Does this “conspiracy theory” about changing tables make sense to you?
A parent has taken to the ‘Parenting’ community on Reddit to float a theory about changing tables – and it’s being quite passionately debated.
“Gathering dust”
“I know it’s common practice for companies to market items as if they are absolute necessities whereas, in reality, you don’t need them at all,” the poster (titled “conspiracy theory about changing tables” began).
“But here’s another one I realised … changing tables?” it went on.
“It’s been months and months and that $120 changing table has been gathering dust and not been used a single time. Is it just me? How often do you guys use your changing table?”
I have to admit that after raising 3 kiddos, the changing table at my house was very rarely used. I think I ended up sending it off to the op shop in the hopes that another more organised parent might put it to good use.
Yassss, queen!
Quite a few parents chimed in on this Reddit post confirming they didn’t bother with a changing table either.
“We pretty much exclusively change diapers on a pad on the floor. We had a changing table with our first, and it never got used other than to hold diapers.”
“Same here. No stress about rolling [over], easy to wash, no pee on the walls.”
“It’s just easier to keep diapers and wipes in the bedroom and living room so I can just change him wherever.”
“Got a real cheap pad from IKEA and a couple of protection mats. Just put it on top of our washing machine and change nappies. Oftentimes just change the baby on the floor.”
Wait … what?!
But others were gobsmacked at the thought of not using a changing table and found it a vital piece of nursery equipment.
“We used ours all the time when our kids were infants, less often as they became toddlers. It’s basically the base station where all the diaper changing supplies are located, so that’s where we go to change diapers. And it’s one of the few flat surfaces in the house guaranteed to be covered with random household crap.”
“We use ours for every diaper change and most outfit changes when we’re at home. It’s a comfortable height and right next to all the stuff we need.”
“We used ours for pretty much every diaper change. My [significant other] is tall and the height works better for him than bending over on the ottoman or crouching on the floor.”
We be what we see!
In a later update, the original poster revealed that she’d learned to change her baby on the spot via the staff that cared for her when she had her baby. Then she’d simply carried on with that approach.
“The nurses kept changing the baby while inside the little glass dim sum cart the baby was in, and we started doing that too,” she explained.
“When we came home, we placed baby in a portable bassinet and since me and my c-section preferred to stay on the couch without getting up often, husband and I ended up changing her in her portable bassinet which was always right next to me. I got to thinking about all this, and I guess that’s how our habit started!”
Mama see, mama do, it would seem!