[blparent] changing pads and pack 'n plays

Wed Oct 14 22:16:49 UTC 2009

Hi.

I agree with what both Rebecca and Melissa have said. I have a dresser in 
Elise's room that has a sort of box-like border (about 3 inches tall) that 
we set on top to keep the changing pad from sliding off. It came with the 
dresser. The dresser has a few drawers and cupboards to store wipes, pj's, 
etc. on the dresser, we have a plastic basket that holds ointments and 
lotions, the current pack of wipes, diaper sacks, a comb, a nose bulb, etc. 
until recently (when Elise entered the climbing/put-and-take phase of her 
development) I had a huge wicker basket with a lid on it next to the 
dresser. it holds about 60 diapers at a time, and currently lives in her 
closet :). the height of the dresser is very nice for changing her, and the 
changing pad has a strap on it to help keep her still. I do have another 
change pad exactly like this one down in my living room so I don't 
necessarily have to come all the way up to Elise's room whenever she needs a 
change. there is also a basket down there that has all of the essentials for 
a change in it.

in terms of really messy diapers and travel, here's what has worked for us. 
when her diaper is *very* bad, I often change her in a bathroom. the floor 
is not carpeted (good for scrubbing off messes), there is water near-by 
(sometimes essential), and the diaper jeannie is in there. for travel, I was 
actually given these very thin, water proof sheets (about 3 by 2 feet). they 
fold up extremely small, and can be thrown down where ever you happen to be. 
this helps you not to worry about your child making a mess of someone's 
floor, sofa, etc., but you also *must* have something in your diaper bag to 
cover the surfaces of public changing tables. you *do not* want to just set 
your baby down on one of those when you have no idea what might have been 
left on there by another less responsible parent. I just throw my portable 
tarp-like thing in the wash after we've used a public restroom's changing 
station.

finally, regarding the pack 'n play, if you have a larger home, they really 
are great. ours was an extremely basic model - no change station, no 
vibration, no exciting toys), but it was all that we needed. I liked being 
able to put Elise down in our living room. she would play in hers while I 
cooked dinner, fed the dogs, etc. I also liked having somewhere safe to put 
her while we had other more active kids over. if you have no room for a pack 
'n play, a bouncy seat like the infant to toddler rocker (which holds the 
child up to 40 pounds) is another excellent and less bulky choice, but it 
doesn't allow them the same freedom of movement.

I think having a child is a strange dichotomy between becoming more 
organized and letting go of some aspects of organization. on one hand, your 
life will be infinitely easier if you can choose set places for certain 
things. e.g., we have a basket where all dirty bottles go, a basket where 
all clean bottles go, set places where the change pad and associated baskets 
go, etc. when you are totally sleep deprived, the last thing you want to be 
doing is juggling a screaming baby and wandering around your house asking 
yourself where the hell you put your child's pacifier. on the other hand, 
when they become more curious and mobile, they will move there own toys, 
blankets, etc. that's where the letting go comes in. if there are things you 
insist on knowing the location of, you have to be that much more careful 
about keeping them out of the reach of your child.

hope some of this helps.

Dena

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Melissa Ann Riccobono" <melissa at riccobono.us>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 1:25 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] Items you couldn't live without

>I agree with the fact that a changing table is a very nice thing to have.
> Mine is actually a long dresser that comes a little past my waist.  It has
> drawers for clothes and a cubbert for wipes, diapers, blankets, etc.  I 
> have
> a pad on top for the baby to lay on.  Any dresser or counter will do, as
> long as it is sturdy and the right height.  I really did not prefer to
> change Austin on the floor in the beginning because it hurt to have to 
> bend
> down when I first got home from the hospital.  Then, when Austin started
> crawling changing him on the floor was almost impossible because he would
> just roll or crawl away, or at least try his hardest to do so.  Sometimes 
> it
> was hard enough changing him on the table--let alone on the floor.  Now 
> that
> he's older, and, I hope, nearing the end of his diaper wearing time I do
> change him on the floor occasionally, but still prefer the table, 
> especially
> with very messy diapers.
> My pack and play actually has an attachment that is a changing
> surface.  It was really nice because I was able to have it set up 
> downstairs
> and not have to take Austin upstairs every time he needed his diaper
> changed.  It ws also great on trips to have a changing "table" in hotel
> rooms or at other people's houses.  Of course, if you have an apartment 
> and
> don't plan to take your baby traveling a lot with a Pack and Play then 
> this
> is probably unnecessary.  Just wanted to let you know the option was out
> there.  My Pack and Play also has the bassinette attachment someone else
> mentioned.  Again, it was nice to have Austin sleeping downstairs nearer 
> to
> me at times instead of always having to carry him upstairs for a nap.
> Melissa
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS)
> Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 1:55 PM
> To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Items you couldn't live without
>
> I found a changing table very necessary. It hurt me physically to use
> the floor.. Know that changing tables are only specced for 30 pounds, so
> your best option is to buy a dresser, bracket it to the wall and use
> that with a changing pad. Get one that is between waist and chest hight,
> you don't want one taller or shorter then that zone.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Eva Adams
> Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2009 12:12 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Items you couldn't live without
>
> I would say the items that were a life saver would be the bouncy chair,
> this
> gave us a place to put our daughter if we needed to do something. The
> vibrating of the chair would help sooth her, and the mobile on it
> provided
> her with some entertainment. Some type of carrying device such as the
> snugli.
>
> The swing is one item we didn't use at all. My daughter didn't like the
> swing for some reason, so it ended up taking up room in our small
> apartment.
> I would save our changing table wasn't necessary either. I liked having
> it,
> but it is just as easy to lay a blanket on the floor and change the
> baby.
>
> Eva
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Angela Frederick" <angelahoward at mail.utexas.edu>
> To: <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2009 10:47 AM
> Subject: [blparent] Items you couldn't live without
>
>
>> Hi, everybody,
>>
>> Okay, so I am a huge nerd and have been trying to figure out what our
>> family budget could be if we succeed in getting pregnant.  I've been
>> looking at baby items and their costs and wondering what is really
>> necessary and worth spending money on.
>>
>> So, I would like to know from all of you who have kids:
>>
>> 1. What baby items do you consider a necessity or a life-saver?
>>
>> and
>>
>> 2. What baby items do you wish you hadn't spent money on?
>>
>> Thanks for the feedback!
>> Angela
>>
>>
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