Although a changing table makes it easier to dress and diaper your baby, falls from such a high surface can be serious. Don’t trust your vigilance alone to prevent falls; you should also consider the following recommendations.
- Choose a sturdy, stable changing table with a 2-inch (5 cm) guardrail around all four sides.
- The top of the changing table should be concave, so that the middle is slightly lower than the sides.
- Buckle the safety strap, but don’t depend on it alone to keep your child secure. Never leave a child unattended on a dressing table, even for a moment, even if he is strapped.
- Keep diapering supplies within your reach—but out of your child’s reach—so you don’t have to leave your baby’s side to get them. Never let him play with a powder container. If he opens and shakes it, he’s likely to inhale particles of powder, which can injure his lungs.
- If you use disposable diapers, store them out of your child’s reach and cover them with clothing when he wears them. Children can suffocate if they tear off pieces of the plastic liner and swallow them.