Kitting out the nursery part 2 – do we need a changing table?

If you have the space and the spare cash, the idea of setting up a nursery for your new arrival, full of beautiful new baby furniture, can be very appealing.  If you have neither, you might be wondering whether a whole set of nursery furniture is really necessary, particularly a changing table.

Personally I have mixed views on this.  Many people get by very successfully changing their baby wherever they have space.  On the floor, on the bed, or on the dining table are all good options, after all when you are out and about you will probably end up changing your baby’s nappy in the boot of your car!

However, especially in the first few weeks, you will be changing your baby’s nappy fairly frequently, and constantly kneeling down on the floor, or bending down to a low table will put an enormous strain on your back. You might also find that the baby wipes, the nappy rash cream, or the packet of nappies are in the wrong room at the wrong time, if you don’t have a specific location to change your baby.

Having a defined changing area that allows you to stand up straight while you are changing a nappy, and gives you a place to keep all your baby gear, can save you a lot of aches and pains, as well as stress. This doesn’t mean you have to rush out and buy an expensive, purpose built changing table.

We happened to have a square table in the kitchen, exactly the right height and size for changing nappies, which we moved into the nursery and have happily used for the last eighteen months.  Having tried out a few purpose built changing tables that live in friends’ nurseries, I have to say ours is more practical than many because it is wider, which gives baby space to roll around. A young mum I know changes her baby on an old desk, which has even more space, plus handy drawers for storing nappies and wipes.

The main things I would recommend for a changing table is to choose one that is the right height for you, has plenty of space for your child to move around, includes a place for your bits and pieces, and allows you to place your child so that their head is away from you rather than lying sideways.

If you have any tips on choosing a changing table, or views on whether these are really necessary, I’d love to hear from you.

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