Changing tables

[mootthing]

I'm not sure this is the best place for this question, but I can't immediately find anywhere more appropriate.

This is my first baby and we're trying to sort out what we'll need, however we're very pushed for space (and quite pushed for money). The "standard" nursery seems to include a changing table or similar piece of furniture but I had planned just to use a changing mat on the floor. Is there any real reason why I shouldn't just do this? I have heard people say it's bad for your back, but I can't really see how lifting a child from the floor can be any worse than lifting them to waist height or above to put them on a table.

What are other people's experiences?

Don't buy a changing table - they are a complete waste of money! I used either a changing mat on the floor, or a mat on top of a chest of drawers.

You don't need something with fancy sides, because obviously you're never going to leave the baby unattended on it.

I'd say the problem with your back isn't so much the lifting/putting down, as the changing part - kneeling and being bent forwards. On the occasions I have to change DD on the floor my back does notice it.

You can always try it and see how you get on, though.

Have you considered the folding ones that go over the bath? They seem fairly compact and not too pricey. Or one that sits on top of the cot? Or I know other people that use a bed.

I change my DS on top of a chest of drawers - it does have a changing table bit that fits onto it which I have to say I have found useful as it makes the top bigger. I cannot change him on the floor - as soon as he was able to, he would crawl off.

I would use a mat on the floor. By the time you baby is a few months old it may well be very wriggly. Changing either of mine on a table once they hit 6 months would have meant dicing with death / horrible injuries four times a day for the next two years. You may of course get a non-wriggly baby, in which case you will probably be fine.

Sofa, bed or floor works just as well

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You don't need a changing table, though it is more comfortable on your back changing on a chest of drawers or something of similar height. I would advise getting two changing mats - one for upstairs and one for downstairs, so you don't have to run up and downstairs all the time. Then use them on sofa/chest of drawers/bed/floor - what ever is easiest!

I had a changing table, and mine is still in use as a toy shelf thing in the boys room now, so no waste of money for us.

I felt I needed it tho as I suffer badly from leg cramps (and did lots back then too), and kneeling was actually horrible for me unless it was just a one off. we even had a changing table downstairs as well as upstairs after I had DD3, but that was due to pelvic probs too by then.

you don;t have to buy one that is a specific changing table tho. a chest of drawers at the right height is as good, and most people need a chest of drawers for their baby.

it goes without saying of course tho not to leave the baby on the changing unit. things are only dangerous if not used properly.

I too use a changing mat on chest of drawers but i also have a changing mat under the sofa and do it on the floor or footstool when downstairs, like marla i have a basket with everything i need. It does get confusing though as i often shout downstairs, "can you bring DD's basket up" and DH appears with her moses basket

I loved the cot top changer that I had - it sort of slots across the bars of the cot, so no extra furniture, but still the height.

One of the things that I missed where we didn't build DS's proper cot until he was fairly big - it doesn't work as well on the swinging crib

I got one because of my bad back and my husband's bad knees meaning he can't kneel!

We bought ours from John Lewis (a white wooden one with two shelves underneath and a drawer) and I must say it's fab. I got wicker baskets from Argos to go underneath for clothes, and the drawer holds loads of nappies, wipes, medicines etc.

I do usually admit half the stuff I bought in prep for baby was a waste of time and money, but this is not one of them!

mootthing Congrats on the BFP

OK, when DS was on the way space and £ at a premium I chose to use a chest of drawer with a changing mat on top as the changing table.

It was the right height and all the supplies (nappies, wipes, creams, cotton wool could be stored in it. Now DS is 5 the drawers have been recruited to my clothes storage/bedside table. Furniture with a life history huh!

The drwers were a good level and sturdy enough to support the baby bath but as I wasn't stury enough to support a full baby bath to empty it, I graduated to bathing him in the bathroom sink

I wasn't going to get a changing table with DD but someone gave me one and it was a lifesaver with my SPD, and because I'm such a scruff that having everything shoved on the shelf underneath saved many hours of wandering around trying to find nappies, cream, cotton wool, towels etc!

This time I'm going for the £19 one from Ikea. I'm just not organised enough to do without, plus I know it'll be six months at least before I can do anything on the floor!

I wasn't going to buy a changing table because I thought they were ridiculously over-priced; particularly sets of drawers with a built in changer on top - for some reason the changing bit seems to add about £150 to the price of a pretty basic set of drawers no better in quality than a cheap set from Ikea!

However, my back was really bad towards the end of my pregnancy so at the last minute we bought the cheap one from Ikea and its been a godsend. When DS was young I couldn't bend forward for more than a minute or two without being in complete agony - lifting was fine, but bending was really difficult.

We kept the changing table in the living room for a while, but now its in DS's room and we're still using it nearly 8 months later. I keep all the changing stuff on the bottom shelf too.