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.