Baby changing unit - is it necessary?

[babywhen]

Most of my friends and family seem to change their babies on mats in whatever rooms they're in so I'm not sure if they're worth buying?

We had chests of drawers with change tops from mamas and papas for both dc (it’s easy to remove the changing bit to convert to a standard chest of drawers when you no longer need it). Used them loads and defo kinder to the back (though also had change mats downstairs for quick changes as needed)

mine is on top of a chest of draws so easy to use and god send after c section as I couldn't. Bend to go on the floor

I couldn't have copied without ours used it for both boys - changed them on it until they were almost 1, once they could roll you need to have a hand on them.
Emergency & planned sections meant bending and getting up from the floor was difficult, even when I recovered from that I have RA so bending, lifting and getting up from the floor can be difficult thanks to dodgy joints. Table really helped, especially as everything was in reach.
DS2 is 2 and it's still in his room, nappies get stored on the top, cream, wipes, bags etc in the drawer and books on the shelves - going to swap it out for a bookcase soon as we are hoping to wave bye to the nappies

I didn't bother buying one but I wish I did! I've got sore joints since pregnancy and it's really annoying to go to the floor. And my back hurts doing it on the bed as I'm leaning forward loads. Wish I had one so bad!!

My dh hurt his back changing Dc1 and Dc2 on mats on the floor/bed so when we had dc3 he put a mat on the top of a dresser for the nappy changes upstairs and a cot top changer on our travel cot in the living room. I never had a problem changing the dc on mats on the floor or bed. So I think it depends on the person and how your back is. Maybe wait until baby is here and see how your back feels changing on the floor and then by a changing station if needed

Buy not by

I thought I would just change on the floor but I had an EMCS. I changed on the over the cot changer upstairs and on the dining table down stairs.

Never used one. Mat on sofa/floor during the day and on the bed in the night. No way I’d have been traipsing upstairs all the time after having a section! Or getting out of bed in the night - baby was in co sleeper next to me so roll them across, change nappy, feed and roll back, without having to get out of bed!

Our house has a built in chest of drawers which fitted a change mat and some of the Ikea drawer organisers perfectly- o wouldn’t be without it! My knees are very stiff so even occasional changes on the floor I find really uncomfortable, so if we hadn’t had the above set up I would have gladly paid for a changing unit.

My mil and sil both complained that they had bad backs after delivery - mil was very confused that I’d escaped the same thing until she saw our unit and it all made sense!

I'm
Still using mine and ds2 is 2. We're tall so the change table is easier on the back!

never used one with my first and so havent got one for my second... but im actually wishing I did have one this time around as my back is taking a bit of a beating from bending over so much!! I guess im old now!
And during the night I do wish I had a flat surface available that I could pop the baby on other than the bed... and which had all the changing equipment out ready because I didnt have to put it away so we could use the bed....

We had one, so we used it, but realistically it was only used for the first and last nappy of the day and maybe the odd nap nappy as that's when we were in that room. Otherwise it was floor or bed or wherever we happened to be.

You'll never miss what you've never had. If you would rather spend the money on something else and don't have back issues as mentioned by pp you can easily do without.

I would also recommend one. Babies can wreak havoc on your back, neck and shoulders. They only get heavier (!), and often you carry them on one side. I had terrible neck and shoulder problems after a few months. I would not have wanted to have been bending down to do all those changes. Also DH is tall, and if your parents help out as mine did, they wouldn't want to be bending down on the floor either.

I used mine all the time with our son. It was a chest of drawers with the changing unit on top. It's way better for your back rather than bending down over a bed/sofa.

You need something to safe your back in my opinion but doesn't have to be a specific unit that's sold as a changing unit as I found those expensive. A chest of drawers with a changing mat does the job

I had one upstairs that was also a chest of draws, so got loads of use.

I also had a cheaper one down stairs that was a mat on top and wicker baskets underneath. I also used it loads past nappy stage as toy storage

Used it for every change for the last 12 months! We'd be lost without it!

^Same here.

I’ve got a bad back, it’s much worse since giving birth and just doing 1 change not at my standing height means I’m in pain for days, crappy unsupportive nursing bras didn’t help my back either!

We use the worktop in our utility set up as a changing station. A total back saver and we dress her on it too. Only an option if you have utility room though.

Used one all the time for the first year. We had a cot top due to lack of space. I had a c-section so changing on the floor wouldn’t have been an option initally and when I have had to do it e.g. at friends’ houses or restaurants without a table it’s a complete pain. Don’t get the point about babies falling off them either, never leave a baby unattended on one and keep one hand on them at all times and that won’t happen.

We didn't have one. On the floor, in the middle of the front room was the changing area... or on my bed upstairs. I'd have been too lazy to carry the kids upstairs to change their nappies if I was downstairs tbh.

It was essential after my c-section .

I didn't have one for my EMCS and it took a while for me to realise how it really wasn't helping constantly kneeling on the floor to change nappies. I bought a cot top changer when I had my planned CS.

We’ve got a chest of drawers with a change table on top. It has been in constant use for 5.5 years with my two DCs, DS is currently potty training so won’t need it much longer. I always preferred to take mine up to it to change them, knowing everything was always in the right place etc. If I just changed mine on a mat in whatever room I was in I’d end up losing the wipes/forgetting to chuck the nappy sack etc.

Every single day for last 15 months. Was downstairs when I was on mat leave. In his bedroom now. Wouldn't have done without it (borrowed from a friend)

As everyone has said, a changing table is generally easier on the back. Also if you plan or end up with a c section, it will make life much more comfortable as bending or kneeling (more specifically getting up!) tends to hurt. We have a chest of drawers with table on top, for me it's been invaluable.