Choosing Safe Baby Products: Changing Tables

Generally, you can choose from three kinds of changing tables:

1. wooden ones with guardrails
2. fold-up models
3. hinged chest adapters

Hinged chest adapters are not recommended — dressers with these adapters have toppled over when a baby's weight was placed close to the outer edge.

Babies can get hurt if they fall off changing tables, so they should always be watched closely.

What to look for:

• A flat changing surface should be surrounded on all four sides by a guardrail, which should be at least 2 inches (5 centimeters) in height. 
• The surface of the changing table should be lower in the middle than on the sides, which helps keep the baby from rolling from side to side. A contoured pillow (lower in the middle) will add to the safety provided by the changing table's shape, 
• Wooden changing tables with rails are usually the least likely to sway or tip over when a baby pulls on them from the floor.
• Fold-up models should be checked for sturdiness: When the table is open, give it a good shake.
• A wire changing table should have a wide base so that a baby can't pull it over on top of himself or herself from the floor.