Changing pads
Skip Hop Nursery Style Wipe-Clean Changing Pad
Our take
A wipe-clean cushioned pad with a removable toy bar and mirror to distract wiggly babies. Stain resistant and quick to dry, but the shape only faces one way and may not fit every changing table.
Wipe cleanToy barSafety belt
Consider instead: Keekaroo Peanut for the easiest cleaning.
Before you buy
Do you need it?Must-have A contoured pad with a strap on top of a dresser does the job of a separate changing table, which many parents say they didn't need.
Cost per monthAbout $3.33 a month over a typical 24 months of use. Our estimate; your use may be shorter or longer.
Cheaper optionSkip Hop Pronto Signature Portable Changing Station: About $30, scored 80 (Good).
Secondhand?Fine secondhand. Fine secondhand if the surface is intact and wipeable.
What parents and testers say
Recurring praise
- Distracts fussy babies
- Stain resistant
- No cover needed
Recurring complaints
- Awkward shape
- Too wide for some tables
- Outgrown at 30 lb
Our summary of patterns across the reviews and threads linked below, not quotes.
Materials & safety check
2 of 2 checks clear.
SafetyBuilt-in belt; keep a hand on baby anyway
RecallsNone for this pad in CPSC recalls
When to buy it
Registry
Add with the nursery furniture
By 36 weeks
Set up the changing area
~6 months+
Strap use matters more as baby starts rolling
Other changing pads we scored
See all changing pads →Own this? Tell us how it's going
Reports from parents who've used a product for months are the hardest thing to find. Yours goes only to our team and helps keep this score honest. It isn't published.
Sources
- The Bump: Best changing pads, testedthebump.com
- CPSC recall database: "changing" recalls since 2020saferproducts.gov