changing tables

My FIL is making a changing table for us as a gift and he wants us to design it. I've been looking around the internet for images and have seen some really gorgeous ones.

My question -- for those of you who have one/have picked one out -- is are the tops very different from a regular dresser?

It seems like some of them have sort of a rail around all four sides and some of them don't.

What's the difference between a regular dresser and a changing table???

TIA

Re: changing tables

We chose a regular dresser (without the side and back rails) because we liked the style better for the future. Our changing pad was able to be attached to the back of the dresser so it doesn't move around at all. I think its totally a personal preference...

Re: changing tables

Here is the one we chose....

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Re: changing tables

My DH made ours out of a three drawer dresser. He added the four sides to it on top and the pad fits inside w/ room for "supplies" on top.

Re: changing tables

The general idea behind the "dresser" ones is that one day it is just a dresser so they tend to be designed to NOT look like a changing table too much. I like the idea of adding a rail to it...even though you generally won't walk away, sometimes you drop a shirt, the diaper...and you gotta pick it up, you want something there for that time.

We have a "traditional" changing table not the dresser style. I just like them and know from experience that I can use it for toys/storage like a shelving system afterwards...I did it with DD's and loved it!