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Changing Pads

August 11, 2009 By Kerri Leave a Comment

As parents of a newborn baby, you will be doing a lot of diapering for quite a while. A number of diapering accessories will make life easier for you. Changing pads typically do not come as part of the changing table. You will have to buy them separately. For convenience, your changing pad should be lightweight, waterproof and portable. Baby changing pads can be flat or contoured and disposable too. Good models come with tabs at the bottom that help you secure the changing pad to a table. The bottom of a changing pad is usually stiff and coarse, making it slip-resistant and safe for use.

As most moms will tell you, it is much easier to change diapers at arms level than bending over a bed, or on the floor. That’s where changing pads become handy. Their greatest advantage is that you can place them on any flat surface like a table or a dresser and lo, your changing table is ready. This is most useful when you are on the move and may need to change your baby when away from home. If you have a changing pad, you can even place your baby on the ground and diaper him.

When your baby is little, contoured changing pads are useful because they help to keep your baby stationary. The design of the contoured changing pad makes it much safer to keep a wiggling baby safe. The pad will be about 1-1.5 inches thick in the middle and may rise to 4.5-5 inches at the sides. This makes it almost impossible for a young baby to roll off.

Some models have a safety belt with buckles that can be tied across the center. But, as your baby becomes bigger and is able to really move about, the high sides may become dangerous.

Changing pads usually have a waterproof surface. This makes it easy to clean and wipe away any mess. Most changing pads come in attractive colors and quilted patterns. Vinyl covering seems to be the most favorite, as it is soft to touch and easy to clean. But vinyl is cold and may make young babies uncomfortable. Besides, any irregular patterns on the changing pads may cause accumulation of dirt or bacteria. I’d personally feel comfortable with a terry cover or a denim cover over the vinyl covering, before placing Junior in it. Even an ordinary hand towel can be placed over the vinyl.

Changing pads are essential accessories of a diaper bag. Store-bought diaper bags come equipped with plastic covered changing pads. But these may not be soft enough for a young baby. You will be using thinner and flatter changing pads with a diaper bag. So, get yourself a changing pad that is made of layers of spongy fleece material with a water resistant top. These kinds of changing pads are comfortable for travel because they fold up very well. They will also fit nicely into a diaper tote if they are soiled.

Changing pads can be very trendy and stylish. You may like to go for a piece that suits the theme of your nursery. For parents who are interested in color coordination, you get changing pads that perfectly match your diaper bag. However, it’s nice to remember that changing pads are useful only until your baby is potty trained. So, it doesn’t make much sense to spend a fortune on them.

Filed Under: Diapers Tagged With: changing diapers, changing pad, changing pads, diaper bag, Diapers

Diaper Bags

August 10, 2009 By Kerri Leave a Comment

What would a mom do without the ubiquitous diaper bag? When you want to venture out of your home with a small baby, there’s no telling what you may need. The best solution is to carry it all. Beginning with diapers and baby wipes to diaper ointment, baby powders and anything else that you may need the diaper bag can hold it all – and then some.

The most important item in a diaper bag continues to be the diaper. You can carry up to a dozen of the thickest diapers in the market in a diaper bag. In another large compartment of the bag you can put in several changes of clothes. Some other useful things to put in the bag would be bibs, baby cups, burp cloths, washcloths and of course, a blanket too. A towel is another essential item – in fact anything that you need to use on a daily basis should go into the diaper bag. You can put in some pacifiers and some essential snacks and food items. The diaper bag comes equipped with several cylindrical pockets to hold bottles; and if your baby is on solids you will have to pack in plastic utensils, bowls and spoons too.

It is actually a good idea to keep your diaper bag at least partially ready all the time. Some people have toys, pacifiers and blankets stashed away in their diaper bags permanently. You may want to add toys and books too.

In the past, diaper bags were little more than large plastic shoulder bags with two big compartments. They had the most preposterous designs. They were used because one didn’t have a choice! Fortunately, the winds of change have brought in designs that vary from the trendy to the stunning and classy.

And for moms who wouldn’t be caught dead near a bulky, single-colored diaper bag, there are designer diaper bags. Stylish bags that are functional too – of course, the price tag may dampen some of your enthusiasm. The simple design of some of the bags may fool you into believing that there’s nothing much inside. But, you may be surprised to see some nifty features like a pullout changing pad or special pockets for keys and cell phones etc. Most bags come with nylon linings so that messy spills do not ruin the bag. If you like colorful, glossy fabric but fear for wear and tear, some designer bags even have laminated covers to keep the outside scar-free. You can get diaper bags in sleek leather, which is waterproofed so you need not worry about spills.

One of the most attractive diaper bags I’ve seen looks very much like a purse, and everything inside the diaper bag – changing pad, storage bag, wipes case – can come out. So, you can ultimately use it as a purse. Another one of my favorites has a non-slip grip on the strap, so the bag will not slide off when you bend to pick something up. A great feature in some bags is that they can easily be attached to a stroller with rings and clips that are included in the bag.

Besides the cost, the only factors you have to keep in mind while purchasing the perfect diaper bag is size and comfort. Take a look at various models before you make the purchase. That way, you know what you are getting.

Filed Under: Diapers Tagged With: diaper bag, diaper bags, diaper storage, Diapers, what to put in a diaper bag