Why Are Changing Tables Sideways? Don't You Change Baby Head-to-toe?

I'm in the minority. I have to change the diaper from the baby's side. I place the baby with head to my left and legs to my right. I hold the legs with my left hand and do the cleaning and changing with my right (I'm right handed). My husband can only change the baby head to toe, but he has also been "squirted" on several occasions (I laugh to recall him trying to dodge the squirt!) whereas I've never been nailed. Haha!

I like changing sideways and I have a hard time doing it head to toe (as well as doing it with the baby laying in the opposite direction). I feel head-to-toe is hard because thier legs and feet are inbetween you and you have to reach so far forward. Okay, not at first when they are very little, but later. When I change, the baby's head is to my left. My left hand holds both of his ankles and I pull the legs up for the "wipe down". Then, the right hand is still free to bring the clean diaper in. It's funny, I never thought about the technique until now. I like changing tables, I find them easier on my back to be standing up. I know a lot of mommies would rather not walk into another room, but I like having a "station" with everything I need. Whatever you do, you'll be great at changing diapers. You'll get PLENTY of practice!!

We have always changed my daughter on the floor with her feet facing us. The few times I have used a changing table or mattress (don't waste the money) the diaper goes on crooked. Also she is now 7 months and hates to hold still I find the face to face interaction easier to handle her than the sideways because all she can see in me when she is facing me - or the ceiling fan.
Good luck to you!

That's funny! I can't change a diaper unless the kids are sideways! It just feels funny to me and when I've had to change them that way,(I've had to change them in the front seat of a car) I couldn't get the diaper on right w/o having to re-do it a few times! I think it's just a matter of personal preference! I think another reason I wouldn't like that way is that you're more likely to get wet if they squirt while you're changing them!

Don't waste your money on a regular changing table! We bought a dresser and just put a changing pad on top of it. When we're done with diapers the changing pad comes off and it's just a regular dresser! I really didn't care for changing my boys on beds or floors for three reasons! It hurts my back to bend over like that, if it's a really messy diaper or they squirt you're going to have a bigger mess to clean up (washing your sheets/comforter or their sheets and bumper pads- not fun!) and with a changing table you can set it up so everything is right where you need it. I've also noticed now that my youngest is 15mos. It's easier to keep him in one place when he's fighting a diaper change! Good luck! Hope this helped!

the changing tables I've seen are all rectangles, and I can choose where I stand. Sometimes I'll stand along the longer side (by the baby's side), sometimes I stand at the end, closer to the baby's feet. Both options should always be free for you to choose.

ETA: I replied, then read the rest of the responses, I guess I'm confused about what you guys are talking about. I hope my reply doesn't come across smart-alec, just what I thought, but now I don't understand. I never knew there was a problem or a right/wrong way to stand.

We never used ours either, it is attached to the crib, but just use the floor or the bed to change him. The only time I use a changing table is when we are in public and have no choice.

I like a sideways changing table because my body acts as a barrier when my active rolling children try to wiggle away. I have 4 children of my own ranging from 15 to 1. I also care for infants and toddlers during the day. It makes for quite a few diaper changes :) I do not have any back trouble from using a standard changing table. I have seen people use the top of a pack-n-play as a changing station and that allows you to change head-to-toe. It is designed like a basket which prevents rolling.

Are you looking to buy? If so, my suggestion is: don't waste your money! Before my girl started pulling herself up, we just used her crib to change her. We set up one end (about 1/3 of the crib) with a changing pad (waterproof--easy to remove and wash) and put a shelf with diapers/wipes/etc within reach. When she went to sleep in the crib (not very often, since we co-sleep), we'd just take the changing pad out. Once she started pulling up we had to lower the mattress in the crib. That's when we started changing her on our bed. I keep a stack of diapers, box of wipes, and other essentials in a small basket by my nightstand. When it's time to change the diaper, we lay out the changing pad to keep the bed clean. I do find it easier to change her head-to-toe (standing at her feet end) when she's on a big surface (like the bed). But, when on a changing table, I feel more secure having her sideways so I can keep a hand/arm/elbow on her to stop her from rolling. Very rarely, I'll change her on the floor. Personally, I don't like watching other people change their kids (especially when they're old enough to roll poop all over the place), so I like to keep it a little more "private" (i.e. in the bedroom/bathroom). Another idea that I suggested to my friend is to put a changing pad on your bathroom counter (if you have the room--we don't). I think your kid learns that "This is where I get my diaper changed. I should lay still and it won't take long." As opposed to "Oooh, look at my toy over there! What is M. doing with my diaper? I can reach the toy!"

Just my opinion. :)

great question, I agree with you. I think it purely for convenience in setting up the room and how things look.

I don't remember having to twist to change them though. I just lifted the babies and changed them from the side, but you will be doing most of the changing in the family room anyway. At least that has been my experience. So, the changing table I believe is for holding things and changing after naps.

Take care,
K.

Ursula

I change my girls on a changing pad. I did not buy a changing table as I did not want to have a piece of furniture that was not functional after diapers. Instead I bought a portable changing pad and put it on top of the dresser in her room which is the perfect height no back strain. I guess I dont really notice a difference chaning from the side or head to toe....

I love my changing table! My son is 14 monthws and almost too long for it now, but it has made changing him so much easier on me. We started using the bed, pack in play changing table, or floor, but I found with those I was down on my knees or bending over and my back hurt! I also change my son toes to head. That's just what works for me! (I find that after I've changed his diaper, he's already laying down, so I put on socks, then pants, then sit him up to put on his shirt, and then we're done.) You find what works for you. Good luck!

When my daughter was a baby I always used the floor to change her because I could not have complete control of her on the changing table. I could actually see her better and change her better on the floor then having to turn sideways and stand off balance for the changing table. I always undressed her foot-to-head and dressed her from head-to-toe.

I usually do toe to head lol. And I've always used our bed, never wasted money on a changing table. I hate those Koala Kare stations in restrooms because they just hurt my back from twisting lol.

I never used a changing table. I have always changed from head to toe. That is the way I am most comfortable. However you feel more comfortable. Good luck on your decision! =)

Yah, you are very right. They make NO sense to me either. They're just awkward!! I use my bed with a changing pad (for all 3 of my boys)...one less piece of useless furniture I had to buy ;) Good luck!!

Dear Ursula,

I simply refused to buy into the idea that you have to have a special piece of furniture to change a baby. I just did it on the floor. I think I did it both sideways and head to toe...as baby gets stronger and wiggles a lot...you may end up changing whatever strategy you have.
I always mention "natural infant hygiene" or "elimination communication" if you want to consider a neat way to use fewer or no diapers. Lots of info on the web!
Good luck!

Hi Ursula,

I suppose you change a baby hower you can with whatever you have! I've never put too much thought into it because we have always had "sideways" changing tables with our girls. Now changing my youngest "head to toe" is very hard for me!

If you feel more comfortable changing "head to toe" you can buy changing tables that go that way. You have to look online. You could also but a changing bad on the dresser and use that.

As far as the floor or bed I'm never very successful with that, I tend to get poopy on whatever I'm using. My daughter is a kicker!

With that said, I'm a "sideways" changer! Ha ha that's funny. I'm a SAHM "sideways" changer! Love it!

We've always had a twin bed in a corner of my son's room. I put a big beach towel across the middle on which I changed him head to toe. It would hurt my back to stand up and bend over, so I have always kept a chair by the bed to sit in for changing. Changing sideways is illogical to me because I want to make sure that the diaper is put on evenly, and how can you do that looking at it sideways? Also, my guy has always been big, and wasn't potty-trained until age 4, so he outgrew those little changing tables long ago.

I've never understood that either. I always just changed my kids when they were babies on the bed, the changing table part of the playpen or on the floor.

Hi Ursula,

As babies get older, you have to pin the child down at the same time sometimes. The older they get, the stronger too! It's easier to pin them down from the side.

Take care,
V.

I have 3 boys and I used a "changing table" only for the first one. I say changing table because it was really only the changing part of a pack and play.
Iwasn't a fan of it, and it wasn't long before I stopped. My boys were changed either on the bed (whihc hurt my back) or I would sit on the floor and spread my legs. The baby would go between so my legs acted as a barrier when it came to them rolling over. It was simple to change them and then just place them in my arms and stand back up when done.
Whatever option you go with I'm sure you will find what works best for you. For us, a towel on the floor worked best.

There are no dumb questions when it comes to life or babies so don't feel ignorant. The reason changing tables were designed the way they are is because you are standing closer to the baby so they can't roll off if you turn away, so you don't strain your back by reaching up to take clothes off the child's head, and so there would be more space in rooms, trains, confined spaces,etc. Hope this helps. P.

We have just a changing pad on top of a dresser. This makes it the correct height (which I find the floor and other shorter surfaces make my back hurt) - and makes it easy to clean up if there is an accidental fountain. :)
That said, I find that changing them from the side is much easier - as you put their bottom towards your dominant hand (right in my case) and then your other hand is good for keeping them from rolling, and holding legs/feet up. My left hand is not good at the dexterity needed for wiping and creaming little bottoms.
I like having the single location as then if you have containment issues (like poop getting on the changing pad - which is surprisingly easy to do sometimes!) then it can be easily washed. It also makes for a neat and tidy home for all the diapers/wipes/creams. (Oh, and if there is an older sibling.. they know to stay out of this single location. :) )

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_04912213000P?vNa...

I think you can use these types of changing stations facing head to toe.

I actually think it makes sense... it hurts my back (and my husband's knees) pretty bad to change the baby on the floor or the bed as others have suggested. Plus, we have a crazy active kid who is always trying to roll over. It's near impossible to hold him and change him doing it head to toe, whereas from the side I have a hand (or elbow) at least partially free. Or there's room for reinforcements where necessary ;-) And what's this about how it's so strange to buy the baby furniture? What's a crib? This will be in use just about as long for its primary purpose, plus they usually have shelves or drawers you can use later.

I have always changed a baby sideways. I am right handed so, their head is on my left and I hold their feet up with my left and which bends their legs up like they are sitting on an invisible chair. This makes a nice....uh....zone...for thorough cleaning. You can also use your body as a shield that prevents them from rolling off.

Even on a bed, etc...I put the baby sideways.

after post: not everyone can GET on the floor. I have knee problems and kneeling on the floor just isn't an option. We used a special pad on top of the dresser rather than buy a table because the baby room was too small for all the furniture.

I have never thought of this! We used a changing pad on a dresser for our babies, so that was sideways. But whenever I changed them on the floor, I changed them head to toe. I guess it's personal preference. I don't have any back or neck problems from the sideways changes - I didn't twist, I just did it all from the side. :)

Hi Ursula,

My husband, who is German, asked the same question. He mostly just stood at the foot of the changing table and changed our son head-to-toe. I changed him from the side. We both found either position to be hard on the back, so we ditched the table after a few months and changed him on the bed on a towel and changing pad. Before that, we went so far as to put the table up on blocks so that it would be less strain on my back.

btw, my husband's aunt is named Ursula. I love that name!

C.