BabyCenter selects products based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCenter Community. All prices and details are accurate at the time of publication. We may earn a commission from shopping links.
Everything we recommend
Best changing pad overall: Best diaper bag with changing pad: Best portable diaper changing pad: Best disposable changing pad: Best washable diaper changing pad: Best contoured changing pad: Best folding changing pad:Babies go through thousands of diapers in their first year, and a comfortable place to change them is key. Changing tables are a classic at-home option, but with more parents making do with less space, there's not always room for a dedicated nursery. And it goes without saying, you can't take your changing table out with you.
Changing pads, which offer a safe, clean, and often portable space for diapering your baby, are a great alternate option. Some are made to sit atop a dresser, others pack up and go in your diaper bag or stoller. But which one's the best? When we set out to answer that question, we analyzed reviews from the moms and dads in BabyCenter's Community, then had our seasoned editors research and vet their recommendations. Read on to learn the best diaper bag with changing pad, the best portable diaper changing pad, and more.
BabyCenter's reviews are created based on parents' real-life experiences using products - experiences of editors and writers who are parents themselves, and also of the millions of parents and pregnant women who make up the BabyCenter Community. Our editorial team uses these insights, as well as feedback from the doctors and other experts on our Medical Advisory Board, to give you accurate and fact-based information, including the pros and cons of different products. That way, you can decide what's best for you and your family. Learn more
It looks like a soft foam diaper pad, but it hides a high-tech secret: a built-in wireless smart scale that communicates with your phone. Put your baby down for a change and the Grow takes her weight in seconds, then beams it to your phone, where you can reassuringly track her growth over time in the Hatch app (which also tracks sleep, nursing, and pumping). Parents can see exactly how much milk or formula their baby has ingested with Hatch’s feeding weight display, too.
Heads up
This scale is somewhat delicate, which isn’t a natural fit for kicking, squirming babies.
Parents say
“It syncs up with your phone so you get a cool record keeping log of weights, percentiles, and growth curve tracking that matches up to the pediatrician’s.”
Specs
Designed to be functional, stylish and gender neutral so it can be used by mom or dad, the Parker Baby Diaper Backpack has a modern design, pockets for everything (and we do mean everything) that you need, and a pull-out waterproof changing pad that’s a cinch to use. If it gets dirty, wipe it clean; otherwise, it’ll provide you with years of service, or can be removed and discarded once you’re past the diaper years.
Heads up
This backpack is on the larger side so it’s not the best for short outings.
Specs
This cleverly designed little gadget has become a classic baby shower gift from experienced parents (who already know how great the Pronto is) to new parents (who are about to learn). The Pronto looks like the sort of binder you might carry around at work, but pop it open to find a wipe-clean changing pad that zips off for cleaning or independent use and has a built-in cushion for your babe’s head, as well as a mesh pocket that holds four diapers, cream, and other essentials. If you need, a front zipper pocket holds your keys and phone, then the whole kit straps onto your stroller or goes in a diaper bag.
Heads up
Parents say that the hinges on the wipes container that comes with the Pronto are fragile and break easily.
Parents say
“I don’t like how small the changing pads are that come with most diaper bags, so I use the Skip Hop Pronto.”
“I was in love with my Skip Hop Pronto and used that exclusively.”
Specs
For ultra-convenient diaper changes on the go, these disposable pads are infused with baking soda for odor protection, and they’re big enough to contain even wiggly babies and epic blowouts. Spread them out over any surface you want to protect, then after changes, throw the whole mess away. Some parents use them as a cover on public restroom changing tables, or even on fabric changing pads at home.
Heads up
Creating garbage for the landfill bothers many parents.
Specs
It folds up into a tidy package that’s a little smaller than a piece of notebook paper, with zippered pockets that are accommodating enough to hold diapers and wipes, keys, and a wallet. Unfolded, the MoBaby changing pad is crazy soft (it’s made of a downy fabric that feels like suede), and padded, especially the built-in head pillow. If it gets dirty, it’s machine-washable and safe for your tumble dryer.
Heads up
Some find the cushioning to be too thin.
Specs
Sometimes the old-school ways are the best ones. This traditional furniture-top changing pad is comfy for your baby and easy for you: it stays put, it’s nice and long for growing babies, the waterproof cover wipes clean like a champ, and did we mention you can buy it for less than the cost of a pepperoni pizza?
Heads up
It’s not a looker, but there are plenty of fabric covers on the market that can change that.
Parents say
“The Summer Infant changing pad wipes clean and has a strap to hold my baby in place, 20 bucks well spent.”
Specs
When what you need is literally just a cover small enough to tote in a tiny purse or stroller organizer, this option is perfect. It folds down into a 10 x 6.5-inch rectangle that stays in place thanks to a sturdy Velcro strap, then unfolds to a spacious 30 x 19 inch pad. It has a little padding to protect your baby, but it’s still light enough that you’ll barely notice it in your diaper bag, until the moment you need a tiny changing space.
Heads up
The padding isn’t very thick, so this pad won’t win any prizes for comfort.
Specs
A changing pad is simply a soft, safe place to lay your baby while you change their diaper or clothes. There are two main types of changing pads: the ones that sit on top of dressers or changing tables and stay in your home or the portable type that fold into a compact shape to fit inside a diaper bag.
Traditional at-home changing pads are made of padded material and have covers that are waterproof and a restraint belt to keep your child in place (though you should always keep one hand on your baby at all times for safety). Some parents also use fabric covers that are washable on top of the waterproof surface. Another popular kind of changing pad is made from foam that can be wiped clean; these changing pads don’t use covers, but also have safety belts.
Portable diaper changing pads, on the other hand, are generally easy to carry in diaper bags or purses. They typically have a plastic liner that you can easily wipe clean after a change, or are machine-washable. Many travel sized changing pads come included with diaper bags, but some are standalone pads that fold up and can be hooked to your stroller.
Was this article helpful?
