Best changing tables

It's a bit of an investment, but this beautiful piece of furniture offers both comfort and long-term functionality, which are important to many parents. Parents say that they love this changing table-dresser combo because it's so very solid and sturdy: It's an actual piece of furniture, made of wood, so the dresser doesn't tremble or shimmy when you put your child on top, unlike some of the more rickety standalone tables. Parents add that the removable changing table topper feels reassuringly reliable,too: solid, tough wood surrounded by a nice, high railing.

Parents who have used this table say that the height is comfortable at about 35 inches; comparable to a kitchen counter which, on average, is 36 inches high. They also appreciate the longevity of the table; when their child is out of diapers, they simply take off the topper and have a functional piece of furniture that will last as long as somebody needs a set of drawers. 

Those who have used cheap dresser sets will appreciate two more points in the Ava's favor: The drawers have high-quality ball bearing slides, which means they'll slide in and out better and hold up longer than drawers with cheaper roller style slides. And the dresser comes complete with an anti-tip kit, so that the dresser can be safely adhered to the walls and to prevent tipping.

Heads up
We wish this dresser came in more colors.

Specs

• Dimensions: 45 x 19.25 x 37 inches
• Weight limit: None listed
• Age limit: None listed
• Color options: 1
   

Standalone changing tables are rectangular tables with shelves and a flat top covered by a changing pad and surrounded by guardrails. They're simple, inexpensive, and a highly functional piece of nursery furniture for parents who want a comfy changing space. The Emma Jane changing table has a safety railing on all four sides and two open shelves for storage, which parents love. Christine Mattheis, Group VP, Content & Brand Solutions at BabyCenter, was particularly fond of the storage element, saying she “liked having a dedicated space for diaper and wipe storage." 

She says she put storage baskets on the shelves, and says years later it's still "holding up strong.” "The table was really cheap and after three years of use it's looking a little beat, but what do you want for 90 bucks?" she asks. Parents appreciate that this table comes in four different finishes: black, cherry, espresso, and gray. This makes it easier to find a shade that coordinates with your decor. 

Heads up
This table is harder to repurpose than drawers with removable changing tops. 

Specs

• Dimensions: 36.5 x 20 x 39 inches
• Weight limit: 25 pounds
• Age limit: None listed
• Color options: 4
   

If you're interested in furniture that grows with your baby, the Graco Hadley could be the unstoppable nerve center of your nursery. First of all, the crib itself lasts forever, because it converts from crib to toddler bed to daybed to a full-sized bed that your child, or anyone else, can sleep in as long as you like. 

Parents say it's very handy to have a changing table right next to the crib, especially for middle-of-the night changes, and that the Hadley is solid real furniture that they felt secure using. The changing table is attached by hardware to the crib, so the whole unit is heavy and steady and doesn't shake around even when your child is restless. The three storage drawers are spacious enough to hold most of your baby's wardrobe along with your diapering gear. 

Parents also say the crib is beautiful, sturdy, and a great value, and it's not hard to change it from mode to mode (though you will require tools, time, and patience, as well as items that are sold separately). And they love the drawer underneath, which has plenty of room for extra bedding. 

Heads up

You'll have to buy the guardrails for the toddler bed, and the conversion kit for the full-sized bed separately. Mattresses are also sold separately. 

Parents say
“I love that this combo has the drawers, but it also has the shelves to keep the diapers and such that you need more immediately in arms reach. The bottom drawer is also great to store extra bedding or the extra diapers you have stockpiled in bigger sizes.” 

"[W]e did the Graco Hadley adjustable bed. I like that it has a drawer and can grow with baby."

Specs

• Dimensions: 29.92 x 71.67 x 39.76 inches
• Weight limit: 30 pounds (changing table), 50 pounds (crib)
• Age limit: Discontinue use of crib mode when child is 35 inches
• Color options: 3
   

Parents say the Egree changing table is handy if you need an extra changing spot in your home or are just tight on space: When not in use, it folds up flat to be stored under a bed or in a closet until it's needed again. 

Kristinne Stabile, Director, Data Insights for BabyCenter's parent company Everyday Health Group, says she bought this table as an extra for the downstairs part of her house and ended up using it more than they used the dresser-and-changing-pad combo in the nursery: "The changing area is much larger than the one that came with our 4Moms play yard, which we only used for like three months," she says. She liked that the Egree's height was adjustable: "I took off the wheels and kept it on the shortest height for my 5'2" self, so it was perfect," she says. 

Another feature parents love is the side-car basket, which keeps diapers and wipes within arm's reach but beneath the table's side rail, so babies can't get to them. 

Heads up
There's a ruler on the oxford cloth pad so you can measure your baby's growth, but dimensions are in centimeters, not inches. 

Specs

• Dimensions: 23.6 x 29.9 x 33.8-38.6 
• Weight limit: 33 pounds
• Age limit: 12 months
• Color options: 2
   

Parents like the multifunctionality of this Graco pack 'n play. Moms who have had c-sections in particular appreciate that they can put their babies to sleep in the yard's bassinet without having to bend over. The changing station is also at a comfortable height, comparable to that of a dining room table. 

The changing station has a few more features parents say they value. First, the pad on top of the changing station unhooks, folds up, and can be taken with you in your diaper bag, eliminating the need to buy an additional one. There’s also a pocket at one end of the play yard that hangs just below the changing station, which parents say is the perfect grab-and-go space to keep diapers and wipes. 

If you're a family that travels, you'll like that you can fold this whole play yard up and take it on the road. You can also store it in its included bag, which makes it easier to travel with and put away when not in use. 

Heads up
The changing station must be removed entirely before your child uses the play yard. 

Parents say
"I had the Graco Pack N Play Change N’ Carry in Manor color. The bassinet was pretty useless. But the changing area was nice for several months. You can get compatible mattresses for the bottom when you’re ready! On Amazon. They’re firm but better than the hard bottom it comes with."

Specs

• Dimensions: 40 x 28.5 x 29 inches
• Weight limit: 15 pounds (bassinet), 25 pounds (changing table), 30 pounds (play yard)
• Age limit: Discontinue use of play yard when your child is 35 inches; discontinue use of bassinet when your child can push up on hands and knees
• Color options: 1

For parents who value style enough to pay for it, this elegant dresser-changing table combo features the craftsmanship you’ve come to expect from Pottery Barn and the functionality parents crave when building a nursery. The changing table topper is anchored on top with metal brackets while a layer of felt on its underside protects the dresser’s finish. In time, the topper comes off and the Kendall is a classic multi-drawer dresser in a subtle design that goes the distance. 

Made of sap gum wood and medium-density fibreboard (MDF), this dresser is rock solid, say the parents who love it. The drawers roll in and out smoothly and have high-quality safety stoppers that keep them from pulling out too far. The big knobs on the drawers are easy for small hands to grab, and don't get loose and wobbly over time. And perhaps best of all, the Kendall dresser arrives assembled via what Pottery Barn Kids called "white glove delivery services." No need to pull out your tools! 

By the way, this dresser coordinates with all the Pottery Barn Kids' nursery furniture (the Kendall crib is a favorite of BabyCenter parents). 

Heads up
This dresser is heavy: just over 83 pounds. 

Specs

• Dimensions: 38 x 18.5 x 32.5 inches (dresser), 33.5 x 17.5 x 3 inches (topper)
• Weight limit: 50 pounds
• Age limit: None listed
• Color options: 4
   

There are plenty of changing tables that have two grab-and-go shelves. And although they're quite useful for storing diapers and wipes, shelves with open sides can look messy, and aren't great for long-term storage, because items fall out the sides and need to be re-stacked and organized frequently. 

A better option is this attractive Delta Children changing table, which parents say works great as a changing table during their children's diaper years, then holds toys and other items neatly thereafter. The guardrails that hold your baby safely for diaper changes are great for keeping books corralled later, say parents. The open storage bin at the bottom keeps toys together in a place where your child can get them themselves. Parents say this table is nice to look at too; a good thing, since it'll be with you for a while. 

Heads up
If you don't like assembling furniture yourself, you can order professional assembly for an extra $89. 

Parents say
“This works great. I am used to a large dresser for a changing table but it is still being used by our older son. This was bought to put in our bedroom for quick changes for our newborn.”

Specs

• Dimensions: 34.25 x 18.75 x 35 inches
• Weight limit: 35 pounds
• Age limit: None listed
• Color options: 1