The Ultimate Changing Table Guide: Height, Dimensions & Best Placement

The changing unit guide: height, dimensions and location of your changing unit - so everything fits!

The height, width and location of the changing unit make a huge difference when changing nappies. Too low? Back pain is inevitable. Too little space? Pure chaos! To help you set up the perfect changing station, we'll show you the ideal dimensions and the best place for your changing unit. This will make changing nappies more relaxed - for you and your baby!

1. How high should your changing unit be?

You can easily measure the optimum height: The distance between your elbow and the changing surface should be 10-15 cm. Measure the height from the floor to your elbow and subtract 10-15 cm from this. Now you know the perfect height for your changing table.

Body height	Changing height
160 cm	85 cm
170 cm	90 cm
180 cm	100 cm
190 cm	105 cm

Tip for couples of different heights

One challenge when choosing the ideal changing table is the very different heights of the parents. After all, both parents want to change their child comfortably. A good idea is therefore a sturdy footboard that the smaller partner can stand on during nappy changing. Make sure that the step is safe and robust and can be easily stowed away.

2. How big should the changing surface be?

To ensure that your baby has enough space on the changing unit and that you can change nappies there for a long time, you should plan for a surface that is 80 cm wide and 70 cm deep. The older your baby gets, the more he or she will move around on the changing surface when being changed. Then it's good to have enough space to give your child room to move around and to store the necessary nappy-changing utensils.

Wickelkommode aus IKEA HEMNES im Babyzimmer

3. The ideal location for the changing unit

Your changing table should be in a well-ventilated room with good lighting and a pleasant room temperature. The chest of drawers should also be accessible from all sides to make nappy changing as easy and comfortable as possible. If your bathroom is large enough, you have the advantage of having quick access to the tap. However, the changing unit also looks great in the bedroom or nursery. Make sure there is a socket nearby. This way, you can easily integrate a hairdryer or a heat lamp at your nappy-changing station.

Tips for setting up & organising your changing unit

Organising the changing unit

Practical organiser for your changing unit

You can use our clever organisers to make the most of the space on your drawer chest of drawers. These fit perfectly in the HEMNES and the MALM chest of drawers. The clothes are sorted upright - so everything is visible and ready to hand at a glance and you stay relaxed when changing nappies.

To the organisers

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