10 Best Diaper Changing Pads, According to Parents and Experts

With more than 29,000 five-star Amazon reviews, this traditional changing pad is comfortable, affordable, lightweight, and maintains its shape well, even when used for years. Good Housekeeping Institute Chief Technologist Rachel Rothman, an engineer and mom of three, loves that it's wide enough for your baby while still fitting most changing table designs.

This pad is covered in water-resistant vinyl. We do find that the stitching makes it tough to wipe clean; we recommend using a fabric changing pad cover with it (it fits standard-size covers), then throwing the cover in the wash when it gets soiled. Buying fabric covers drives up your overall cost and adds to your laundry, but on the plus side, you can pick designs that'll look cute in your nursery.

If you appreciate saving every dollar, this lightweight option is your best bargain for a pad that is standard dimensions for both changing-pad covers and changing tables. At 4 inches, its contoured sides are even a little taller than those on our best overall pick.

While the vinyl outer covering can be zipped off, we don't advise it because it can be tough to get it back on — and the cover is not very durable, so messing with it may cause an accidental tear. It's best to just wipe the exterior clean if it gets soiled (though that may be tricky due to the stitching). We recommend using a standard-size fabric changing pad cover on this one, so the washable cover can absorb most of the mess.

The more modern hard foam changing pads are easy to wipe clean and don't even require a fabric changing-pad cover, so you'll have less fuss and less laundry. Bumbo suggests you wipe this with a damp cloth and mild dish detergent instead of using harsh chemicals that might degrade the foam.

While the Bumbo is a little shorter than traditional-sized pads, it's a bit wider. If you'll use it on a changing-table top, check the measurements to be sure it'll fit. In some marketing material, Bumbo shows parents using this to make diaper changes easier on the floor.

Some online reviewers worry that the foam might feel cold to their baby and so they lay a blanket on top of it. The babies can't tell us one way or another, and the foam does not feel cold to our touch, but there's no harm in using a blanket — just be aware you put yourself back in laundry-land.

Naturepedic's pad is designed like a traditional diaper changing pad except that its soft cotton cover is treated to be water-resistant, so you can wipe it down with water and soap rather than always putting its cover in the laundry. With this, there's no need to buy additional fabric changing pad covers. In fact, other brand's changing pad covers don't fit this very well because the pad is also an inch longer than standard size, at 33 inches.

If you suspect you'll have a long baby, this pad will likely fit more comfortably for a longer period of time. Parents also feel this is an extra-cushiony choice. A downside is that it's one of the more expensive options on our list.

Distraction is the key to a fast diaper change. Keep your little one flat on their back and looking up with this changing pad featuring a built-in toy bar. The little cloud toy is mirrored on its reverse side to catch your baby's attention. You can also easily remove the toys if you choose to go without.

Our testers noted that the contoured foam surface is comfy and soft, and it wipes clean without retaining odors. But because this is the widest pad on our list, it doesn't fit all changing tables; make sure to measure if you plan to use this on a piece of furniture. Also, this pad has shorter side walls than other pads on our list, so your baby is not as cocooned inside.

We're impressed with this changing pad that's more than just a surface to switch out those dirty diapers. The Grow Smart Changing Pad and Scale works via Bluetooth with the Hatch Baby app for tracking your baby's weight (iOS or Android). That's especially welcome for parents of newborns who want reassurance in between pediatrician visits that their baby is eating enough to keep gaining and growing. The pad comes with the 3 AA batteries you need to get the scale function started.

The foam surface is soft, comfortable and easy to wipe off. We wish the safety belt came attached as it does on most diaper changing pads; you'll have to secure the safety belt on. Because this is a smart changing pad that runs with some tech, it's the priciest pick on our list.

When you are placing a changing pad on a piece of furniture and want to be reassured that it'll stay put, we like that Munchkin's pad has four rubber safety strips on the bottom. They aren't failsafe, so you shouldn't feel like you can walk away when your baby is lying on this, but it doesn't slide around like some other changing pads can.

We like that Munchkin sells waterproof changing pad liners that are more affordable and faster to pull on and off than regular changing pad covers. But the cotton cover it comes with is also wipeable and some online reviewers say that's their favorite feature. Others warn that the cotton can stain and it's best to use this with a pad on top. We suggest using it with the liners to be better safe than sorry.

If you change up where you do diaper duty — sometimes in the nursery and other times in the living room, for instance — the Eva Baby pad is lightweight and portable so it's easy to move around with you. It's of the molded-foam variety, so it wipes clean and you don't need to use a changing pad cover with it. It's also the least expensive foam changing pad on our list.

We do wish the contoured sides were a little higher. Since they're the lowest on our list, we feel most comfortable recommending you use this changing pad on the floor.

When you're on the go, take this portable changing mat, which weighs less than a pound, features built-in pockets to carry diapering necessities and folds up to fit into almost any bag. Rothman says she lost count of the number of these she had with her diapered babies: one under the stroller, one in the car, one in a diaper go-bag and one in the playroom.

You can buy the striped or solid black version, and the largest pocket holds up to four diapers along with cream. The Pronto's strap clips around your stroller handle and the mat wipes off easily. It's not contoured or made with a safety strap, so we don't recommend it for using on your nursery changing table — it's truly best for use during outings, like on public changing tables when you're away from home.

Disposable changing mats are great for travel or to keep stocked in your diaper bag if you want to use one on a play date, at a relative's house, while camping or even at the beach. Everyone will appreciate you using one of these thick, lined paper mats and then wrapping your baby's dirty diaper up in it for disposal — the mats are treated with baking soda to help eliminate odors. And they have over 4,100 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Of course, since these are not reusable, they are not an eco-friendly or long-lasting option. But for out-and-about emergencies or once-in-a-blue-moon trips like visiting Disney World, having these can feel like a lifesaver.

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