FTM - over thinking changing table, advice please!

[Secontale]

Hi lovelies,
I am 31 weeks and the countdown is on ... trying to get the nursery sorted. Looking at changing tables and I like the idea of one on top of a chest of drawers so that you have the extra storage. But I'd be changing baby at a sideways angle, won't that be harder?? Isn't it easier if they are facing you? See my beautiful illustration here where the baby is in pink and the person doing the changing is either green for option A or orange in option B. Wouldn't option B be easier for changing or AM I OVERTHINKING?? Seems the chest of drawers options you can buy are generally set up as per option A. With the layout of our room, it would be difficult to set it up so I can stand at the side of the chest of drawers without losing valuable storage space. I am currently thinking a changing unit which gives me option B, and then a small chest of drawers next to it which I can store the changing things on top of, and the clothes inside. I am thinking in option A I'd be twisting awkwardly to do a change compared to option B which looks more ergonomic.
Any thoughts for an over-thinking FTM?
Thanks 😁

Put the spare nappies, creams etc in a toolbox type box.
Use a wipes me plastic change mat the floor. No one can fall off the floor.

Possibly have this set up upstairs and downstairs.

I’ve had four babies and never had one changing table. They were always changed on a changing mat on the floor. I think my MIL was a bit disgusted the first few times but I was like my house my rules and by the time you’ve got a few toddlers running about you need to change fast (or in my case you’re doing 2 changes).

A friend always took her baby upstairs to the changing table what a faff! I’m far too lazy for that.

I could never change sideways either if I was out and had to change on a table in a shop etc oh it was awful. Then I got a job where I change primary aged SEN kids and they are all changed sideways in a changing bed and they are bigger and wrigglier and the first few times were scary but now it’s absolutely fine. Friends say how can you do that? A child needs changed you change them, as respectfully as possible as I’d want my children changed.

I'd never be able to change sideways.

Best thing I did was clear my large desk and put a changing mat and everything I needed on there. Then I could sit on my comfy office chair and change baby 😁

Btw I had a changing station too but never used it. Not buying one again.

We only bought the ikea changing table/book case thing when they were over 10m - still worth it!! We had this from newborn, well worth the money, changed on the bed as it was rigid (they slept in our room, no way would I be going to the nursery they didn’t sleep in for 8m just to change a nappy!!) just changed them on the floor during the day - not sure why you’d want to go upstairs to change a nappy? https://www.shnuggle.com/products/shnuggle-squishy-changing-mat?variant=41571767812228&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgfed3KCrgQMVhEZBAh1nfAX9EAQYAiABEgLOePD_BwE

I had a change mat on top of a chest of drawers and tbh I could have stood either way but I just stood with him lying at the sideways angle and it was fine. This is how most baby change are in public as well. I don't think it's as awkward as you are imagining. I only did that when ds was really tiny though, as soon as he got wriggly it felt really high up and I changed him on the same mat on the ground or on the bed. I just kept a small caddy of wipes nappies and cream to hand so I could set it wherever suited. Then I have a similar caddy with a fold up change mat downstairs in the kitchen and just change him on the kitchen table during the day which is easier as it's bigger so if he rolls around a bit it's less stressful. Just get a change mat that you can move and then you can figure out what you prefer. I had a section with ds so kitchen table and the chest of drawers were an ideal height so I didn't have to bend in the early weeks but once I'd healed it was less of an issue.

Learning how to change on your lap is a useful trick. I changed on my lap in hospital as it was painful getting up after C Section and very occasionally when I didn't have access to baby changing facilities I could change them in the cubicle in the loo.

By 7 months or so you'll probably even be having to change them standing up!
A changing table is probably very useful for the newborn stage but that's a huge purchase for such a short period of time.

I always change sideways and on a changing table. I bought an expensive good looking one for her bedroom with drawers. Didn't realise that I would change her more often downstairs. Ended up buying a second hand ikea one for a fiver for downstairs.

I use a mat on the bathroom floor (we have a big bathroom tbf). I tend to change end on but I don’t really have a preference. Changing tables can get dangerous quickly. DC2 12wo has already started rolling. I have two in nappies and apart from the first few weeks after DC2 was born and it was taking all my energy to get both sorted I change upstairs when I’m at home. I hate changing downstairs / in my living room. I think you’re overthinking but do what’s right for you 😊

Sideways was the norm for me. Especially for boys. Avoids the squirty poos and the inevitable wee going upwards as soon as the fresh air hit them. They are masters at getting you in both directions! (Or the dreaded trifecta when they aren't well and they puked as well.) I learned to keep the nappy hovering over them to catch the worst of it.

You also learn the 'pin their arms down with your elbow while leaving your hand free to help deal with the nappy' manoeuvre to stop the blighters shoving their hands down and spreading the mess when the nappy comes off.

Quite surprising the inventive manoeuvres you will come up with if you have a wriggler!

Because I’m not lazy…

Didn’t bother with any sort of changing table, just had a mat upstairs and one downstairs and did it on the floor. By DS2 I used to change wee nappies on my lap with him on a towel overnight so I didn’t have to get out of bed. No need for overthinking!

I’ve changed mine on the floor, sofa or my bed. In a bungalow so all same floor. Dd1 had a changing table but I didn’t bother with dd2. 8 years later. I found a low changing basket with a mat in Aldi and it’s used for really messy poos I don’t want getting on sofa or bed.

I have a changing area built onto my chest of drawers. My little one lies down like picture an and it’s never been a problem. She was so small to begin with that it didn’t really matter. It was also handy having it against the wall as I stuck black and white cards on the wall, which kept her occupied.
Everyone told me I’d change her downstairs more than upstairs so I bought a caddy, filled it with everything and left it in the living room. I never changed her there! I had a c section and bending over to change her was so uncomfortable that I always changed her on the changing table.
I didn’t bother with a caddy for my bedroom either because the smell of a nappy being changed in there wasn’t great at night time- even when the nappy was put in the nappy bin!

Do what works for you, you can move furniture around, especially in first 6 months when they are barely in their bedroom.

@DobbyTheHouseElk "because I'm not lazy..."

🙄

Yeah, whatever.

Op, do what works for you. If you want to buy 2 change tables and keep one downstairs, go for it. If you keep a portable mat downstairs and a change table upstairs, that's fine too. Or even 2 portable ones and keep one upstairs and one downstairs, all good.

I liked the change table and if my DS had a particularly explosive nappy I would take him upstairs to change, as it's easier on the change table, and messy one will often need a change of clothing anyway so easier in their room. A relatively mess free change was done wherever, and changing him downstairs saved a hell of a lot of time and, if you had a heavy baby, your back!

I did A. Then it was a useful chest of drawers in her room as she got older instead of a changing table which needed replacing. But to be fair I always ended up changing her in my bedroom or downstairs and hardly used it.

@DobbyTheHouseElk or just have a better sense of how to use my time than traipsing up the stairs when I can just use a mat on the floor?! Some people are hilarious

Yes I think so. If you look closely you can see in one picture it’s got a mat lengthways on it with space on both sides. It really is quite huge!

Wondering what? I find changing tables so easy, puts baby/toddler at the right height, and all the nappies etc are there in the drawer. I would find it so uncomfy on my back to have to lean over on the floor

Don't changing tables always come up as one of those 'waste of money items' ? I like bed mine, bad back as well so a table was much easier plus I used cloth nappies which take up more room

17 years later the changing table has just been taken out of DS's room. For years I was his TV/X-Box games table

Never used my changing table.
So much easier on the floor.
Had a changing bag which had a mat inside for out of the house and a mat for inside which I tucked away behind the sofa

My knees gave out after a few weeks of kneeling on a hard floor, so we rigged up a temporary changing shelf in the downstairs loo. Then I learned to change baby on my lap.

OP it's one of those many baby things you won't know if you personally find useful or not until you are actually in the situation - so you either get one just in case or buy one when you find out.

Two kids and I’ve always changed sideways. I have no idea how anyone can change a baby with them facing you The angle is just wrong.

I always, always changed on the floor as it's much safer and cheaper! Used a mat if I had one to hand but it's not essential.