Best Portable Baby Changing Pad

When traveling with a baby, you need to pack a load of things, including food, clothing, diapers, bottles, and other must-haves. These are meant to ensure convenience and comfort, no matter how short your journey is. While some parents might overlook a changing pad when packing for the baby, we think they’re a great option and worth the added bulk they might add to your luggage as they help provide a soft and secure place for your baby to lay while you change them.

This article is written for anyone that is looking for a baby changing pad for when they are travelling away from home and need somewhere to comfortably and securely change their babies diaper.

What is a Baby Changing Pad?

Changing a baby's diaper can be a difficult affair as you battle to contain the baby from moving around too much and the contents of the diaper going everywhere or your baby accidentally sliding off whatever you have them on as you change their diaper. 

This is where baby changing pads are worth their weight in gold by providing a secure place for you to place your baby as you change their diaper while being easy to keep clean in case there’s any accidental spills. Baby changing pads are made using soft materials to provide a soft surface for your baby while having a plastic cover to help make keeping the pad clean a breeze.

Do I Really Need a  Portable Baby Changing Pad?

But you’re probably thinking... Why can’t I just change my baby on the floor or better yet, a bed?! You’re right and that’s definitely an option. But what do you do when you don’t have somewhere clean and soft to place your baby on while you change them? Or perhaps you’re worried you might accidentally have a spill on your friends bed? For this reason we found investing in a portable baby changing pad a great investment from both a cleanliness and safety perspective.

Can Babies Sleep on a Portable Changing Table

Short answer - No

From a breathability perspective, a changing pad is made of waterproof material, which in most cases is not breathable. If you leave your baby to sleep on it. They may turn their nose to the pad which will constrict air and lead to suffocation. It is therefore not advisable to let your child to sleep on a changing pad. If the baby falls asleep on it, carry them to their crib or a safer place.

How to Clean a Baby Changing Pad

Diaper changes can get very messy, especially if your baby is screaming and throwing their legs or their poo is particularly runny.  For reference - we find using toys as a distraction to stop them throwing their legs around is a great idea!

But how do you best clean a portable baby changing pad for those unfortunate events when the contents of the nappy end up on the baby changing pad? Good question. We’d recommend following the below steps on how to best regularly wash your baby changing pad to keep it clean:

• Check for spills - Before washing the changing pad, check for any accidents that may still be on the surface of the changing pad. Clean up any visible stool and urine using a paper towel and wipe it as clean as possible. Place it on a flat surface to make it easy to clean. Most changing pads are made of water-resistant materials such as canvas, which makes them easy to clean.
• Use disinfectant where possible - Read the care label on the pad before sanitizing it with a disinfectant. If a disinfectant is allowed, use it to clean and sanitize the surface of the changing pad. Air-dry it until it is completely dry to the touch and do not use it until the disinfectant has completely evaporated.
• Using soap instead of chemical disinfectants - If you do not want to use harsh chemicals, wipe the surface using soap and water. You can do this by pouring a soap based detergent on a cloth, then rubbing it on the surface. Focus on the dirtiest areas so that you can sanitize it thoroughly.
• Clean it with a machine wash if the above is too hard - If your changing pad is machine-washable, wipe any visible mess away with a paper towel and disinfect it. Check the care instructions to see the recommended cycle, whether standard, permanent press, or delicate.