Newborn Parenting: A Comprehensive Guide to Diaper Changing Pads

In the first few months of your baby’s life, you’re going to go through a lot of nappy change sessions which get even messier when your baby starts eating solids and let’s face it-diaper changes will probably be your least favourite baby-and-me time activity. With that said, having whatever it takes to make the process of changing diapers up to 10 times a whole lot easier is more than welcome. And that’s where the diaper changing pad steps in.

Why Opt for a Diaper Changing Pad?

a mother changing her baby on a changing pad
source: unsplash.com

Instead of using a towel or muslin cloth, enjoy nappy change sessions while keeping your baby safe and sound with super soft and comfortable diaper changing pads. These are essential for ensuring your baby’s cleanliness and convenience while changing diapers. These products offer a hygienic and gentle surface, preventing your child from having direct contact with diaper changing stations or surfaces, ensuring their safety and comfort during use.

For optimal comfort, a high-quality changing pad often includes a soft foam or padded material that is protected by a waterproof or easy-to-wash cover. Plus, it can be placed on various surfaces, such as changing tables, countertops, or even directly on the floor, which can be a true relief for parents.

How Do I Choose a Baby Changing Pad?

While changing pads are essential for extra-prepared parents, this doesn’t necessarily imply that all options on the market are good ones. To make the best selection possible, there are some factors to take into account when purchasing.

Range of Styles

Wedge pads have a square shape, a flat back region and two or three wedge-shaped sides that surround your infant. To ensure your little one’s security, some wedge designs have a stronger head edge.

Designed to reduce reflux, the anti-reflux changing mat is a relatively new product on the market. It’s titled at the head to raise your baby’s upper torso and has an elevated anti-roll edge to prevent rolling and tumbling. However, not everyone will appreciate its unique design. Some parents claim that the propensity facilitates the newborns’ ability to slide around while being dressed.

On the other hand, the travel baby changing mat, as its name implies, will be your favourite companion wherever you go—especially if you’re travelling with your newborn. It may be rolled up or folded and slipped into your changing bag, allowing you to change the baby anywhere.

Bear in mind, though that portable changing mats cannot take the place of standard, larger, PVC-padded changing mats. Additionally, be ready for frequent cleaning because there will definitely be a few minor “accidents” for your mat along the way.

Material Selection

baby on a changing pad
source: pexels.com

There are numerous materials available for infant changing pads. Usually, they have a PVC coating or waterproof layer on top of a foam or polyether core. The cover could be plainly coloured or have a design on it. PVC or foam variants can be covered with an elasticized cotton cover or a large cloth diaper to provide your little bundle of joy with the most comfort possible.

PVC mats require regular sponge cleaning to keep them in top condition. Foam mat coverings need to be cleaned often since they protect mattresses from unexpected weeping, leaky diapers, and other regurgitations.

When narrowing down your choices, consider only the reasonably thick alternatives to provide comfort, and keep in mind that budget-friendly selections are frequently thin. Also, take into account pads made from new-generation plant fibres like bamboo for a more sustainable alternative.

What about Covers?

Typically, PVC and foam mats are protected by interchangeable mat covers. They also ensure the utmost comfort for babies and offer a high absorption rate in the event of accidents during diaper changes.

There are several types and sizes of diaper-changing mats. Anti-reflux mats are much thicker than regular changing mats, therefore be careful when buying because they won’t fit under typical changing mat covers. Although mat covers aren’t a necessity, they still can make your diaper-changing experience more pleasant and mess-free. When on the hunt for the best fabrics, look for soft and natural ones only.

Additional Features

Waterproofness is also an important consideration when buying your ideal pad. Explosions of poop and pee occur frequently when changing diapers. So, better be prepared for it. If your diaper changing mat isn’t waterproof, all the pee and excrement will seep through.

This means that you should deep clean and brush your changing mat more frequently than normal. Changing diapers will also be much messier if your changing mat isn’t waterproof. Because excrement or urine soaking through the pad itself can quickly spread to your baby’s legs, you’ll need to bathe them more often than usual.

All tired parents want is convenience and restful sleep. If so, your best bet would be to go for a diaper-changing pad that prioritises easy clean-up sessions. Remember that the purpose of a diaper-changing mat is to facilitate and expedite the process of changing diapers. A new parent has an endless list of responsibilities to accomplish every day, and anything that is hard to clean will merely make things more difficult.

In other words, you will want to go for a reliable material, such as vinyl or foam. Because urine and faeces are not absorbed by these materials, all you need to do after a change is give the mat a thorough wipe and apply your disinfectant.