We have a dresser with three top drawers (all the other drawers have clothes).

We keep diapers in the main top drawer. It is packed with diapers, but we never have to worry about running out, they are easy to grab for changing or re-stocking the diaper bag, and we can see at a glance whether we need to get more.

The wipes and ointment are in a basket next to the changing pad. We hung a mobile over the dresser that he is utterly fascinated by.

As for the other top drawers, we keep burp cloths in the one closest to the glider, and we made a little divider for the other drawer and keep his "tinies" (hats, socks, hand covers, shoes) in it.

diapers, wipes, butt paste, anti-bac gel. that's really it. I would store clothes in the other drawers for easy access incase of leaks. diaper pail next to dresser.

We have a shelf above the changer for diapers. No opening, stepping away from the changer, etc. Just reach up, get a diaper. Wipes are on the changer. We keep a basket of other stuff (creams, boogie wipes, lotions that we need less often) up with the diapers. Very soon s/he will be long enough to kick stuff off, so having things out of reach is key.

I also found it really helpful to have an extra pajama or onesie on my changing table. My daughter was a huge throw-uper/spit-uper and holding her sticky, squirmy body while trying to fish out clean pajamas was always a pain. Ditto for the times I got her on the changing table and saw that she had peed through a layer of clothing.

Also having at least one clean outfit within arm's reach also prevented my husband from seeing how often he could leave her on the changing pad to dash to her dresser. :\

Diapers, wipes and ointment. That's it.

i'd put diapers in one of the drawers and maybe a few undershirt/onesies & maybe a few pairs of socks.
in the other drawer you need wipes, diaper ointment, nose bulb for buggers, pacifier, body lotion for baby massages, toy to keep their hands occupied during long/messy changes (switch out often to keep their attention). i'd also keep any medicines like infant tylenol, gas reliever, teething meds if you choose to use them.

p.s.
we always had a small pad on top of the changing pad to go under their bottoms that are easier to clean/change than the changing pad cover every time it get soiled.
i'd also keep some washcloths to cover a boy while changing so you don't get any surprise showers.

p.s.
we always had a small pad on top of the changing pad to go under their bottoms that are easier to clean/change than the changing pad cover every time it get soiled.
i'd also keep some washcloths to cover a boy while changing so you don't get any surprise showers.

Since the other drawers in my changing table have clothes in them, I keep socks (that are easily lost!) in the top drawers, along with extra diapers and any other little loose things that don't have another home...

In addition to the basics, for the first few months, I always had a small washable changing pad on top of the changing pad cover, so if there were any spit-up, pee or poop incidents during a diaper change, I could quickly swap it out for a clean changing pad. A mobile over the dresser was a great distraction too.

My advice would be to keep everything jammed in there as you have it, then when baby arrives and you actually start using it, you can find what works for you. At first, I did use a lot, but then as my son and I both figured out a routine and what worked for us, we were able to pare it down to just the basics (changing pad, diaper, cream, wipes). So long as it is safe is what matters. In the end, he was such a squirmy baby I didn't even use a changing table, but changed him on the floor instead. I also gave him an easily washable to toy to hold because there were times that the toy got soiled, too! Good luck and congratulations!

I ditto the above posters' comments about a small washable cloth on top of the changing pad cover. We use these on ours: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2459691

i found it easier to just wipe the canging pad instead of having to wash another thing. we have our clothes dresser in reach of the changing table as this is where we get our kids dressed. i would keep a roll of paper towels handy for those tee tee leaks that happen or any other fluid those little ones tend to make.

I keep diapers, wipes and ointment/powder in a caddy thingy on the changing table surface (I have this one in slate and I love it). Within easy reach I think it's key to have more diapers and onsies, socks, pjs, etc. Stuff you'll likely need to change the baby into often and don't want to be running to closet to get. The top drawers in our changing table are dedicated to those items. All other clothes are in his closet. Hope that helps!

Thanks for all of the great advice, everyone! I went and added a few of the things I didn't have (onesies are a great idea to up have top and I hadn't thought of that) to the top drawers. Everyone's advice was very much appreciated. :)

My advice would be to keep everything jammed in there as you have it, then when baby arrives and you actually start using it, you can find what works for you.

^^^^I second this. I'd keep in the basket you have next to the changing pad, the essentials for a diaper change: diaper, wipes and cream. I find it uncomfortable, for myself, to step away from the dresser and open a drawer one-handed. Then on the top drawers I'd keep basic clothing items, for those times when you need to do a quick onesie or PJ change. I also ditto the wipeable changing pad on top of the one you have. It's much easier.

Total Type A Answer:
1. Switch the diaper pail to the left, under the light switch. Twisty baby trying to reach light switch with a loaded diaper = big mess.
2. Replace basket with small lamp and hand sanitizor. You'll need a place to put a dirty diaper while putting on a clean one.
3. Top right drawer = diapers, wipes, cream, qtips (for applying cream), thermometer, petroleum jelly (for thermometer), alcohol wipes (for thermometer).
Top left drawer = basic clothes (onesies, sleepers...) and a few burp cloths. Whatever you have left in the bottom four drawers.

I had a similar setup with my son. Top left drawer was one-piece gowns and sleepers. Top right drawer was onesies and pants. All the diapering stuff/anti-bac/etc we had in basket to the right of the changing pad.

I put shelves up above my changing table. I kept the diapers, ointments, etc up there. (glad I did too, kid #1 is a climber and drawer re-organizer) In the top drawer, I kept spit rags and jammies/gowns. But after about a month, you'll figure out what works for you.

I'm using a dresser as a changing table too, agree with having as much OUT of the drawers as possible - if you can, it might be helpful to put up a shelf above the changing table. Then you can keep everything you need right at your fingertips. I agree with ayoung - add a lamp (wall mount that sucker if you can, to keep little feet from kicking it onto the floor) and leave the rest of the dresser surface clear.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3368920
Those. I had about 10 with both of my boys, right in that top drawer. They are waterproof pads that you can put right on top of the changing table pad - they are the exact same size - and they contain *everything* that might come out of your tiny bundle of joy, then you just throw them in the wash. I seriously wouldn't live without them for those first few months of extreme diaper carnage. I buy these for all new moms.
Aside from that I echo the small light advice. Even if it's just a glowy-nightlight kind of thing, you'll need just a little tiny bit of light for those middle of the night feedings.
I found that a lot of the creams and oils and stuff like that I never used. Just one good tube of diaper cream, wipes and a small light is all I ever kept next to the changing pad.

I don't have any brilliant ideas as to what you should actually have in there, but I do have a way to organize it.

http://alilbird.blogspot.com/2010/08/tidy-tips.html

Hairdryer.

It sounds weird, but our baby calms down when it gets turned on (she can get quite squirmy at 3 weeks of age). We use it to keep her bum dry and warm up any cold toes. Drying the bum is suppose to decrease diaper rash.

We used cloth diapers and just kept the diapers, cloth wipes, squirt bottle of water and cream in the same basket you have. Dirty diapers went in a diaper pail in the bathroom.

Most importantly, don't stress about the details. After a few days you'll figure out what works best for you.

We used chinese prefold diapers on top of the change pad cover and put her on top - easier to just wash the prefolds then the changepad each time. You can buy prefolds at Target or online for about $10 a dozen.

Diapers (regular and night, once they start sleeping through), wipes, diaper cream. That's all you'll really need at a changing table. We have a pad on the dresser, but a bookcase beside it, we keep the dipes on the top two shelves, and a little basket that holds lotions for after bath, boogie wipes, thermometers, various meds. Laundering the pad cover isn't a big deal to me, I have three in rotation.

OK, so this is nothing anybody hasn't said, but keep diapers, wipes and cream in the caddy on top of the changing table for easy access.

We have onesies in one top drawer and socks in another, for easy access.

But honestly, just put anything wherever you want right now. The mom police aren't going to come get you for misplacement of diapers. See what you use most often once your little one is home, and rearrange then.

Yeah, what they all said. :)

I found that I rearranged my changing table (actually the top of a dresser) on a regular basis---as well as the top drawers. With a newborn, we had a container of water, cotton pads instead of wipes, diapers, ointment, and clothes because of the inevitable blowouts. Another thing that's always been helpful is a thermometer and a dedicated jar of vaseline that's just for temperature taking, because I've always done that on the changing table. But just rearrange when you find you're always reaching for something that's not right at hand.

I don't know if this was mentioned yet but I have a push top thermos with warm water on top of my dresser and I keep a little supply of wash cloths. I love having access to the warm water for spot cleaning. My baby loves having his little face washed every night and morning.

I agree that you will probably change your drawer a few times as you get into the groove of changing your baby. You can either keep all the supplies in the drawer or put up a little shelf since you don't have that much counter space. It is not a big deal to open the drawer each time to get a diaper and pull out a wipe but you will decide as you go if you rather have things out within reach or tucked away in the drawer.

I only use the top right drawer for supplies and use the rest for clothes but you may find you need both.

In my supply drawer I keep, wipes, wash cloths, burp cloths, extra diaper pail bags, q-tips, thermometer. I have a little caddy on top where I keep diapers, washcloths, diaper cream, vaseline, the bulb thing, a little hair brush, and other little supplies but if I didn't have room for that I would just keep it in the drawer.

Have fun!!!

To those of you who have a shelf above your changing table... how high above the changing surface is your shelf hung?