The 7 Best Changing Pads of 2021

Best Overall: Summer Infant Contoured Changing Pad

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The Summer Infant Contoured Changing Pad has everything you want in a changing pad: It’s safe, comfortable, easy to clean, and affordable. The quilted, double-layered vinyl is ultra-simple to wipe down quickly, and the high contoured sides and plush padding keep baby comfortable and secure. There’s also a security strap underneath to keep the pad steady on a sturdy changing table, and a strap on the top can keep a fussy or wiggly infant safe during a change.

Parents love that the material of the Summer Infant changing pad is lightweight but sturdy and that the pad didn’t have the familiar chemical smell of many other models on the market. Universal disposable covers fit the Summer Infant pad well, and it stays put on nearly any typical changing table.

Best for Dresser: Keekaroo Peanut Changer

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Many parents rave about the Keekaroo, which has an ergonomic design that is comfortable for little ones and resistant to damage like cracks, discoloration, or stains over time. It has a soft but solid surface that makes it virtually impermeable to liquids and mess.

Parents also say that the Keekaroo stays put so well that it can be used on a dresser or regular table without having to purchase an extra changing table specifically for diapering your little one. Its slip-resistant base makes it secure and sturdy.

The only major complaint about the Keekaroo Peanut Changer is the price, as it’s heftier than most other changing pads. Still, many customers say it’s worth it, as it saves so much time and energy with easy cleanup and long-lasting durability that can last towards a second or third child.

Best for Travel: MAMAN Portable Changing Pad Station

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The MAMAN Portable Changing Pad Station is a lightweight, portable, and stylish all-in-one travel changing station. It’s 7.5” by 11.5” while folded and functions as a clutch purse, with external and internal compartments for keys and personal items in addition to wipes, cream, and diapers. It clips easily onto a stroller or hangs off your arm like any purse.

When unfolded, the MAMAN Changing Pad Station is 22” by 22”. It includes a cushioned pad for your baby’s head (essential if you have to do the dreaded on-the-floor diaper change!). It’s also waterproof and very easy to clean quickly with wipes. And, for extra convenience, you can detach the changing pad section to use it independently, then reattach it to the rest when you’re done.

Best Organic: Naturepedic Organic Cotton Changing Pad

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Does your baby have sensitive skin? Prefer all your products to be all-natural? The Naturepedic Organic Cotton 4-Sided Contoured Changing Pad fits the bill to a T. Designed to be hypoallergenic and non-irritating, the Naturepedic changing pad has an organic cotton fill and is made of organic cotton fabric with food-grade polyethylene waterproofing.

It doesn’t have any potentially dangerous, toxic, or irritating substances: The pad is free of phthalates, formaldehyde, GMOS, latex, soy, vinyl, polyurethane foam, and flame retardants. It meets eco-friendly and organic standards set by GREENGUARD and the Global Organic Textile Standard.

The Naturepedic changing pad is also especially plush and comfy, with thick padding and high contoured sides that keep little ones safe, secure, and cozy. The Naturepedic pad is about 16.5” x 31.5” x 4”, and your purchase includes a one-year warranty. Parents say it’s long-lasting and durable, and that its design minimizes rolling and wiggling.

Easy to Clean: Bumbo Changing Pad

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The Bumbo Changing Pad has a contoured and ergonomic design that makes it incredibly easy to wipe down. Parents love that they don’t even need to buy covers and that the slope and curvature of the pad ​make for simple, no-fuss cleanup.

The Bumbo has a secure belt to keep baby safe and is soft enough to prevent too much wiggling. Parents say that their babies are so comfortable in the changing pad, though, that they feel cozy enough to hang out in it even after a change.

They also say the Bumbo is attractive and durable enough to last even for multiple children. However, some do say that the pad tends to slip around a bit, so purchasing an additional nonstick pad to place underneath the Bumbo might be a good idea.

Best for Safety: LA Baby Waterproof 4 Sided Cocoon Style Changing Pad

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If security is your main concern, the LA Baby Waterproof 4 Sided Cocoon Style Changing Pad will put your mind at ease. It has a slip-resistant base, four high contoured sides, and a safety harness with a quick release buckle, and comes with two screws to mount it even more securely. It’s also made of nontoxic, hypoallergenic material and is anti-microbial, phthalate-free, and waterproof. As with all changing pads, you should never leave your child unattended even if the pad has extra security features. 

Many parents also choose this changing pad because, at around 30 inches, it’s compact enough to fit some changing tables that other changing pads don’t. But while it’s affordable, some parents say it eventually started cracking or that the material wasn’t as durable as they might have liked, so it might need replacing.

Best for Changing Tables: Munchkin Secure Grip Waterproof Diaper Changing Pad

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The Munchkin Secure Grip Waterproof Diaper Changing Pad is one of the most affordable options on the market. It’s also received high customer ratings for its compact design that fits most dressers and typical changing tables, easily cleanable material, and ultra-secure grip base.

Many parents said that this pad was easier to clean and had a better grip for wiggly babies than other pads they’d tried. One common complaint is the smell: Some say that, especially when it’s new, the Munchkin pad has that distinct changing pad chemical smell.