Changing pads - vinyl/plastic free?

[BeckC]

I'm looking for a changing pad for the top of the dresser and I'm having a hard time finding an affordable non toxic one.

I saw the Naturepedic one, but I can't spend $99 on a changing pad.

The only other ones I've come across are the Gullunge one from Ikea and the Summer Baby contoured pad which says it's PEVA vinyl (not chlorinated).

Neither one really look appealing to me. Ideally I'd like to have a plastic free changing pad and cover it with interlock wool to make it waterproof. Has anyone ever heard of or seen anything like this?

[nwatt]

I know that you don't want to spend the $$ on the Naturepedic one, but I wanted to let you know that we have the contoured one and love it.

Sorry I cannot help more =).

[kdtmom2be]

Buy the one with the plastic cover, cut the cover off it and cover it as you see fit. Under the plastic is just a contoured peice of foam (expanded polyurethane probably).

OR, you can do what I do, just change them on the floor

[luckysgirl]

Originally Posted by nwatt

I know that you don't want to spend the $$ on the Naturepedic one, but I wanted to let you know that we have the contoured one and love it.

Sorry I cannot help more =).

Second.

[mamazee]

I just use a couple of prefolds on the floor. Changing tables and wriggly babies scare me.

[azohri]

We have the ikea one. It has cotton covers so it doesn't touch the baby.

[Ruthie's momma]

Imo, an actual changing table and pad is not necessary.... I found it much easier (and often safer) to simply change baby on the floor, bed or couch.

[Siennaflower]

Originally Posted by mamazee

I just use a couple of prefolds on the floor. Changing tables and wriggly babies scare me.

[WC_hapamama]

For my first 3 kiddos, I used a terrycloth changing pad... had batting in the middle, but no plasticky crap.

For kiddos #4 and #5, we just use a folded towel.

The only time I use plastic changing pads is when we're out and about.

[mama2004]

I still use our changing table (DS is almost 3) and find it really useful*. All I used to pad it was two bath towels, one rolled up a few times on the left (front) side, and the other rolled on the right (back) side to make a bit of an edge, and if I remembered to get it out of the diaper bag, I used a small sized puddle pad (wool pad, easy to find in many sizes). I have also made use of a toddler sized diaper (when DS was wee) as a travel pad with no issues.

*I am a bit taller than your average bear, though, so kneeling on the floor/over the couch many times a day is not a happy thing for me, and our changing table has an almost 6" tall edge all around it, and DS was never one to fuss or wiggle during diaper/clothing changes.

ETA, you could always stitch a toddler sized prefold or two together, possibly with a puddle pad and call it a day.

[cristeen]

I've found that my changing table makes a great receptacle for the clean laundry basket. I change the baby on the bed most of the time.

I did make a pad for the bassinet though. I took cotton batting and muslin, and folded the batting so I had about 8 layers, covered it with muslin and stitched the whole thing together. It's machine washable, but covering it with a flat diaper or a receiving blanket I really haven't needed to.

[noobmom]

I don't worry a lot about a changing pad that a baby is on maybe a total of 20 minutes throughout an entire day. Just doesn't seem like a lot of exposure to me.

In your case I'd probably use a couple of towels/blankets/prefolds to make a nice cushy surface and call it a day.

You could get some wool sweaters from the thrift store and sew your own waterproof top, although then there is a question of whether the wool would be impregnated with something nasty. But I would think any certified organic wool cover would prohibitively expensive.