With as many as 4,500 nappy changes between birth and potty training, a changing mat is one item of baby gear you'll certainly get your money's worth from.
OK you might hear cynics say you can lie your little one upon a towel on the floor or bed, but the majority of parents do find a purpose-designed mat a practical buy and they're relatively cheap anyway (you can pick up perfectly decent versions for under a tenner).
Things to consider when shopping:
Ease of cleaning. Changing babies can be a messy business, especially with newborn boys, some of whom have an uncanny knack of firing out a wee just as the old nappy has come off. It is therefore essential that you only buy a mat which will be easy to keep clean – your best bet is a wipe-able vinyl surface rather than a soft fabric cover which will need taking off and washing all too frequently.
Comfort. Some babies aren't terribly keen on having their nappy changed so you'll want to make them as comfortable as possible. If your mat will sit on a hard surface such as a changing unit or hard floor, ensure it's well-cushioned.
Although vinyl is much easier to clean up, it can feel a bit chilly and sticky against your baby's skin compared to soft fabric such as towelling. If this is an issue, get yourself a pack of inexpensive muslin or terry towelling squares to line it with. If you buy at least five or six, you can wash them less often than you'd have to wash a fabric mat cover and you and won't have to fiddle about taking them on and off the mat itself. What's more they have endless uses beyond the changing mat, from burp cloths to makeshift bibs.
BabiesRus have packs of 10 muslins for £9.99.
Some changing mats now come with detachable cloth liners but we think using muslin cloth/ towelling squares is cheaper and just as effective. A few mats also have little pillows designed to keep your baby extra-comfortable but they're just another thing to keep clean and unlikely to be necessary when the mat is padded anyway.
Size matters. Avoid particularly stingily-sized mats for full time use at home (look for a minimum of about 40cm x 70cm). Small mats are okay for a newborn (or for when you're out), but are unlikely to be big enough for the toddler your baby will become. Also, bear in mind that if you'll be using the mat on top of a changing unit, you'll need it to fit the surface space well.
High sides and harnesses. High sided changing mats seem like a good idea but be aware that their ability to prevent your baby rolling off or escaping from the mat is very limited indeed. They might hamper rolling for a few weeks but that'll be it. There's no substitute for a firm hand on your baby if they're on a raised surface, even if it makes changing their nappy a slightly tricky juggling act.
If you have an escapee toddler who really won't lie still, there is a mat on the market with an integral harness which could be useful for the sake of your sanity – see www.safetots.co.uk. They're currently out of stock in quite a few stores but do get good reviews and you should be able to find one if you hunt around online.
Here are our top five mats to make changing time a doddle...
ZPM Changing Mat, £25
Funky changing mats from Zpm which will add a splash of colour to a nursery or bathroom but are highly practical too, with wipe-clean vinyl on one side and soft gingham cotton on the other. There’s a generous amount of padding to ensure your baby’s comfort and a wide choice of designs from retro prints to robots.
Good for: Combining style and practicality.
Not so good for: Pricier than most but they’re very well-made and built to last.
Get 15% off all products from ZPM with our exclusive discount.
John Lewis Baby Multi Spot Changing Mat, £8.95
Well-priced but pretty too, from John Lewis. Foam padding is covered with phthalate free PVC to provide a wipe-clean surface and there are no sharp edges where the fabric meets - sometimes found on cheaper vinyl mats.
Good for: A budget option which doesn’t look bad either.
Not so good for: We’re struggling to think of any downsides to this one.
Jojo Maman Bebe Floral Changing Mat, £9
There are plenty of small, portable changing mats and pouches on the market but this one from JoJoMamanBebe is particularly reasonably priced and the smart black floral pattern looks rather nice too. There are two pockets to keep a spare nappy and some wipes and the material is easy to wipe down if needed.
Good for: Shoving in a bag or keeping in the car.
Not so good for: The mat is a bit small (52cm x 38cm) but given it’s designed for use out and about that’s understandable.
Babies R Us I Love My Bear Changing Mat with Arch, £15.99
As mentioned above, a toy arch isn’t an essential feature by any means – most babies will be happy enough just having you coo over them or sing them a song, but this one from BabiesRUs is relatively cheap and might well keep a younger baby occupied for the couple of minutes it takes to clean them up. If the arch gets in the way or no longer interests your baby as they get older, it can be easily removed.
Good for: Distracting restless babies who aren’t keen on nappy changes.
Not so good for: It won’t do much to grab the attention of an escapee toddler.
Pampers Disposable Change Mats, £3.92 for 12
These disposable mats from Pampers weigh and pack down to practically nothing and come into their own when you’re out and faced with a particularly yucky public changing area or loo floor and wouldn’t even want to put your re-usable mat on it.
They’re also brilliant during potty training to protect car seats or floors around potties, and on mattresses for very heavily pregnant mums-to-be worried their waters are about to break!
Good for: When you don’t want to have to clean up the mat afterwards or are faced with a hideous public loo changing area or floor to change your baby on. Ideal for holidays too.
Not so good for: Your green conscience – they can however be re-used up to ten times in our experience, provided they don’t get soiled.
