Is it a bath or is it a changing mat? (Changing Tables in General)

Member Name: HonestBob

Product:	Changing Tables in General
Date:	28/10/08 (40 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good for storage and preventing a bad back

Disadvantages: The bath is too small, the table takes up a lot of space, no drawers.

This review is about the Easi Peasi Changing Unit made by Cosatto which is currently available from Kiddicare.com for £79.99. However, much of the user opinion relates to changing tables in general.

The Easi Peasi changing unit consists of a deepsided foam-filled plastic covered changing mat which is available in various designs. Mine has colourful bubbles all over it but the Zuton design currently available via kiddicare consists of starburst patterns in mixed colours. The designs are generally unisex.

The changing mat sits at the top of the table frame and lifts up and over (so that it hangs to the side) to reveal a baby bath with a plastic moulded backrest wedge to make it easier to hold baby upright during bathing. The bath has a small drainage hole with removable plastic plug and a hose which you position over a bath, sink or shower tray to drain the water away at the end of bathtime.

Beneath the bath are two shelving areas. The top area holds three plastic trays, whilst the bottom is one long enclosed area made from thin plastic fabric (the type used for strong table cloths). Beside and slightly lower than the changing mat are two deep plastic trays, each of which is divided into two sections. These side trays, like the trays in the top shelving section, are removable for easy cleaning.

The unit stands on four wheels which can be locked for stability or unclocked for ease of manouverability.

First the good points:

I suffer from on-off back problems, so the ability to change my son whilst I'm standing is a huge benefit.

Similarly, standing to bath a newborn makes the task much more pleasant and safer, no more leaning over the side of a standard bath whilst trying to maintain control of a soapy struggler.

The open storage trays make finding the various lotions and potions required much quicker and easier than rooting through a layette box or chest of drawers.

The deep bottom shelf is large enough to hold four packs of nappes and wipes store nicely on the trays above. Plus the side storage trays are handy for shampoo, baby bath and sponges which need to be within reach during bath time.

The lockable wheels are fab and the raised sides to the changing mat prevent baby from rolling off (of course you should never leave your baby unattended on any raised surface).


And the drawbacks:

The baby bath on this unit is minute. My son was long and weighed 9lb 10oz. He always looked too big for the bath and after four weeks of use he looked positively uncomfortable so we reverted back to my old (large) baby bath.... and my back started acheing again.

The whole unit takes up a lot of space, plus if you're going to wheel it into the bathroom to use the bath you need a fair amount of space to get around. We could just about squeeze it into the ensuite, but it was a struggle.

Once put together the table cannot be dismantled. The plastic fittings are designed to lock together just once and it must be broken apart, hence once it's up you cannot take it apart to store it between babies.

The changing mat is quite narrow, once baby can toddle, and in some cases once baby can pull himself to sitting position, it is no longer comfortable, or safe to use the rable top mat.

Lifting a heavy baby/toddler up to place them on the mat can exaccerbate a bad back.

There are no drawers on the unit so creams and scissors etc.. cannot be stored safely out of baby's reach.

The drainage hose is too short, you have to be very close to the outlet source to use it.

Overall:

This is a handy item if you have back problems and want somewhere to store all the baby bits and bobs away neatly. However, it is not a necessary item, I've bathed newborns in a washing up bowl and got them just as clean and I've changed them on the bed with just a folded towel beneath them (do this quickly to avoid a wee accident!) and baby hasn't complained. But then, I've also slept a baby in a drawer and used pillowcases instead of sheets to cover crib mattresses (great for a sicky baby, just turn the mattress over and use the second side without having to replace the cover twenty times a day!), so I can do it bare basics or with luxuries like this table :)

Summary: A handy item, but definitely not a necessity.