How to Set Up a Changing Station for Babies

Having a new baby in your world comes with a lot of changes – quite literally. When I had a baby in the midst, I really wanted to get systems in place that worked for us. From breast feeding to sleeping, there is a lot to figure out. I want to give you some advice on how to set up a changing station for babies because I love to share my “works for me” moments in parenting and life. I loved how our system was set up for that newborn stage, so I hope my experience today is helpful. If you have a baby in your home, I bet you would also love this top parenting hack for baby’s crib.

This is a sponsored post for Babies R’ Us. All ideas and opinions are mine.

Many parents have a hard time deciding how they want to have sleeping arrangements set-up for a newborn. Do I keep them in their crib? Do I use a co-sleeper? Are there other options?

This is a very individual decision that will look different for different families. I loved our solution because I found it convenient and helped us all get better sleep. It also limited the amount of products we needed to purchase. What did we do?

We used our pack and play for those early months. We knew we wanted a pack and play for travel and visiting friends or family. The pack and play was set up very close to our bed so I could conveniently reach our baby for feedings in the night. The picture above is of our first baby sleeping in her pack and play within days of her birth.

Our bedroom is on the first floor, so having a sleeping option close by was convenient for mid-day naps as well.

Another one of my favorite things about the pack and play is that it has a built in changing station. With the right pack and play Babies R’ Us Pinterest page you get a changing area, storage space, nesting bassinet, portable napper/rocker (that’s a new feature since I had babies), inclined seat (also a newer feature) and then all of the newborn items can be removed so that it becomes a deeper play yard or sleep area for kids when they get a bit older. I’d encourage you to visit the link provided above and watch the video to see all the amazing features so you can really understand how this becomes one purchase that will cover a multitude of needs.

How to Set Up a Changing Station for Babies

If I’ve won you over to the pack and play as a viable option for sleeping and changing your baby in those early years, then you will really enjoy how to set up the pack and play changing station for babies. Even if you go a different route for sleeping and change, we all need an organized space to tackle messy diapers. I want to provide you with some “must haves” that I found helpful when changing my babies.

Must Haves for a Baby Changing Station

I had my favorite things on hand for changing. Whether it be setting up the pack and play changing area, stocking a diaper bag or setting up the changing area in your child’s bedroom, these are the items I would consider having available:

Diapers – It’s a no-brainer that we need diapers at a changing station. Pampers newborns are a great option for those early days.
Wipes – Another obvious must-have are wipes. My babies had sensitive skins, so I liked Pampers sensitive wipes.
Disposable Changing Pad – New moms and dads quickly become exposed to the concept of blow-outs or babies peeing or pooping mid-change. I loved having a disposable changing pad set up over my normal pad for those moments. I also liked to carry these in my diaper bag. The pads made clean-up super convenient, which is wonderful when your hands are trying to hold baby’s legs in the air while wiping a dirty bum. To be able to toss that in the diaper pail quickly and reveal a replacement (I always had a few layered there) was very helpful.
Diaper Pail – Everyone needs a diaper pail for easy disposal and keeping smells at bay. I’d look for great reviews at Babies R’ Us and choose one that seems to be a hit with other moms.
Pee Pee Teepee – If you have a boy who loves to tinkle when his penis is exposed to the air (many of them do) then you’ll want to know about the pee pee teepee. It just might save your face from an unexpected visit.
Diaper Rash Cream – Make sure to have your favorite diaper rash cream on hand to take care of those red bums.
Talc-Free Baby Powder – If you love baby powder, make sure to purchase a talc-free baby powder to keep your baby safe.
Hand Sanitizer – Hand sanitizer was another must-have for me. If there was any visible diaper residue on my hand, I would use a wipe first. However, I would always follow up with hand sanitizer. This should be kept out of a baby’s reach.
Dreft Stain Pen – I liked having an on-the-go Dreft stain pen so that I could instantly treat soiled clothing. This is convenient to have at the changing table (make sure it is out of baby’s reach) and also in my diaper bag.
Small Plush Toy – It was great to keep a small plush toy available at the changing table for older babies that are looking to grab something.

Note: Keep unsafe items out of the reach of a baby who is capable of grabbing.

Those first months with a newborn can be delightful and challenging. Setting up an organized space that functions well is a key to making this phase easier.

For more great ideas and must haves, please visit the Babies R’ Us Pinterest page.