Tips to choose Baby Changing Accessories

There are a wide variety of baby changing accessories available today with some matching the nursery furniture, pram or pushcart; it would be wise to know about them first before making a choice.

A bird’s-eye view of some of the baby changing accessories:

A special changing mat: Proving to be the most practical solution especially when wipe-clean and foam filled, it makes for easy, hygienic, padded and comfortable surface; having a raised edge stops the baby from rolling over. 

Nappy stacker: Shaped like a fabric bag, it is designed to keep nappies handy. It would help to hang it near the changing area. 

Changing box: Improvised with a lid and a carry handle, the various compartments in it help to store various essential cleaning and changing bits. 

Changing bag: Designed specially to carry everything you need for the baby when you go out, these bags were previously made from nursery themed fabric with a changing mat. Today stylish changing bags are improvised to not only accommodate changing material, but also to substitute for a mother’s handbag. Changing bags today are very practical and convenient to use and come in real and look-alike leather and suede. 

Changing station: Conveniently designed to raise the baby to waist height for nappy changing, it prevents backaches from kneeling on the floor or bending over the bed. It also helps to all the things you need in it. A changing station could be changed into a piece of furniture in the child’s bedroom to store things neatly once he/she grows up. 

 
Safety is very necessary while changing the baby on a changing station as the baby could easily fall from the raised platform if left alone. Always keep a hand on the baby while changing, with it being advisable to change the baby on the floor as he/she grows up. 

Buying tips for a changing bag:

Changing bags could be of several styles – backpack, shoulder or weekend baby bag. It would be ideal to buy the backpack- as it leaves both your hands free. Ensure the bag you choose has wide adjustable straps with comfortable extra padding.

Invest on a changing bag with a lot of compartments to store nappies, sacks, wipes and cream, a change of clothes and a favorite toy; a changing bag with a small zip-up water-proof compartment for dirty clothes and messy things, a small pouch for storing the baby’s soother and compartments to store everything you would carry in a handbag would help.

Ensure that all the compartments on the interior of the changing bag are wipe-clean and machine washable; a waterproof nylon lining proves to be more durable than traditional PVC.

Most changing bags come with a folding mat that can be used for nappy changes; ensure they are made of machine washable cloth, padded or made of wipe-clean plastic.

Ensure that the separate compartment or inner bag for carrying feeding materials is thermally insulated to keep the contents at a constant temperature.

You could also get changing bags of matching fabrics that coordinate with your pram or pushcart.

Some features and buying tips for changing stations/table:

Select a convenient and warm room to change the baby; avoid the upstairs and the living room.

You could get a changing table/station with an internal harness, fixed, wipe-clean PVC covering with molded accessory trays for storing nappy changing and washing things like clothing, towels and other baby things.

Space, both in the present and future is the main consideration when planning to buy changing stations. Buy a changing table with a foldable frame to save space.

If you want a changing station that is movable, get one with lockable castor wheels for safety. 

Changing tables/stations are available in various heights; ensure you buy one of a good make that brings the baby to the best height for whoever will be using it most.

Consider your budget and how you wish to use a changing station in future; changing stations are made of wood and can easily convert into free-standing shelving units or small chests of drawers. However those that convert to furniture are costly.

That’s to the great choice of baby accessories.

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