Owning a well designed changing table virtually eliminates that concern, with a combination of guard rails and safety straps to keep the little one out of harms way. Even with the safety measures that are provided in baby changing tables the manufacturers of all tables caution that you should always keep one hand on the baby at all times, while the child is on the changing table. However, any mother or experienced babysitter for that matter, knows that there are times when it is simply a necessity to have both hands engaged in taking care of a messy matter. Even if it's only for a couple seconds, at least a new mother can have a degree of security knowing her infant has both safety straps and guard rails in place.

Well-designed changing tables have several important features that make diaper changes faster and easier for the parents. They have a surface that is at just the right height for an adult to stand comfortably while chaining the infant. They feature spaces where the essentials, like diapers and wipes, can be accessed at arms length, so that the attention of the parent is never completely removed from the infant.

As with most quality these days, a changing table serves more than just one simple function. Another hallmark of a well-designed table is that it provides drawers, cupboards and shelves the for essential items such as diapers, creams and ointments, washcloths, changing pads, essential clothing items and even bedding accessories. Having these things near at hand helps to assure that only one hand needs to venture away from the baby to get the supplies that are needed.

One trend in baby furnishings is making the piece of furniture so that it can later blend into the decor of an older child's room or even for an adult. With this in mind, there are now tables that look like a more standard waist-high dresser with guard rails that can be removed when it is no longer being used for as a diaper changing table. Because good quality nursery can be expensive, this is a good way to get extended use and value from an investment.

A sturdy changing pad to use in conjunction with your changing table is always a good idea. Such a pad is soft and comfortable for the baby to lie on and most are contoured with edges that curve upward to keep the baby in place. These pads also have removable terry-cloth covers that make them easy to keep clean and they are available at any retail store that sells baby bedding accessories.

Some changing tables come as a component of sets enabling the parents to easily choose a number of pieces that will coordinate easily in the nursery. For families working within a tight budget, it can be beneficial to shop for discount or used in order to save money. Look for well-known brands to help assure that the item is of good quality, even if it is used.