Welcome to the wonderful—and sometimes messy—world of parenthood (emphasis on messy)! While no one thinks changing diapers is an especially gratifying part of parenthood, it is one of the most essential. A diaper changing station is one of the first things you’ll want to set up in your home before bringing home baby. Having a dedicated space for diaper changes can make your life a lot easier and help keep you organized amidst the chaos.
Whether you’re a first-time parent or adding a new member to your growing family, a thoughtfully organized changing area can turn a routine task into a smooth, manageable part of your day. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about setting up a diaper changing station. From choosing the perfect spot and selecting essential items to organizing your supplies, we’ve got you covered.
Location, Location, Location
Finding the perfect spot for your diaper changing station keeps your baby comfy, organizes your diapering essentials, and can help save your sanity. First, you want a convenient spot—ideally, a place that doesn’t require a trek across the house every time you need to do a quick diaper change. Most Albee parents choose the nursery or the primary bedroom (if you’re still co-rooming).
Next up: Consider space and accessibility. You need enough room to comfortably change your baby (and eventual toddler) without feeling like you’re trying to maneuver in a tiny airplane bathroom. Make sure you have enough space to lay out all your diapering essentials and still have room to move around. Plus, having everything within arm’s reach is a must—no one wants to be halfway through a diaper change only to realize the wipes are on the other side of the room.
Changing Station Furniture and Gear
Your changing station will get a lot of use, so choosing the right furniture for the job is essential. There are two leading contenders: Changing tables and dressers, each with its own set of perks.
Changing Tables: The Classic Choice
Changing tables are the go-to option for many parents, and for good reason. These dedicated pieces of furniture are explicitly designed for diaper duty, offering a convenient and organized space to tackle those frequent changes.
- Purpose-Built Design: Changing tables have built-in safety rails and a designated changing area to keep your baby secure. Many models also include storage shelves or drawers, perfect for keeping diapers, wipes, and creams within easy reach.
- Ideal Height: Most changing tables are designed to be comfortable for parents, reducing the need to bend over and strain your back (36” seems to be the sweet spot). Their ergonomic design can be a lifesaver, especially during those middle-of-the-night changes.
- Compact and Organized: Changing tables often have a smaller footprint, making them a great option if you’re working with limited space. The added storage underneath keeps everything tidy and within arm’s reach, so you’re (mostly) always prepared.
Dressers: The Versatile Option
Dressers are a fantastic, multi-functional choice for your diaper changing station. They offer ample storage and versatility and can transition into your child’s room as they grow.
- Multi-Purpose: A sturdy dresser with a changing pad on top can do double duty, providing a changing surface and storage for your baby’s clothes, blankets, and other essentials. This versatility means you can use the dresser long after the diaper days are over.
- Ample Storage: Dressers typically offer more storage space than changing tables, with multiple drawers to organize everything from diapers and wipes to tiny onesies and socks. Bonus: All that stuff is out of sight.
- Long-Term Use: While a changing table might eventually outlive its usefulness, a dresser can be used for years and years. Once diaper changes are a thing of the past—it happens sooner than you’d think!— the dresser remains a functional piece of furniture in your child’s (or teen’s) room.
Once you’ve settled on your furniture, you’ll need to pick a changing pad. Here are your options:
- Traditional changing pads are budget-friendly (typically under $25) and fit most changing tables or dressers with a built-in changing table topper. Designed to be used with changing pad covers, you won’t have trouble finding a cute cover to coordinate with your nursery. While they aren’t super stable on their own, they’re lightweight and portable (so any room can have a comfy changing spot).
- Wipeable changing pads are more expensive but don’t require a cover. They’re completely waterproof and can be quickly wiped down for easy clean-up. These pads have a stable base with a non-slip bottom, making them a better choice if you’re planning to create a changing station by adding a pad to a dresser or another piece of furniture.
Changing Station Supplies
Diaper changing is one of the more hands-on and messy aspects of parenting. What can help make it a little easier? Having everything you need organized and within arm’s reach before each change.
Diapers
Let’s start with the obvious—diapers. You’ll want a good stash of diapers in your baby’s current size and one size up because babies grow faster than you’d believe.
Wipes
Opt for sensitive or hypoallergenic wipes to avoid irritating your baby’s delicate skin. They’re gentle, effective, and perfect for those frequent newborn diaper changes. Plus, they come in handy for quick cleanups of pretty much anything—spit-up, sticky hands, you name it.
Diaper Cream and Ointment
A good barrier cream can prevent those painful rashes before they start and soothe them if they do. Keep it within arm’s reach, and don’t be shy about using it generously—your baby’s bum will thank you.
Hand Sanitizer
Sometimes, a sink isn’t nearby when you’re elbow-deep in a diaper change. Hand sanitizers are perfect for a quick clean-up when soap and water aren’t an option. Keep a bottle at your changing station to clean your hands before and after every change.
Extra Clothes
Babies have a knack for making messes just when you least expect it. Keep a stash of extra clothes at your changing station for those inevitable accidents. Having a quick change of clothes handy will save you from running to the nursery with a half-naked baby in tow.
Disposable Bags or a Diaper Pail
Here’s the deal: Diapers stink. A diaper pail or disposable bags are essential for keeping odors at bay. A good diaper pail can lock in smells, while disposable bags are great for quick and easy waste disposal.
Laundry Hamper
Diaper changing stations often become hubs for all sorts of general baby care, including getting dressed. Keeping a hamper close for dirty clothes will help keep your nursery tidy.
Organizing Your Diapering Essentials
Getting your changing station organized can make diaper duty smoother and more manageable. Here are some tips to keep everything in order so that you can find what you need quickly and easily:
Group Similar Items Together
First things first, group similar items together. Diapers with diapers, wipes with wipes, creams with creams—you get the idea. This way, you’re not scrambling to find what you need mid-diaper change.
- Keep all your diapers in one place. Whether it’s a drawer, a basket, or a designated shelf, having them all together makes it easy to grab one when you need it.
- Store your wipes right next to the diapers. You’ll want these two essentials to be BFFs, always side by side.
- Designate a spot for your diaper creams, lotions, and ointments. You can avoid searching high and low for that tube of rash cream, then high-five yourself.
Use Labels for Easy Identification
Lean into your Type-A tendencies and embrace labeling. They make it super easy to identify what’s what, especially when you’re in a hurry or if someone else is helping out with diaper duty.
- Use drawer dividers to create sections and label each one. “Diapers,” “Wipes,” “Creams,” etc. This keeps everything neat and tidy.
- If you’re using baskets or bins, stick a label on them. It’s a simple step that saves you time and frustration, and, more importantly, makes it easy for your partner to restock supplies.
And finally, the golden rule of organizing your changing station: Make sure everything you need is within arm’s reach. You don’t want to leave your baby unattended even for a second, so having everything nearby is key.
Make a Mini-Station
If you live in a multi-level home, having a second changing station can be a major time saver. A pack-and-play or travel bassinet can make an excellent mini-changing station for the living room or another high-traffic area.
You won’t need as many supplies for this smaller station, but a similar setup works perfectly. Keep these essentials in a compact bin, and place rolled-up swaddle blankets and other baby necessities beside it. Now you’ve got a one-stop baby shop that keeps you ready for anything:
- 1 pack of current size diapers
- 2 packs of wipes
- 1 tube of diaper cream
- 2 spare pajamas or onesies
- 1 spare daytime outfit
Finding What’s Right for You
Albee Baby is the oldest family-owned specialty baby shop in the US. We pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best assortment of baby products anywhere, at fair prices, always. We’re committed to being an inclusive resource for parents and hope you feel empowered to find the right baby gear for your family. Still have questions? Feel free to contact our baby gear experts at 877.692.5233 or [email protected].