Hey, new parent! Would you like to hear a fun fact about babies? When it comes to your baby’s first year, you’ll have to change about 2000 diapers! Now, how does that sound? Maybe, a little bit scary? Relax, it isn’t that bad. By the time you hit diaper number 2000, you’ll be a pro and won’t even notice how many changes you’ve done up to that point!
We know some people might argue that a commercial changing station isn’t a must-have since you can always stay on the floor and change your baby. While that seems smart, upon closer examination, it isn’t. In the end, if you’re going to be carrying out this chore every day, more than 5 times a day sometimes, don’t you think you’ll be more comfortable using a station? The fact is, it just makes sense to use an item designed to make your life a whole lot easier.
Just like a changing table, commercial changing stations are extremely convenient as their construction allows for more storage space. That makes it a perfect place to store your baby necessities
like the diaper bag,
baby oil, and all that zinc cream you bought on sale. Some stations even come with liners too! This leaves your changing area looking a lot less cluttered and disorganized since there’s a place for everything and everything will be in its place.
Plus, did we tell you that a commercial station can also be a great way to spruce up your home?! You betcha! You can always match your changing station with your home decor by color or design, then smile when visitors remark on how chic a nursery you’ve managed to create.
Can you do that with a floor? Nope! It will always be the same old carpet that has always been there. But a commercial changing station? Now, that gives you plenty of leeway style-wise. So, you see, these stations provide you with an ergonomic place to change your child without having to forgo the luxury of an eye-catching furniture piece.
But just before you decide on a particular changing station, it is absolutely necessary to find out from the experts what features you should look out for. It’s a good thing that we already spoke to them. If you stay with us, we promise to share every single detail about commercial changing stations and how you can snag the best one for you and your baby.
Price
Before you decide to start looking for the cheapest station money can buy, remember that it’s your baby we are talking about here, not a Barbie doll. And, since it’s a real-life baby, please, don’t go for cheap commercial baby changing stations! During our research, we saw many cheap stations, and they weren’t sturdy whatsoever. That fact alone was enough to make us reject them as options. As a parent, the last thing you want is to imagine what could happen to your child on an inferior quality station, so just forget about them altogether.
Instead, save up and invest in a good commercial baby changing station. And how much will that cost you? You’ll be surprised. A good changing station will usually cost between: $100 to about $1000. So, you see, whatever your budget, you’re covered, and these stations will give value for money. Usually, things that affect the price are the accessories included with your preferred station. For instance, some come with two or more diaper bag hooks, a larger storage space or a stainless-steel exterior as opposed to the usual polymer, and this will normally jack prices up for any one commercial station.
Features
If you’re going to get a commercial baby changing station, you’ll want to know some of the possible features. Get your writing pad and start scribbling because we have them all right here:
- Layout
- Safety
- Durability
- Convenience
- Materials
Let’s get into the details already!
Construction and Design
The first thing you want to consider when in the market for a commercial changing station is the layout. What are the dimensions of the station and how is it proportionate to your height? You have to make sure that when you bend over, it doesn’t cause your back to hurt.
Naturally, taller individuals will require taller stations while those of the not-so-tall persuasion will need something more height-appropriate. Luckily, as stations are typically adjustable, height will never be a problem.
The layout of your nursery or designated baby corner will need to be assessed as some commercial baby changing stations are available as a countertop model or wall-mounted design. Any of these placements will work, but if you are pressed for space, you might want to go for a wall-mounted type since it will make your living space appear less cluttered.
Commercial baby changing stations can be either horizontal or vertical in orientation. It really depends on what you prefer as there are no added benefits to either one. Both will deliver as long as they are well made.
A good changing station must be made of really durable materials. Please do not spare a second glance at cheapies. Your preferred choice should be made of thick polymer to give a sturdy and durable station. We cannot overemphasize how unsafe an unstable changing station is and, as a parent, it shouldn’t even be an option for your little one.
Lastly, in the event of a domestic accident, fire-resistant stations are a good idea to limit fire damage.
Performance and Ease of Use
The reason most people go for a changing station in the first place as opposed to simply changing their baby on the floor is convenience. Therefore, your choice of a station should present you with the most convenience you can possibly get within your budget range.
Of course, it must come with a liner dispenser or a place for nappies. Plus, it should also come with hooks or something to hang changing bags while changing your baby. And, as we mentioned earlier, to prevent back pain while changing your baby, you’ll want to purchase one that is proportionate to your height.
Next, we’d like to address safety.
Your changing station should have a deep surface that isn’t slippery. You wouldn’t want to just turn around for a second and find that your baby has slid nearly to the end of the station and is almost on the floor. Now, that’s a scary thought!
However, if you must buy something with a flat surface, it will need to come with four barriers to block your child on every side. If that number is short by even one barrier, do not risk buy it! On the other hand, changing stations that have deeper surfaces don’t need as many barriers because their depth prevents babies from moving around so much.
Still on safety, your station must be tough enough to withstand your baby’s ever-changing weight. Remember, your baby is growing a tiny bit every day, and boy, do they ever grow fast! Your station must be able to support your child through their growing years. So, go for a sturdy one with solid weight resistance.
And we are done! Now that you know all that you need to know about commercial baby changing stations, we will head on to the reviews where you can make a choice on the best one for your cherub. Come on now!
Now that you have this information, we believe that you are better equipped to choose your baby changing station. So, go ahead and pick the one that feels right.
