I stuck with the changing mat on the floor.
I would say only get a chest of drawers if you think it will serve a purpose long-term, otherwise don't bother.

I think a changing mat with raised sides would work okay

We have a change table and for us it was well worth it - I get backache doing the floor/bed changing and DH hates bending down

changing mat on the floor..we bought an ikea changing table for no 1 but since then[7 yrs later] its a toy cupboard as you can remove the top...no 2 had changing mat on the floor/sofa/wherever and no3 will be the same ..dont waste money on things you won tneed..save it for something special for yourself

Like others before me, I had a changing table for 1st DC, 2nd DC was never once changed on it! Get a mat (or two) and put it on the sofa or your bed if you don't like kneeling on the floor. Save yourself the cash. Oh, and you could put a muslin square on the mat, if you don't like the thought of your precious lying on cold plastic. Easily washed and very helpful for catching pee-ing accidents when changing (which will happen every time at first if you have a boy) - they just always have a pee as soon as their nappy is off!

thanks everyone for the input. I'm going to go with a chest of drawers (do need the extra storage) and a mat so can change there, or anywhere else in the house by the sounds of it. Good advice about a muslin on the mat.