The Best Changing Tables for (Slightly) Easier Diaper Changes
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Quick Summary
All new parents can count on one thing: changing a lot of diapers. It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it. The good news is that cleanup can be quick and easy if you have a safe changing table stocked with supplies that are within reach.
However, before you buy the right changing table for your nursery, there are a few important factors to consider, as well as safety requirements to look out for.
How we chose the best changing tables
The best changing tables are sturdy, big enough for baby and include space to hold diapering essentials within arm’s reach. But each changing table is slightly different. To help narrow down your choices, we sought feedback from experts, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and What to Expect community members on which changing tables they loved most and what features they most appreciated. Based on their comments, we ensured that all the changing tables selected met the following criteria:
- Safety: Per safety guidelines from the AAP, changing tables should have guardrails that are at least 2-inches high on all four sides. Many changing tables will come with straps, but Howard Reinstein, M.D., a pediatrician with a private practice in Encino, California, emphasizes, that you should always have a hand on baby, even while using the straps. So, although straps may give you peace of mind, note that they are not a replacement for holding baby while changing her diaper.
- Storage: To handle baby’s business quickly, you’ll want a changing table that allows you to keep diaper cream, diapers and wipes nearby, but out of baby's reach, per the AAP. It’s especially crucial that powders and disposable diapers are kept out of baby’s reach to avoid her inhaling powder or suffocating on torn off pieces of diaper. Free-standing changing tables typically have open shelving below while changing table dressers might have space on top or in the highest drawer for diapering necessities.
- Weight capacity: Most changing tables have a weight capacity of 30 pounds. Once baby outgrows the table, it’s often safer (and easier) to change a squirmy toddler on a pad or towel on the floor. Most of the tables we’ve listed have a capacity of up to 30 pounds, but make note of any tables that have a lower capacity if you want to get the longest use out of it.
- Versatility: Because these pieces of furniture can be expensive, it might be worthwhile to invest in a changing table that will double as a dresser or toy storage that you can keep using when your baby is out of diapers. Look for changing tables with a removable top or removable bar so you can use it in your child’s bedroom for years to come, or consider a portable, collapsible changing table that’s lightweight and easy to move around.
- Certifications: When looking at kids’ furniture, there are two important certifications some parents want to consider. The first is the Juvenile Products Manufacturer Association (JPMA) Certification Seal, which means the product has gone through independent party testing where it is evaluated to have met its high standards for safety, performance and functionality. The second is GreenGuard Gold Certification, which tests furniture to make sure it meets indoor air quality standards and emits low amounts of volatile organic compound (VOCs) that can be irritating or even trigger allergic reactions. We prioritized changing tables that met one or both of these certifications.
Each of the changing tables on this list has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the What to Expect community members for this criteria.
Why Trust Us?
What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.
Best Overall Changing Table
Delta Children Wilmington Changing Table with Pad
- Features two spacious shelves
- Includes changing pad
- JPMA-certified
- Some parents report a strong smell and cracks in the paint
The Delta Children changing table is a durable choice that many parents say is a great value for the price. Made with sustainable poplar and New Zealand pine, this changing table is built to last and hold up to frequent use. Many parents say even after months of using it daily, they didn’t notice any wobbling. With two 10-inch shelves, you can hold diapering essentials within arm’s reach but out of baby’s grasp while you’re changing her. Parents also love that assembly was a breeze, with one parent noting they put it together in under 15 minutes. Even though this table doesn’t double as a dresser, its simple design and generous storage space means that you can use it as a shelving unit in the future.
Material: Poplar and New Zealand pine with TSCA compliant engineered wood
Weight: 32 pounds
Dimensions: 35 x 39.25 x 19.75 inches
Weight limit: 30 pounds
Best Portable Changing Table
Costzon Folding Diaper Station
- Folds flat
- Includes storage bin
- Lightweight
- Has low weight limit
Whether you want a second changing area in another room in your home or a safe spot for changes at the grandparents’ home, this space-saving and portable folding diaper station is an ideal solution. The full-size changing table folds down flat, so you can store it in a closet or behind a door when not in use. (Just be sure to take everything off the lower shelf first.) Many parents also say it’s the perfect height to not strain your back during changes, and it’s an excellent option for taller parents in particular because it’s taller than many tables. Note that it has a weight limit of 24 pounds, though, so it may last as long as you’d like it to for larger babies.
Material: Steel frame, PVC, canvas
Weight: 11 pounds
Dimensions: 31.5 x 25 x 40.5 inches
Weight limit: 24 pounds
Best Changing Table and Crib Combo
Storkcraft Portofino 5-in-1 Convertible Crib and Changer
- Versatile
- Includes changing pad
- Has ample storage
- JPMA-certified
- Difficult to assemble
- Changing table is small
Middle-of-the-night changes are rarely easy, but Storkcraft’s convertible crib and changer simplifies the process. Although the changing table area is small, many parents still found it very convenient to have it included with the bed so they didn’t have to buy a separate piece of furniture. Many reviewers comment on the impressive amount of storage available, with both drawers for items to keep out of baby’s reach and open shelves on the back.
As baby grows, the Storkcraft Portofino 5-in-1 Convertible Crib transforms into a toddler bed or daybed by removing rails and lowering the mattress, then eventually it can become a full-size bed. At that point, the changing table itself becomes a big-kid nightstand. Many parents love how this piece of furniture serves so many purposes, and numerous comment about how beautiful it looks in a nursery.
Note that several reviewers say the changing pad is very thin and that it was hard to find a separate pad that would fit the small dimensions.
Material: Pine wood, engineered wood, wood composites
Weight: 125 pounds
Dimensions: 70.78 x 32.91 x 43.11 inches
inches)
Weight limit: Child must be under 50 pounds to use the bed
Best Affordable Changing Table
Dream On Me Emily Changing Table
- Affordable
- Includes changing pad
- Made of 100-percent wood
- Some said shelves feel flimsy
For an affordable price, you can purchase the Dream on Me Emily Changing Table in natural wood and still have money left to stock your diapering station. This changing table comes complete with 5-inch guardrail — which might give nervous parents more peace of mind than changing tables with shorter rails — and two large storage shelves. Overall, parents were wowed by how easy this product was to assemble, and said there was plenty of storage space in the shelves to hold diapering essentials. Note, however, that some reviewers said the bottom two shelves felt flimsy and didn’t feel like they could store anything heavy on them. Some parents also found the changing pad was a bit thin and swapped it for a thicker option.
Material: Sustainable New Zealand wood
Weight: 19.5 pounds
Dimensions: 36.5 x 20 x 39 inches
Weight limit: 30 pounds
Best Changing Table Dresser
Pottery Barn Kids Charlie Extra-Wide Dresser & Topper Set
- Durable
- Sturdy converts to regular dresser with ample drawer space
- Includes large changing topper
- GreenGuard Gold-certified
- Expensive
- Large
Though you certainly have to splurge for this Pottery Barn dresser and changing table set, it might be worth the cost for families looking to invest in a piece of furniture that will last their little one’s entire childhood. (Or you can use Pottery Barn’s 15 percent completion discount to cut down on the cost.) It’s crafted from solid oak wood that’s also GreenGuard Gold Certified, so you know that you’re working with high-quality materials that should last for a long time. And, the 3-inch topper (secured with metal brackets) is removable, so you can get rid of it when baby is old enough. The topper is a whopping 53 inches wide, making it the most spacious surface area on this list, which might help with particularly wriggly little ones. It’s also large enough to store diapering items right on top of the dresser for easy access. (Just make sure to keep them on the opposite side so baby can’t grab them.)
Material: Solid oak wood, oak veneers, particle board, and MDF
Weight: 201 pounds
Dimensions: 57.5 x 19 x 37 inches
Weight limit: Not listed
Best Changing Table with Storage
Delta Children Gateway 2-in-1 Changing Table & Storage Unit
- Versatile
- Large storage bin at base
- Compact
- Includes changing pad
- JPMA-certified
- Some parents report a paint smell
We love that this changing table cleverly converts to a toy bin, because you can never have too much room to stow all of baby’s stuff. There’s a fixed shelf under the changing surface that’s within arm’s reach and perfect for keeping baby’s diapers and wipes handy. Later, the top becomes a toddler-accessible bookshelf with an open storage bin for toys underneath. Reviewers say the Delta Children Gateway Changing Table is easy to put together, with many noting that it only took one person to assemble. And it doesn’t even have to stay in baby’s room once they’re out of diapers — according to the manufacturer, it’s also the perfect size for a bar cart.
Material: Pine wood
Weight: 52 pounds
Dimensions: 34.25 x 18.75 x 35 inches
Weight limit: 30 pounds
Our Research
We spoke to Howard Reinstein, M.D., a pediatrician with a private practice in Encino, California.
We also canvassed What to Expect’s community boards and retailer reviews to learn which changing tables parents liked best.
FAQs
Do I need a changing table?
Although a changing table certainly isn't a requirement, it does make life easier when your little one is still in diapers. It provides you with a raised surface to rest baby on while changing her diaper, which helps prevent any backaches that could happen as you bend over. Plus, you can keep diapering supplies within arm’s reach so you can safely keep a hand on baby as you get what you need. The safety guardrails and straps may also give parents peace of mind, but remember, there’s always a fall risk while changing diapers on an elevated surface.
Parents in the What to Expect Community, however, rave about using a dresser and topping it with a changing pad instead of buying a separate piece of furniture. Dr. Reinstein says it’s popular among his patients as well. “A lot of parents now have these pads, and they can change the baby on the bed, on the floor, anywhere they go,” he says.
How do I safely use a changing table?
There are a few guidelines that both the AAP and Dr. Reinstein suggest when it comes to safely using your changing table. Here are the must-haves for parents planning out their next diaper change:
- Find a changing table with a 2-inch guardrail (minimum) on all four sides. When using a changing pad, whether on a changing table or regular dresser, make sure the top of it is concave, so that the middle where baby lays is lower than the sides.
- Keep a hand on baby at all times. “I think the main thing is you can’t — not even for a second — leave the child alone,” Dr. Reinstein says. One way to do this is to make sure your supplies are nearby, so you can grab a fresh wipe or new diaper while still keeping your hand on baby. Use a shelf of the changing table or the top drawer of your dresser for storing diapering essentials.
- Use a buckle safety strap, if available. This is not guaranteed to keep baby secure — so you’ll still have to keep a hand on baby at all times, even if she is buckled — but it can help keep baby still while changing her diaper.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Make Baby's Room Safe: Parent Checklist, August 2020.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Changing Table Safety, November 2009.
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