A changing table is a small raised platform designed to allow a person to change a child's diaper. It has been estimated that a child will have switched 2400 diapers before it has become 1 year old, which equates to about 6.6 diapers per day. Most children stop using diapers some time between 2 and 5 years of age.[1]
It is common to use a changing table until the child is around 2 years old, however some use it considerably longer or shorter. As children become older they may become more mobile and active, and then some parents choose to do the changing procedure on the floor instead.
A changing table should have a safety edge to prevent the child from falling down in case the operator is not watching the child.[2] Nevertheless, the operator should strive to never turn away when the child is lying on the changing table, but if one has to turn away it is strongly recommended to keep one hand on the baby in case it suddenly moves or starts to crawl.[3]
Many public restrooms have public tables available should a diaper change be required in a public place. They are typically made of hard plastic and rest on hinges so they can be folded into the wall when not in use. They are usually not enclosed in a stall.
These became popular in the 1990s. Originally, they were mainly found in women's restrooms. Through the lobbying efforts of Eric Letts, a founder of the Fair Parenting Project,[4] it became commonplace to find them in men's rooms across Canada and the United States.
In 2016, President Obama signed the BABIES Act into law, requiring changing tables in all publicly accessible, federal buildings in the United States.