Changing Table for Twins – What You Really Need

For the first year or so of their lives, your twins will go through a lot of diapers. In addition to the expense of providing those diapers, you’ll be in charge of changing them all. Having a good twin changing table can make those frequent diaper changes easier on you and your back. Also, it is nice to have your wipes, diapers, hand sanitizer, and other changing supplies all in one place so you don’t have to go looking for them when you discover your twin with a messy diaper.

One Changing Table or Two?

While there are many things that your twins will have to use at the same time (like strollers, cribs, bottles, and pacifiers), there are some things they can take turns with.

One changing table should be enough for your twins. Your twins will not always need changes at the same times, and if they do, one can wait a minute.

Changing Table for Twins: Your Options

Dedicated changing tables can be relatively inexpensive. Some, like the Delta Children Bentley Changing Table, is just a series of shelves with a pad on the top shelf where you can rest your twins.

Shelves on your twin changing table are important because you’ll want to store all the supplies for changing your twins. One disadvantage is that the open shelves don’t hide these supplies, and it might look a little messy.

You can set up a changing table on almost any flat surface, so you don’t have to think of a changing table as a unique item of furniture in your nursery. Several dressers are made with a changing area on top. If your dresser is the right height, you could buy a cushion to put on the top to make a changing table.

Another idea is to use a changing table that hangs on the rails of a crib. It stores out of the way when the child is sleeping. One advantage is that you will be able to keep the twins together (one in the crib, one on the changing area) when one needs to be changed. One disadvantage is that there is no space to store the changing supplies you’ll want near a changing table.

Creative (and Cheap) Changing Table Solution

Fellow father of twins Mark Bologna shared the amazing changing table he put together for his twins:

Mark explains:

We looked at changing tables and furniture while my wife was pregnant, and thought everything was too expensive, bulky, etc. At the time we were living in a small 2 bedroom condo. We ended up purchasing an Ikea Expedit bookshelf that has 8 square compartments and can be stood upright or on its side. We then purchased ‘folding cubes’ (also from Ikea) that slide into the compartments. On top, we put a changing foam pad and attached it to the bookcase.

For about $125 total (including the bookshelf, cubes and changing pad) we got a changing table and storage that we use instead of a dresser and/or a dedicated changing table.)

Not only do we have everything at arm’s length, but we have an item that can be repurposed as our needs change.

Mark’s recommendation is a great one. If you can repurpose furniture to create your own do-it-yourself twin changing table, more power to you! I love his idea because once the twins potty train and outgrow diapers, you still have a bookshelf you can use in the house!

My Experience and Recommendation

When our twin girls arrived, we simply reused the changing table that we had from when our older boys were babies. It was a simple shelved based changing table that we got second-hand and painted to match our nursery. We didn’t need to purchase a special changing table for twins.

While the changing table was great for changing babies, I figure that at least half the time or more we changed diapers somewhere else. Typically the family room floor doubled as the unofficial changing table. Don’t spend too much money on a changing table for your twins because an existing dresser or floor can do the job if needed.

If you decide to get a changing table, take a little time to search for a changing table that is the right height, type, and price for your family, and taking care of all those countless diaper changes will be a little smoother.

As a safety note, make sure you babyproof your twins’ nursery and never leave your babies unattended on a changing table.

You’ll find more tips and advice on diapering and taking care of your infants’ potty needs in Chapter 12 of the Dad’s Guide to Raising Twins: How to Thrive as a Father of Twins.