Build a Diaper Basket
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I’ve never really been one to use a changing table for changing baby’s diaper. Oh, we had a makeshift changing table for the first child or two. But, in reality, once they grew beyond the newborn phase, we took to changing them on the floor, usually on a blanket or portable changing pad. It was just so much more comfortable to sit with them on the floor to take care of business.
Quite honestly, I’m surprised I’m sharing this with the world.
Is this taboo? I’m not really sure.
I bought an honest to goodness changing table at a garage sale when FishChick was born because I felt like that was what you were supposed to do. But, other than store baby supplies, it didn’t really serve its purpose. I didn’t use it once she was a tad bit mobile.
Instead, I have diaper baskets. One upstairs and one downstairs. And in the house where I bathed the kids in the master bathroom, I kept a basket in our room, too. The Diaper Basket is what works for us.
What works for YOU?
Same here! I’ve always changed all my kids on the floor. We have supplies in a cupboard or closet on every level of the house. Too much of a pain to go upstairs every time you need to change a diaper.
Diaper baskets here, too. 🙂 The one in the family room also houses baby socks, onesies, and bibs since we spend a good deal of time here and he usually needs at least one full clothing change throughout the day.
We started out with a changing table for the first one, and by the time his was moving around we were using the same basket/floor method you describe! With the second one we never even got out our changing table! We keep diapers and supplies in the kids rooms and a basket of supplies similar to the picture in the living room!
We received a very nice changing table as a shower gift before we had our daughter (23mos). We have NEVER used it as a changing table! We actually used the changing table pad as a mattress in her bedside co-sleeper b/c it kept her centered and her changing table is still used as a central housing for all of her stuff. Her lotions, qtips, diapers, wipes, towels, washclothes, combs, hairclips, and then the bottom is storage with her diapers & wipes that I find on sale & stock up on!
I digress – we’ve always changed her on the bed or on the floor. I am 5’2″ so its much easier for me to change her on the bed than to change her on the changing table (I am assuming based on the height of it! lol!)
🙂
We had a changing table for our first child and barely used it, didn’t get one for the second one. I would change our kids on the floor, the couch where ever was easiest. I used the diaper basket system too.
I’ve always used a changing table but I think it’s because I’m used to the position and it just seems awkward to change them on the floor or somewhere else. So for me, it’s just force of habit.
My son is only 5 weeks old so we haven’t transitioned to the crib, yet. Once we do we have a nicer changing pad on his dresser. We did this rather than buy a changing table that you only use for a short period of time. Once we no longer need it we can simply remove it from the dresser. I love the idea of a basket for downstairs, though. My diaper bag came with a portable changing pad. We are using this right now as I am sleeping downstairs with him so daddy can get the rest he needs for the work week. Little one is a bit of a noisy, restless sleeper.
With baby #1 I thought I needed one but didn’t have the space or money to buy one. By baby #2 I just didn’t bother. By Baby #3 a friend lent me one. I think I used it for two months and then just kept a basket on each floor of the house. Once they get a “little mobile”, it’s too scary to have them up there – it was for me anyways.
This is a crazy discussion to me because so many of you change your kids on the floor. It’s never even really been a consideration for me to change my kids on the floor.
We have a changing table and we’re on our third kid and we have used for all the kids, all the time. I think one difference here might be that we have a one story home. It’s small and everything is on the same floor. We also cloth diaper, so I’m wondering if that makes a difference, too. There are lots of bulky supplies and you have to put the diaper in the pail right away unless you want that stuff soaking into your carpet.
I wonder if I’ll change my mind if we ever move to a two story home…
Isn’t that wild? I’m going to guess you’re right. It might be due to the cloth diaper factor. I imagine you would want to be in one location for all the gear and mess. I knew someone with a 2-story house who had the laundry room on the ground floor. She set up her 2nd changing station atop the dryer. That may work for you if you ever move to a 2-story house. You may want to start doing it now. 😉 Might make washing diapers even easier?
@Trisha,
We used a dresser turned into a changing table for our son. We were cloth diaper/wipe people too. Even in a two story house I went upstairs to change the baby. Easier with all the supplies to do it in one location. I’m not saying I never did it on the floor, just easier for me not to.
@Trisha, Yep, we are cloth diapering too and always use the changing table. In our former house it was small enough to make it very convenient to just keep everything in one place. We have a two story now, but nowhere that would work for the “stuff” of diapering. At the stage my daughter is now(11mo), we usually are changing her before or after naps/bed so not too many trips upstairs for just a diaper. Plus, who doesn’t need the extra exercise of the stairs, right!
@jessica,
Also forgot to mention, I find changing on the floor uncomfortable for me, I am 6 feet tall and it kills my knees and back. Plus she is extra squirmy if I change her on the floor!
I had a diaper basket that looked exactly like yours – pampers cruisers & costco wipes. Also about five different creams in there for my girls sensitive skin. My sisters & mom gave me a changing table with baby 2, which I loved for storage. I did use the “changing” part until baby 2 was about 6 months old – then I went back to the floor. Last fall I moved the changing table to the garage where I use it to store bulk canned goods. Works for me. Baby 2 is now 2 years old – hopefully fully potty trained soon. Diapers have moved to a drawer in the bathroom – she has to get them herself.