Baby on a changing table

Changing Table Buying Guide

You can diaper a baby almost anywhere she is safe from falling, even on the floor. But because you'll change more than 2,000 diapers in your baby's first year, your back and knees will benefit from something made for the task—either a standard changing table or a dresser that doubles as one.

Shopping tips

Size up storage

Most changing tables have open shelves that make it easy to reach diapers and clothing, either stacked or in decorative wicker baskets, but some have drawers or a combination of drawers and shelves. Having at least one drawer, preferably right under the table, can help you to quickly retrieve the supplies you need, though some parents prefer open shelving. A drawer offers an advantage over open shelving because it can hide diaper supplies, which look like a treasure trove to the curious crawler and toddler your baby will become—before you know it.

Look for barriers on four sides

A traditional changing table is usually surrounded by a restraining barrier made of rails or solid wood. According to the latest American Society for Testing and Materials voluntary safety standards, changing tables with a flat surface must have a barrier on all sides, as noted earlier. If only two or three sides of the table are protected instead of four, don't buy it.

Go for girth

If you're planning to use a dresser as your changing table, think short and fat, not tall and thin. A dresser that's wider and lower to the ground will be less likely to fall forward when you place your baby on top. If you do use a dresser as a changing table, anchor it to the wall or floor if it is more than 30 inches tall. Use furniture restraint straps or other furniture restraints.

Consider convertibility

Some babies won't lie down to have their diaper changed once they become mobile, so you might use a changing table for less time than you think. To get more mileage out of this piece of furniture, some changing tables convert to a desk, bookshelf, CD rack, or TV table, so you can use it well beyond the diaper years. Others become just a dresser once you remove the "changing station" on top. Convertibility makes sense, especially if you won't be using a changing table for more than one baby, though you'll pay more for this option.

 
Next in this section: Furniture safety