My good advice for organizing the changing area

To you who want to read the blog:

One of the places I think was a jungle was at the changing table. What do I actually need to ensure that a diaper change works really well? There are an insane number of products on the market, and there are really many different things you can buy, add on, set, and have around you. I really want to share a few tips about what worked really well for me, and some of the advice I received.

One of the first things I experienced was that my health visitor visited before I was due to give birth and looked at the nice changing station I had prepared. And then she said: “You need to make more space. You need to think that everything you will use needs to be within reach while you have one hand on the baby, leaving the other hand free.” I was really glad to hear that because I had thought I could just have some things in the drawer and perhaps have something around the corner. But that didn’t work. It was fantastic to have organized in such a way that everything was right at hand.

So the first thing I would like to say is: No matter how much space you have, ensure that everything you need for the diaper change is within reach so you can grab it with your free hand.

Then we can talk about what should actually be at the changing table. This is something that divides opinions a bit – whether to use wipes or wet wipes with water. It varies a lot. I've always been for wet wipes with water. My son cannot tolerate wipes – he gets a rash right away, and the same happened with his mouth, especially when he was an infant. Health visitors also always recommend warm water instead of wipes.

So, of course, there’s something to having a bowl. There’s this whole classic head-tail bowl where you can have the wet wipes. I highly recommend having a small thermos. I had a thermos bottle that I used to fetch warm water so there was always some lukewarm water at the changing table. Some have the changing table in the bathroom and have the warm water right next to them, which is just lovely.

I lived in a small apartment in Copenhagen when my son was little, and there wasn't any warm water nearby. So a fantastic little tip is to have some warm water sitting around that stays warm throughout the day so you can always have lukewarm water for wiping the baby’s bottom. It can be really cold for a small baby to have cold water applied. So lukewarm water, a dish where you pour a little water at a time – remember that, because the water cools down quickly. So only pour the water you need when washing with your wet wipe.

When I had washed, I always used a Baby Diaper Change. They come from various brands – I used the one from Grøn Balance. I think they do what they’re supposed to, so you can just choose the one you prefer. But promise me to have one. It cleans, but it also protects and cares for the skin. It is good both at the changing table and in the changing bag if there isn't always water nearby.

Some would probably say that's enough, but I have three things that I swear by – and honestly, I can count on one hand how many times my son had a red bottom as a baby despite countless diaper changes. And those three things are: Baby Diaper Change, pads and the cream I love most in the world – Kraes Babybalm.

It was always applied last. 100% grease cream. I love, love, love it. Now we're obviously talking in relation to diaper changes, but I actually used it for his whole body when he was very small after a bath. It’s fantastic in winter when the cheeks get cold and dry. It can be used on the cheeks, hands – everywhere. And use it yourself! It also works great as a lip balm. Keep it at the changing table in a large size and the small one fits nicely in the changing bag as well.

So a really good diaper change for me has always been:

1. Lukewarm water with a wet wipe

2. Cleaning with a Baby Diaper Change and a pad

3. Finish with Kraes Babybalm

This ensures that the fine baby skin is protected from bacteria, dryness, and irritation.

When setting up your changing area, think about what else you will need. You can organize really well by having a bit of everything right at hand. I used a small basket to keep track of it all. I didn’t have much space, so I had a small basket with everything in it.

In such a small basket, you can have your brush, thermometer, cradle comb, cotton swabs – actually everything you need. It makes things so much easier. If your changing area is on a dresser, there’s typically room for two baskets. In one you can keep all your changing gear, and in the other, you can store the diapers.

If you don't have space for a large tail bowl, you can always use a regular small bowl from the kitchen to pour water in.

I hope you get off to a good start and can use these little tricks at home at your changing table. If you have any questions or are unsure about something, I am just an email or message away. I’m just a mom, but sometimes it’s really nice to share your thoughts and worries with another mom.