With a little one on the way and so much information in the ether to overwhelm first-time-parents or parents-to-be, we wanted to set the record straight and answer all your burning questions on baby changing stations.
In this Boori Nest blog post, we’ll cover questions like “what is a baby changing station?”, “are baby changing tables safe?” and “are baby change tables necessary?” – plus more.
Continue reading to find the answer to the questions on your lips – or should we say fingertips?
What is a baby changing station?
Quite self-explanatory – but always good to establish straight away - a baby changing station is a dedicated unit specifically designed for parents to use to change a baby’s nappy and/or clothes.
A baby changing unit will typically have some sort of storage space available, which parents can use to store the likes of nappies, lotions and potions and spare clothes (or whatever they see fit).
There are different baby changing stations available on the market, from convertible baby changing units like our Sleigh 3 Drawer Dresser with Changing Station, to a portable baby changing station that has open shelves, like our Neat 3 Tier Changer.
Are baby changing tables safe?
Baby changing tables are perfectly safe, so long as they conform to the relevant safety standards in your country. Specifically in the United Kingdom, baby changing tables should meet the EU standards of EN 12221-1/-2:2008+A1:2013; the safety standard for baby changing units in domestic use.
Whilst it is the case that baby changing tables should meet the required safety standards for them to be safe, it is also important to note that the way parents use their baby changing unit once in the home will also have some bearing on this. As such, children should not be left unattended whilst on the baby changing table.
Are baby changing tables required or necessary?
Baby changing tables are a standalone piece of nursery furniture that aren’t necessarily required as soon as your little one arrives, but they do come in handy and will be a godsend for all parents – especially those with bad backs or knees.
Many families use their baby changing tables to change nappies, massage their little one and get them dressed after they’ve had a bath. Some families will even put their baby bath on top of their baby changing unit to create a one-stop shop.
When do you stop using baby changing units?
Each brand will have their own guidance on when to stop using a baby changing unit, and this is the guidance you should follow.
Boori recommends our families stop using their baby changing units when your little one reaches 12 months or 11kg, whichever comes first, but if you have a particularly wriggly baby, then you may need to stop using a baby changing station a little earlier!
What are the perks of having a baby changing station?
A baby changing station is as important for little ones as it is for parents – perhaps even more so.
Having a dedicated baby changing station will help to protect your knees and back, which can quickly become sore from doing lots of changes on the floor, probably more often than you imagine - you’ll likely find yourself changing 10-12 times a day, so protect your joints as much as you can.
Baby changing stations also provide parents with much needed storage, which isn’t something to be sniffed at when they quickly accumulate so much stuff!
Other things to consider before buying a baby changing station
Whilst a baby changing station is a worthwhile investment (in our view, we’re not biased), here are some other things you might want to consider before making the purchase:
Ask yourself: What space do you have available?
If you have a small nursery, chances are you are limited on space and will need to weigh up the pros and cons of each piece of nursery furniture that goes in. You’ll need to sit down and decide what is important for you to have based on the space available.
Some baby changing units, like our 3 Drawer Dresser, are a chest of drawers with a detachable changing station on top, which means you have a chest of drawers and changing station in one, that will be with your family for years to come.
For families with more space than they know what to do with, the world (of baby changing, at least) is your oyster and it all boils down to what you want and what works for you and your family.
Ask yourself: how do you envisage changing your baby every time?
For some parents, the thought of running up and down the stairs every time their baby needs changing is a daunting prospect and one they’re just not prepared to do. For others, they like having a dedicated baby changing space and will do whatever it takes to set that routine.
For those families living in a flat or bungalow (you lucky things!), then stairs aren’t so much of an issue here, but might still help you make a decision.
Whichever team you fall into, it’s important to think of the practicalities before investing in a baby changing unit, as this will best guide you in making the right decision.
There are many approaches families can – and have – take(n) for their baby changing set up, and the right one will be out there for you. To give you some help and ideas on how you might make a baby changing station work for you, we’ve listed these approaches below:
- Opt for two baby changing units with wheels, keeping one upstairs and another downstairs, so babba can be changed easily and wherever you are at the time.
- If you’re tight on space, families have opted for a dresser with removable changing station on top (to sit permanently in the nursery) and kept our Cloud Easy Clean Change Pad downstairs if needed.
Ask yourself: are my priorities keeping costs down, or buying something that lasts?
Investing in nursery furniture can sometimes be costly for something that will only last for a few months or years, and so you need to decide whether your priority is keeping costs down now or buying something that lasts (which will keep costs down in the future too).
Boori takes it upon itself to provide longevity in its products where the design allows, taking the burden off families when it comes to upgrading the nursery to your child’s first ‘big bedroom’.
Across our range of baby changing units our ethos of longevity is no different, and you will see how some products will not only work for ‘the now’ but for ‘the future’ too. You will likely find prices of these nursery furniture items to be more costly now, but cheaper in the long run, so you need to weigh up your priorities to see what works for you.
Have a question about baby changing tables that we haven’t covered in this Boori Nest post? Please contact us on info@boori.co.uk, as we would really love to help you.
