Changing Tables at Churches

In child care we're required to have a plastic covered pad to protect the baby's head. It can be quite painful if they accidentally pick up their head then drop it down. They do need the pad. They don't put anything over it, they just make fresh bleach water each day and spray it down after each baby is changed. they can let it air dry, that is the most sanitary by far but if they have multiple changes needed they can simply wipe it down with clean paper towels to dry it before putting another child on there.

I don't see the problem having the changing pad. You don't have to have a cloth cover and could still provide the disposable papers and wipe down the pad every day. What I wonder is why the cloth cover never got washed. Couldn't someone take it home every so often and wash it?

Well I agree with you that the cloth cover would have grossed me out. I don't see a problem necessarily in a new pad, but just don't put a cover on it. Truly it can't harbor any more bacteria or dirt (padless) than the surface of the table, especially with ledges to hold it all in! I agree with A. that you could use the pad, still supply disposable pads and maybe even put a jar of Clorox wipes (as long as it's high enough that kids can't get it) with a little sign that says please wipe down after use.

Can't you get a plastic or vinyl waterproof contour pad that can be wiped & sanitized? That seems like a happy medium, and more cost effective.

Why not just buy a new pad--you can get them on craigslist for like 5 or 10 dollars. Then use disposable covers----

Donate what you think is needed and deduct from you taxes until such time that your church feels the extra expense is needed.

I would buy a contoured pad if the church ladies prefer it and not have a cover. That's what our nursery has. When DD was an infant, I wiped the pad down with a baby wipe before use or I put her portable pad on top if I was concerned. Anybody who is really worried about the skeevyness of a baby changing station (like my BIL) will be supplied. Our pad at home (that I took the cover off off when DD was newborn because...well...I was washing a lot) is Serta (I'm pretty sure, the one with the sheep) and has a wipe-able cover.

This one is vinyl and inexpensive: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Summer-Infant-Contoured-Change-...

Where ever we are I always put my own pad down, and if it's extra icky I'll put down both a disposable and my regular one so I am guarenteed my child will touch nothing but our own things.
I have to admit I'm a little grossed out that the cloth cover was never washed. And putting the padded changer down all by itself with all the cracks and tears in it would gross me out too. I would move it and just use the table or cover it completely with my own stuff.
Most places just offer a flat surface, either those types that fold up when not in use and mounted to the wall or some sort of table top like surface assuming you will have your own mat to put on it or they will sometimes have the disposable mats to put on it.
I would get rid of the cushion and cover and just leave the table which is much easier to clean and will be much better.

Our church runs a daycare during the week, and those soft contoured pads that most people use at home at absolutely NOT allowed. They make vinyl covered ones that are more sanitary, but they are more expensive.

My parent's church has disposable paper table covers, I really appreciate those. I never remember my portable changing pad, so the paper ones are so convenient1

I think it still needs the pad. When my kids were babies, I just carried around a couple extra cloth diapers that I would use for many things. One being that I would lay a couple down under their head while I changed them, just for extra padding. You could still do this with the pad on it. Good luck!

It wouldn't have mattered to me at all. I always had my own change pad in my diaper bag that I put down on whatever surface I was changing the baby on, so it didn't matter if the surface was clean, dirty, hard or cushioned. It is probably a waste of money to buy a new change pad, especially since there aren't any infants in the church. As long as there is a change table and I don't have to change the diaper on the sink counter or the floor I'm happy. My church has a changing table that probably hasn't seen a baby in five years.