Chest or drawers/changing table

[Nokicat]

Hi all, expecting our first baby soon and we're setting up the nursery. We live in London so the nursery is a small single room that we were using as our work from home office space. It already has a wall attached full size wardrobe with shelves as well as hanging space inside. And the room also has another set of wall attached hanging shelves/cabinets. The room will still be able to fit a cot bed, an armchair and a narrow chest of drawers/changing table but it will look crowded. Would you suggest we still get the chest of drawers/changing table to set up a changing station even though the room has lots of storage already?

We had our first when we were living in a small flat. No room for a "changing station"!

Little basket with nappies, cream, wipes etc and just changed on the bed, floor, wherever we were.

In a much bigger flat now and expecting our second. Still no interest in any kind of changing table!

Sounds like you have enough storage.

Don’t bother with a changing station as it won’t get used and the baby will quickly get too big for it!

When I had my first, I got a chest of drawers with the built in changing table on top. The way the room was shaped meant it only fit along a wall that was between the built in wardrobe and the door. That also meant, the only way to use the changing table was to stand in front of it……:within a day or two, I quickly realised that changing nappies side-on to baby is a pain in the arse 😂
I never used it again and changed every nappy after that either on a changing mat on the floor or on my bed so I could do it from the foot-end of the baby 🤷🏻‍♀️🫠
Maybe I’m just awkward. But my changing table turned out to be a waste. I should have just got a smaller chest of drawers without the changing table aspect.

I've got a unit with a changing table which extends outwards away from the wall, so I won't have to try and change baby side on. However, it's the only storage/furniture in the room besides the cot and nursing chair, as like you ours is a small office space converted into a nursery. If your room is already looking crowded, you could get a baby changer that attaches onto your cot. They're detachable, and wouldn't take up anymore space in the room.

Oh no! I didn't even think of this but you're right, I'll probably also need to change sideways or close and lock the door so I can stand behind the door to get into a feet-end position 😅

Might just be me, but I’d never changed a nappy side-on before, and I was all fingers and thumbs 🫣🫣😂
Much easier for me just to do it on the floor straight on, looking up at baby from her feet!

Just have a good changing mat for upstairs and do it on the floor, bed, wherever. You’ll need a second for downstairs and-or going out.

We have a changing mat in a wooden frame that fits on top of the cot, then when the baby is sleeping in the cot I take it off and store it underneath, so this is also an option to consider.

I just used a changing mat in whichever room we were in.

It always surprises me that the majority view on MN is that changing tables are a waste of money and space and that it's easier to change on the floor. I've always found it much easier to change standing up. I don't have any back issues, but I find it's still uncomfortable for my back to be doing it on the floor (and DP has a history of back pain). I also prefer to change side on, perhaps because that's what I've always done - I have to have the bum end to my right, though, because I'm right-handed! We used a changing table for DS1 pretty much until he was potty-trained; he used to just climb onto it himself. We don't keep the changing table in the baby's room, we have it on a landing next to the bathroom, which is convenient for the sink. If space was at a premium, I'd probably get one of those cot-top ones suggested by a PP.

I have found I can't get enough storage for baby, he just seems to have so much. If it fits comfortably then I'd get it. I got the Tutti Bambini chest of drawers with a slot on top for a changing mat. Once I no longer need a changing station it will pretty much just look like a chest of drawers so can always use it elsewhere. I love a changing station as I find it a comfortable position to change and dress baby so I would be a fan 😊

We quickly switched to only doing changes in the bathroom after a projectile poo that shot 2ft off the end of the changing mat all over the carpet!

We’ve got the Tutti Bambini Rio cot which has a removable changing fixture. But to be honest, I can see us mostly being on the floor on a changing mat anyway! Quick and safe. ☺️

I've basically done all options!

For DD1, we had a Mamas and Papas chest of drawers with a removable bit on top to make a changing table. Was useful to start with, but then I didn't like using it sideways as pp have said. And once DD1 got too wriggly, it felt safer to change her low down. It has been a nice set of drawers to keep without the changing bit on top.

For DD2, we just had two caddies and two changing mats - one upstairs and one downstairs. I changed DD2 on either the bed or the floor. Much easier with a toddler wreaking havoc in the background.

When we go and stay at DMs, she has a wooden changing table thing that sits on top of the cot. I find this the most annoying option as im constantly putting it on, taking it off for naps, putting back on for nappy change etc. Also, because it's straight on, you are right in the firing line. During a nasty bout of noro whilst we were staying with DM, DH got projectile diarrhoea all over him as a result of the angle of exit from DD1 😅🙈 I've gone back to caddy + changing mat at hers.

In any case, as baby will be in with you for the first six months, you won't want to be going into baby's room to do a nappy change during a feed or whatever, if you've been feeding them in your room. So save yourself some space in the baby's room and just get something basic set up in your room to start with.

This is why I would never have picked the bed as a good place to change a nappy - I know loads of people do, but it always surprises me!