Best changing pads

It looks like a soft foam diaper pad, but it hides a high-tech secret: a built-in wireless smart scale that communicates with your phone. Put your baby down for a change and the Grow takes her weight in seconds, then beams it to your phone, where you can reassuringly track her growth over time in the Hatch app (which also tracks sleep, nursing, and pumping). Parents can see exactly how much milk or formula their baby has ingested with Hatch’s feeding weight display, too. 

Heads up 

This scale is somewhat delicate, which isn’t a natural fit for kicking, squirming babies. 

Parents say 

“It syncs up with your phone so you get a cool record keeping log of weights, percentiles, and growth curve tracking that matches up to the pediatrician’s.”

Specs 

• 29 x 16 x 3.5 inches
• 3 AAA batteries required (included)
• 7.5 pounds

Designed to be functional, stylish and gender neutral so it can be used by mom or dad, the Parker Baby Diaper Backpack has a modern design, pockets for everything (and we do mean everything) that you need, and a pull-out waterproof changing pad that’s a cinch to use. If it gets dirty, wipe it clean; otherwise, it’ll provide you with years of service, or can be removed and discarded once you’re past the diaper years.

Heads up 

This backpack is on the larger side so it’s not the best for short outings. 

Specs

• 16.5 x 7 x 13.5 inches
• Vegan leather, canvas
• 2.05 pounds

This cleverly designed little gadget has become a classic baby shower gift from experienced parents (who already know how great the Pronto is) to new parents (who are about to learn). The Pronto looks like the sort of binder you might carry around at work, but pop it open to find a wipe-clean changing pad that zips off for cleaning or independent use and has a built-in cushion for your babe’s head, as well as a mesh pocket that holds four diapers, cream, and other essentials. If you need, a front zipper pocket holds your keys and phone, then the whole kit straps onto your stroller or goes in a diaper bag. 

Heads up 

Parents say that the hinges on the wipes container that comes with the Pronto are fragile and break easily. 

Parents say 

“I don’t like how small the changing pads are that come with most diaper bags, so I use the Skip Hop Pronto.”

“I was in love with my Skip Hop Pronto and used that exclusively.”

Specs

• 11.5 x 1.5 x 7.75 inches
• 12 ounces

For ultra-convenient diaper changes on the go, these disposable pads are infused with baking soda for odor protection, and they’re big enough to contain even wiggly babies and epic blowouts. Spread them out over any surface you want to protect, then after changes, throw the whole mess away. Some parents use them as a cover on public restroom changing tables, or even on fabric changing pads at home. 

Heads up 

Creating garbage for the landfill bothers many parents. 

Specs

• 18 x 16.75 inches
• 30 disposable pads (three boxes of 10)
• 1.96 pounds

It folds up into a tidy package that’s a little smaller than a piece of notebook paper, with zippered pockets that are accommodating enough to hold diapers and wipes, keys, and a wallet. Unfolded, the MoBaby changing pad is crazy soft (it’s made of a downy fabric that feels like suede), and padded, especially the built-in head pillow. If it gets dirty, it’s machine-washable and safe for your tumble dryer. 

Heads up 

Some find the cushioning to be too thin.

Specs

• 29.5 x 20 inches
• Polypropylene
• Machine-washable
• 1.05 pounds

Sometimes the old-school ways are the best ones. This traditional furniture-top changing pad is comfy for your baby and easy for you: it stays put, it’s nice and long for growing babies, the waterproof cover wipes clean like a champ, and did we mention you can buy it for less than the cost of a pepperoni pizza? 

Heads up

It’s not a looker, but there are plenty of fabric covers on the market that can change that. 

Parents say

“The Summer Infant changing pad wipes clean and has a strap to hold my baby in place, 20 bucks well spent.”

Specs

• 32 x 16 x 3.5 inches
• 2.1 pounds

When what you need is literally just a cover small enough to tote in a tiny purse or stroller organizer, this option is perfect. It folds down into a 10 x 6.5-inch rectangle that stays in place thanks to a sturdy Velcro strap, then unfolds to a spacious 30 x 19 inch pad. It has a little padding to protect your baby, but it’s still light enough that you’ll barely notice it in your diaper bag, until the moment you need a tiny changing space. 

Heads up

The padding isn’t very thick, so this pad won’t win any prizes for comfort. 

Specs

• 19 x 30 inches
• 4 ounces
• Wipe clean