If you're fed up with being told to buy countless products for your new baby that you don't even know will be useful or not, rest assured you'll definitely need a baby changing mat! I can honestly say just get one which is nicely padded and the ones with sloping sides are handy when they start rolling. They're called 'wedge' shaped.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnetter Cherrybakewellard) Our verdict

Clean and disinfect the surface of the changing mat after every use with an antibacterial cleanser or wipes. You might have decided to swerve the pricey changing table, but a baby changing mat is pretty much a must-have for every parent and will be in use several times a day. For hygiene reasons, buying a new changing mat is always recommended, rather than using a secondhand one. Are wedge baby changing mats better? At Mumsnet, we know how important the right baby equipment is, and how an authentic recommendation from a fellow parent who's been in your shoes can be better than any expert opinion. That's why we obsessively research and review baby products to help you choose. Whether it's the best breast pump, the best baby bottles or the best changing bag you're looking for, you'll find honest, judgement-free advice from real parents right here.

A changing mat isn’t necessary and the NHS advises that you can use a changing mat or a towel for nappy changes. However, whilst a towel may be comfortable for your baby, it is likely to absorb leaks and spills and will need machine washing between uses. For that reason, a wipe-clean, waterproof padded changing mat is likely to make your life easier in the early weeks and months of your baby’s life as well as reducing your washing pile and keeping other surfaces in your home - such as your carpets, if you tend to change your baby on the floor as the NHS advises is the safest way. Are PVC changing mats safe?

Many changing bags come with a mat included in the price. You can also buy travel changing mats that fold into a very small pouch. With this in mind, we recommend a good changing mat in the house and if you and your baby are particularly outgoing out of the home as well. The key benefits of these products are that they are easy to clean and have been constructed in a way which can keep the baby in place better than a simple flat surface or a towel. Sometimes more expensive mats have a soft cotton cover, which is washable. This cotton cover makes the changing mat more comfortable for babies and also easy to keep clean. Machine-washable: No – wash with warm soapy water and a soft sponge | Size: 70 × 46 × 10cm What we love

Will you be claiming the VAT back?

You might be wary of buying unnecessary items for your baby, but a soft and comfortable changing mat or pad will be used several times a day! A padded, waterproof changing mat or pad is an essential product that every parent needs when it's time to change their baby's nappy. The best overall changing mat for babies is the chic and practical East Coast Nursery Wedge Changing Mat with wedged sides for support and safety. What should I look for in a changing mat? Get a splash mat changing mat for the floor as it's safer.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user babydreamer1) Our verdict The raised walls along the edges help protect your baby from accidentally rolling over and hurting themselves but also add a level of comfort by keeping them in place. This changing mat is filled with a light padding which provides comfort and a little warmth so it is suitable to be used on flat and hard surfaces.

If you need added reassurance, a wedge-shaped changing mat with curved, sloping sides can prevent your baby from rolling off, but you shouldn't be leaving them unattended when you change them, anyway.

Log in/register

Does it offer special features? These days, many change mats are decorated with beautiful printed artwork. Some offer functional design features such as anti-roll wedge sides, which can be really useful, especially if you have a particularly wriggly baby. But the fact of the matter is that special features often add expense so if your budget is tight, you may well find that a basic change mat does the job perfectly well. Is a changing mat necessary? Before we recommend new products, we always ask our trusted Mumsnet users, of which there are more than 7 million each month. That’s an awful lot of honest, impartial advice, don’t you think? Expert guidance There are lots of different types of changing mats. There are mats that go onto a changing table, mats that fit on to the top of a cot (these must always be removed when not in use and when your baby is in the cot) and also foldable changing mats for travel.

The ideal changing mat for babies is padded and waterproof, with a surface that can be easily wipe-cleaned and a soft cotton washable cover for added comfort. If your mat has a washable cover, make you clean it regularly. Where can you buy baby changing mats? We were given a fold-up changing mat with compartments for wipes and nappies from JoJo Maman Bébé. It was used every single day when DS2 was little, and now is always in the changing bag. I have no idea how I survived without it for DS1!” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user BrioLover) Our verdict Make sure you choose a waterproof changing mat that can be wipe-cleaned, and if you've got a slightly bigger budget, look for one that comes with a towelling or soft cotton cover for added warmth for your baby. This striking portable changing bag and changing mat set is one of the most unique products on the market. When not in use, the Bibetta portable changing mat looks like a stylish handbag which is approximately 26cm x 20cm and able to be used independently or kept inside something else such as a bag or at the bottom of a pram.

3. Best changing mat for newborns: Shnuggle Squishy Changing Mat

You can shop for a changing mat or pad in all types of baby-friendly colours such as blue or pink, but if you are buying one before your baby is born, look for a gender neutral pattern and colour, such as grey or beige stars or spots. I liked the changing mats. They had a cover on them that zipped off to be washed. They were a nice cosy material and not cold plastic for putting dd on (precious first born worries 😂) .” (Recommended by Mumsnet user MrsCaptainJakeBallard) Our verdict