Changing Pad

[Anonymous]

I am about to buy my changing table and wanted to know what the preferences and advantages are of the contoured sided changing pads. I have seen a two-sided, three-sided and even a four-sided pad. I was deciding between 2 and 3 sided.... any thoughts?

Then, any experience as your baby becomes a toddler? Would two be better than three sided or the other way around?

[Anonymous]

This is one of those things that you'll put way more thought into than necessary. Once your baby is born, you'll never think of it again.

However, if you're going to fret, I'd go with 2 sides. IF you continue to use the changing table as your child grows (which some do, some don't) your child can have his or her legs hang off. Some people change babies with heads to the right, some with heads to the left, so best not to have one side blocked off by a 3-sided pad (unless you don't want any help with diaper changes!)

[Anonymous]

Sounds like somebody is nesting!!

Early congrats by the way, but it really doesn't make a difference in the big scheme of things. For the record, though, we have a changing table that is a dresser (2 in 1) so we have a two sided changing pad.

You place the baby in the middle of the pad to change diapers so the number of sides doesn't really make a difference. Even as the baby becomes a toddler, the number of sides really doesn't matter since Junior is more content staring at the ceiling fan or trying to unfasten the diaper (13 mo. stage - beware!).

[Anonymous]

I never used a changing table - I just bought a changing pad. I'm glad I didn't get one - my son never wanted to sit still for a diaper change and I felt safer changing him on the floor from about 4 months on.

[Anonymous]

2 sided, they're going to hang off/out before you know it

[Anonymous]

We ended up using the floor or our bed!

[Anonymous]

I third the floor. Partly out of convenience and partly out of irrational fear -- I know baby will never roll off the floor and bump her head. I also use a changing pad on the bed, too. I hardly ever use the changing table anymore.

That said, I just used the changing table attachment that came with our pack and play. And that's the only reason we use the pack and play, so at least I'm getting my money's worth out of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never used a changing table - I just bought a changing pad. I'm glad I didn't get one - my son never wanted to sit still for a diaper change and I felt safer changing him on the floor from about 4 months on.

I also used the floor for awhile, but it took a toll on my back (and knees) so we converted the dresser into a makeshift (and very safe) changing table and put the pad up there.