Friday, September 30, 2011

My Diaper Changing Station - Organized and Ready to Go!

With only about a month till Lincoln gets here and my diaper stash pretty much complete, I thought it was high time that I get the diaper changing station organized and ready to go.  Let me tell you, that isn't easy when you've got a nursery as small as ours is.  Well, it's really about an average sized room, just awkward in the space that's available.  It took some pretty creative thinking in order to get everything I needed easily accessible for diaper changes.


I started out with a basic changing table just big enough for a changing pad on top and two shelves underneath. Baskets were the obvious choice for the shelves so I started there.  I found a cute set of baskets at Home Goods that were already embroidered with the words "Baby Stuff" and "Baby Things", and the colors were a perfect match for the nursery theme.  Score!  Unfortunately I realized after I got home that I also needed to put my wipes warmer on one of the shelves, so that meant that two of my baskets would need to be skinny and long in order to utilize my space the best.  I found these two canvas baskets at Lowe's of all places, but Target also has some great ones right now too.  My bottom left basket holds my AIO's, AI2's, and Pockets.  My bottom right basket holds my prefolds and covers.  The top left basket holds my disposable diapers that I'll use for the first couple of days.  Later this basket will hold all my covers.  The top right basket holds my fitted and easy winged prefolds.  I also have one basket in the back that holds all my rarely needed items such as wool wash, wipes solution, etc.

Well the diapers took up all my shelving space so now I had to figure out what to do with the rest of my necessary items.  That's when I decided to add a cabinet above the changing table.  I still wanted the cabinet to look good though, so it mostly holds decorative items, but a few of my diaper changing necessities are also up there.  On the bottom left and right cubbies I have my wipes and the middle cubbie has my q-tips.  The rest is all decorative with pictures and dolls.  Under the cabinet I put three hooks.  These are great to hang a couple outfits so that you always have a change of clothes nearby.  They're also great for hanging toys for your little one to play with during diaper changes or hang your diaper cover to dry between changes.

I still had lots to organize though.  What about all my inserts, doublers, snappi's, liners, and more?  Where was I going to put all of those?!?!?!  This took me quite a bit of time to figure out.  I knew in my mind pretty much exactly what I wanted ... I just couldn't find one.  I wanted something skinny (about 6 inches) and deep (about 18 inches).  I wanted it to be as tall as the changing table and attach to the side.  I also knew that I wanted it to be canvas to match some of the other items in the room.  I just could not find one!!!  I almost broke down and completely sewed a storage unit, but then at the last minute I had an idea.  I decided to buy some small canvas bins that I saw at Babies R Us, string them together with ribbon, and hang them from the side of the changing table.  The storage bins even have dividers already built into them.  It was PERFECT!  In the top bin I store my wee wee covers, brush and comb, snappi's, diaper rash cream, and liners.  In the second bin I store my extra wipes and a few inserts.  The third bin has inserts and doublers.  The last bin has breast pads, my extra pail liner, wet bags, and disposable inserts.  If you don't want to take the time to modify all these bins I also found this great hanging storage unit that's ready to go at Babies R Us.  All you have to do is add ribbon to the top so you can hang it from your changing table.

You might laugh, but this is just storage for my newborn stash.  I also needed storage for my post newborn stash.  For that I purchased one of those hanging canvas storage units for the closet.  It's the perfect size to hold everything that Lincoln won't fit in when he's born.  I love that it's easily accessible so I can check now and then to see what diapers I can pull out next for Lincoln to use.

All that's left for my changing station is my diaper pail.  I have a basic swing top trash can I got from Target and I use a Planet Wise pail liner inside.  I love the way the top swings in so all I have to do is drop my diaper on top and the diaper will fall in.  I also love that the trash can is plastic so it's easy to clean if I need to.  Another detail that's great about my changing station is that our nursery is attached to a restroom so I have quick access to a sink as well as the toilette for diaper spraying.  The laundry room is also just next door so everything is in close proximity.  I love it!

Well, that's another thing I can check off my list.  Diaper changing station is prepped and ready to go!  I think the setup is going to work out great and I hope it helps to stir some ideas for you when you're organizing your changing station.  Feel free to share your changing station pics on my Facebook page.  I'd love to see them and see if I need to make any changes.  Till then keep checking back for more posts about my Adventures In Fluff.

18 comments:

  1. Oh my! The Type A in me is LOVING the organization and neatness of your changing area!
    I'm bookmarking this page for inspiration when I set up my own changing station!
    Love love love it!

    Lacey from The Southern Mommy Chronicles

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  2. I love your changing area! As my stash grows, I am realizing that my one storage bin is just not cutting it any more. I really like your idea of stringing together the bins from Babies R Us. I may have to borrow that one!

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  3. Thanks! I'm type A all the way ... as long as I have time to do it. : )

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  4. The whole thing is brilliant and I'm impressed (but not at all surprised!) at how you stuck to your vision. :) I just want to say that having hanging pegs accessible from the changing table for emergency diaper changes is an absolutely wonderful idea. This would have solved a problem I had ALL.THE.TIME. (having to go to the closet for clothes when R was in his diaper on the changing table).

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  5. love love love your setup. Wish I had more room. but for now we just use 2 large stacking baskets to hold our small stash.

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  6. I love it! I was just trying to figure out what to do with my wipes, flats and snappis.. I have bins under my changing table like you do, but I ran out of room since I have my (homemade) fleece liners, wipes, spray and flats all in there too!

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  7. Love it Chana! It's so much how I already have my organized, I jsut need something for the side for the same things you have on your hanging storage!

    I am anal about organizating just like you!

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  8. Thanks everyone! Yeah, that side storage unit was exactly what I need to keep the area organized and not crammed together. I just want to say again too... if you don't have the time or patience to string together bins then you should totally get the other storage unit I saw at Babies R Us. I think it would have worked just as well. ... Oh, and if you don't mind not having the dividers built into the bins, then I think the Target ones would have worked out better because they are more sturdy and the handles are already there to tie your ribbon on.

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  9. Super adorable! We use a hanging closet organizer right by the dresser/changing table to hold all of our diapers. And we have room in the top drawer of the dresser for wipes and creams/sprays.

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  10. Love your blog!!! So inspired. I would like to know how you find your changing table--I love it and am looking for something that is solid wood. Are the planks wood or pressboard (if the latter are they the smelly kind)? I'm chemically sensitive. Also did you purchase the oak or the cherry--hard to tell (I guess oak?). I have three months to go and am just catching the diapering fever.....and I have a sewing machine here soooooo let the fun begin!! Saskia

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  11. Thanks! I got the changing table on Amazon and it is the oak one. As far as the wood, I think it's partially pressed and partially solid. I don't think it was stinky when I took it out though. Good luck in your last 3 months getting ready for your little one!

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  12. Great page! Curious how it is functioning now that baby has arrived!

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  13. The diaper changing station is working out great! I've now moved the covers to where the disposables used to be and the bottom right cubby is all prefolds. I do want to go through my small cubbies with the inserts and organize that a bit better. I ended up not needing breast pads since I don't leak so I might take over that space. I also want to just organize the inserts so I know what I have a bit better now that Linc is peeing more and needs extra absorption. I'm also just about to move on to my post newborn stash so I'll really need to change it up for that. I think the prefolds are going to go in the closet and the two bottom bins are going to be used for my pockets and AIO's. I guess we'll see how it works out pretty soon. I'll probably make the change in a couple weeks. I'll do another video after that to show my post newborn diaper changing station.

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  14. :) Thanks for sharing! I loved your idea so much, I went out and did it too. Here's my post. I linked back to yours.
    http://scrappingmysoul.blogspot.com/2011/12/ive-got-addiction.html

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  15. Your changing station turned out great! Good idea to add the grommets. Makes them look more finished. Good luck with #3. This is our #3 too.

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  16. It looks very well organized! Everything is tidy and nicely prepared. Great effort Chana :).

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  17. What a great post. Actually, I am searching for helpful blog about diaper changing station. I am excited to find your post.

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  18. Your diaper changing station is incredible! I love the tree with the hooks on it for toys or clothes, great idea!

    Adelemamabrown.blogspot.com

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