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Hello! I am wondering what you guys do for a diaper changing area if you have your own child as well? Right now I just have my own child and one other and so I have been changing my son still on his change table in his room and the other little boy on a portable change pad. Need some advice!
As I opened my home daycare before I had kids....I have a change table with their items in bins underneath. Now that I'm expecting my first child, I have a change table for MY baby in its room, and the daycare change table in the other room.
I bought both change tables used (second hand).
I have a storage bin with compartments for each child's items. In front of that bin, on the floor (on a plastic playmat...easily disinfected) is where I change each. I have the wipe bins labelled and quickly initial each diaper as I grab them off the shelf so I don't mix them up. I'm debating having everyone put in $ for wipes & just have one bin of those...but wonder how to co-ordinate the split up fairly when I have some 5,4,3 & 2 days a week...probably just more simple to leave as is.
Dream.....it's easier (so much easier) to have parents supply the wipes and diapers....especiall y if someone has allergies/sensitivities to one brand.
My change table is an old computer desk - a bit narrow compared to some desks as in 20" but 48" long. I cut a 2" piece of foam to fit the top which I wrapped in vinyl you buy by the metre and taped edges with duct tape. I then have a blanket that goes over that. It sits just outside our mainfloor bathroom between there and laundry room (garbage can just inside door of laundryroom). Beside the table I have one of those 5 drawer plastic bins with diapers in for each child. On the shelf under the table are round icecream bins they put their socks and shoes in for naptime. In the bathroom I have shelves above the toilet with square ice cream pails - one per child that has a quilted change mat and any cream mom has supplied. The change mat goes down on the quilt, child is changed and I am right there for washing. I provide the wipes and just use one container. I buy the large boxes of refill that have 7-9 packages and store them on the shelves too.
I set up my daycare before I had my first baby-so I have a change table in the daycare bathroom with each child's diaper cubby and my child has her own change table in her room :)
I have a large metal shoe rack(costco) which I place the diapers in alphabetical order according to the childs name. On lower shelf I house the wipes, disinfectant cloths and diaper creams. The wipes are communal and the parents supply as I request as well as their childs diapers and creams are labled (no sharing). I change my kids on the floor. I have a large rectangular rug(for my knees which is an easy clean) as my floors are ceramic and then on top is the change pad. I find this easier and safer to change my active critters diapers. The diaper station is in my nap room.
My space is tight, if I had a seperate room for just the daycare I would have a change table for convenience and MY BACK! However, I dont have alot of space (when I first started, I had a change table set up in the corner of my living room...Took up too much room) so I now change the children on the floor with a protective mat underneath, works for me!!!
I do all diaper changes on the floor. I did when my kids were little, too.
come to think of it, when my own kids were little I too didnt have a change table, I literally changed my own kids where ever...on the floor....the couch...the beds. Now daycare? they stay ON THE FLOOR. :) isnt that funny? my own kids poop and pee is just the same as any other kids.....but not to me!
I do not lift children any more than absolutely necessary ~ so all children are changed on a change pad on the floor wherever we happen to be when a change is needed.
So in the bathroom, in the playroom, on the deck outside :o
This is funny because I haven't thought about it in a long while. When I opened my daycare I always got out the change pad and changed the children on the couch. Now, I never get out the change pad and I change them on the floor, couch, standing up and today I had to change a poopy boy in the middle of our downtown park on a concrete walkway.
Every year you run your daycare gets easier and more relaxed sort of the way you are super vigilant with your first child and by the 4th one you know you don't have to freak out over every tiny thing. No offence first time Moms!
I have a change table with shelves for everyone's diapers/wipes, etc. I like this because the table/mat is easy to disinfect for each child. If you're changing a kid on the floor, do you have a mat that you disinfect, or a separate mat for each kid or what?
I have a change table from ikea that I purchased second hand. It folds up in half for easy storage so I can store it away on the weekends so I'm not staring at it. However, I wonder if I should be changing on the floor as well. In theory it's a great idea to take 10 minutes and put away pack and plays and change tables so it's out of sight on the weekend, but I never actually get to it.
So, for those of you changing on the floor... do you have a designated area? Do the kids try to "get away" ? Do parents know... see it .... have concerns about it?
Apples & bananas, my dcparents have witnessed me changing their child in my front hallway on the floor when oops, they had a poop at pickup time and I've been too busy to notice. Or the parents have done it themselves. But my clients are all down to earth, easy going people.
Yup my clients know that I change them 'when and where needed' on the change pad they provide ~ if they do not provide one than I use a communal one of my own and they risk the dreaded 'germs' cause wiping it off can only do so much ;)
I explain the diapering routines and approaches during the tour and they see me in action during our prestart transition visits ~ they see the good the bad and the ugly during those cause I make sure they occur at different times of day.
As for the children ~ they learn to lie still regardless of where they are being changed because that is the expectation ~ I do not allow them to behave like on the diaper commercials that allow them to promote things like 'easy ups' for the squirmer and wiggler and thrasher :rolleyes:
The benefit to ME is that I am not lifting them unnecessarily they crawl or walk over to the change pad and roll over onto it for me so all I have to do is lift their legs to get at their tush ;)
I've never had it be an issue, dirty diapers need to be changed - doesn't matter where. As for the kids they learn pretty quick to stay still until I say it's ok to go play again. I'm not lifting 25-30lbs kids to get changed....my back wont take it! and it's my luck that all the kids I have are "chunky-monkeys".....even the 10ms old is already 24lbs!Quote:
Originally Posted by apples and bananas
I always use a change pad...to protect from 'spills' and wipe it down afterwards.
the floor! each has their own mat/diapers/wipes which stay in their backpacks, 'til I need them. My disinfectant wipes are always nearby. Simple, efficient, space saving! I"m all about simplicity. My kids are off to school now, so the last thing I need lying around my house is a change table/station!
I have a change table that used to be my daughters. I can't change on the floor because of bad knees so I find it easier to lift them onto the change table.
I installed a Koala changing station in the basement bathroom beside the sink. It folds down when I'm done, and doesn't take up much space. I end up doing a fair amount of "floor changes" as well, but if I do need to use the sink the changing station is pretty convenient.