The best baby changing mats: from travel-friendly to aesthetic

Highly recommended by many buyers as an extremely portable changing mat and nappy bag, it will keep your baby comfy during nappy changes with the integrated head rest, whilst also offering space to hold things like baby wipes and nappies with its three interior pockets and zipped outer pocket. Buyers love that the changing bag is easy to clean - it is made from water-resistant polyester, you can easily wipe-clean the entire product. Buyers also like that you can keep everything you need for changing in one place with the sections and pockets. The changing mat itself offers 5 per cent more changing space than similar products too, according to Lekebaby.

You can easily fit it into any nappy bag or tote, and underneath your stroller or attach it to the side. It is lightweight and has two carry handles so you can easily carry it by hand like a bag if you don't have space elsewhere. One reviewer said, "Honestly this mat has made travelling so easy!!! the concept is so practical and well thought out, and it fits perfectly in my travel bag without taking up space." They thought the section for wipes was a little loose but didn't find it to be a problem. They have travelled abroad with it and describe the changing bag as the 'best purchase!' Another customer said, "Only criticism is the area for the wipes isn’t the best as it tends to fall out but there is a zip pocket you can store them in to stop this from happening."

As well as being great value and quality, this baby changing mat fits most dressers and changing tables for hassle-free changing, and it's nice and lightweight to move around the house if needed. One reviewer does point out that when they received the mat it was folded in half, and they felt it took a while, laying it on the floor with books on top, to get it to lie flat – so it's not a changing mat you can fold to store away or travel with.

We love the wide range of designs on offer with this changing mat though,so you will definitely be able to find one that is aesthetically pleasing to you and goes beautifully in your nursery and home. One customer said they bought two of them for their home, finding one to match their nursery too. Another customer who recommends the product said they bought the same mat twice because they loved theirs so much.

One review points out that this mat isn't the most wiggle-resistant, however, it does have high raised sides to help provide some peace of mind for baby's safety. The Phthalate-free PVC material is also safe against baby's skin and makes the mat waterproof and wipe-clean. One reviewer thought it was a good quality mat but felt it could have been a bit more padded, although they said they found it to be sufficient.

Changing baskets are everywhere right now but to be practical, they require a suitable liner to keep your baby comfortable as you change them. You do have to purchase the changing basket separately, but the liner fits perfectly inside. Our mum tester and the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby, Emily Gilbert says, "I loved the idea of a changing basket but so many came with liners that were thin, cotton and frankly a bit useless when it came to a messy nappy! I was so pleased to find Mama Shack as not only do the liners come in gorgeous designs you can match to your nursery theme but they're comfortable for baby too."

Most suitable for use in a nursery, this stylish liner from Mama Shack comes in a range of gorgeous tones and patterns to choose from. It is padded with British-manufactured foam, free of TCPP and covered with comfy phthalate-free, non-toxic PVC – so you can have complete peace of mind when using it. It's super easy to clean, being waterproof, you can simple wipe-clean any accidents on the spot. The foam is also nice and thick offering maximum comfort for your little one at changing time.

Our mum tester, Melissa, says, "Overall I am really impressed with the changing basket liner. It is made of good quality materials, it is easy to wipe down and feels sturdy and comfortable. The quality of the design is very good, the pictures printed on it are of a high quality and it looks really nice in our nursery. It seems durable enough so far, the stitching is good quality and I cant imagine it breaking or wearing in any way. It doesn’t have anti roll sides, but if it’s going in a basket I don’t feel they are necessary anyway.  I wouldn’t say it was incredibly portable as it is quite stiff so would be difficult to fold or roll. It is light weight though so is easy to carry or move around."

This super cute reversible design featuring alphabet animals would be perfect for the nursery. With wipe-clean material, this Mamas & Papas Essential Changing Mat comes in a variety of different designs to choose from. Our Commercial Content Writer, Laura Healy, says, "the mat is very well padded, making it comfy for little ones during nappy changes, but I love the pastel colours of the design, which make it suitable for most nursery decor." As well as thick, comfy padding, this mat is designed to fit Mamas & Papas dressers and cot top changers, which is great, however, it does mean it isn't great for travelling because it is not very compact. One reviewer said though, that it is, "slim enough to store easily."

Overall, buyers like that the mat is soft and comfortable, and made from good quality materials. One reviewer said "I bought this one month ago for my grandson and it's perfect. The quality of the padding plus the beautiful design really helps to keep the grandson happy while having nappy changes." They also point out that their grandson is very long but this mat was a great length with plenty of room for him to grow into. They said it's worth the money. Another reviewer said, "More expensive initially but so well constructed it lasts for years." Laura Healy added, "the mat is really easy to clean and the material feels durable. I like the way it can lay flat when on the floor, or for convenient storage, but the sides are flexible and can bed up to stop baby rolling when using a dresser or changing unit. I think it is a great changing mat, everything is well designed, even then rounded corners so you can't scratch yourself (or little one) during a nappy change."

We're loving the gorgeous designs of the Mama Shack anti-roll changing mat - we think they're made for Instagram! Our mum tester, Carla, says, "The Mama Shack changing mat is the perfect addition to my nursery - and I’ve barely even started! There are so many styles to choose from, which was the hardest part for me. I still don’t know whether I’m having a little boy or a little girl, so I opted for something neutral with a polka dot pattern. If I’m 100% honest with myself, once we have our baby, I may even get another changing mat for downstairs in one of their other designs." Constructed with a wipeable, phthalate-free PVC cover and filled with thick supportive foam, it's easy to clean and is comfortable for your little one. Our mum tester commented, "changing mats often just do what they say on the tin, but this one had me obsessed from the moment I unpacked it. It’s the perfect material to be able to wipe down in seconds, I have no fear for those nappy explosions! It’s also so lightweight that I can carry it from room to room with one hand, so until I do decide to get a second one, it won’t be inconvenient to move around the house." It's also got raised sides to help your baby stay in the centre and feel more secure during nappy changes. One reviewer said, "These mats are great for my wriggly, he hasn't managed to roll over on it yet. I have two Anti-roll changing mats as they are great quality with such pretty prints. They are hardwearing but soft for my babies head."

Suitable for newborns too, one reviewer said, "Our newborn loves this mat! I think because it’s black and white he likes looking at all the spots, so he’s very happy being on the mat after he’s been changed which gives me extra time to get jobs done! So I’m very happy with this purchase." Keep in mind that it's not the most compact of changing mats, however, it has been designed to fit all baby changing stations, and the beautiful designs means it's definitely something you can can keep out on display in the nursery. Our mum tester also said that the only thing she would change would be to add "some kind of anti-slip to the bottom to make it easier to attach it to the dresser." However, she added, "with a strong feel, while being flexible, I am completely confident that this will last the test of time, and I’ll keep it for years to come."

As Amazon's choice for the best swimming changing mat, and a Mother&Baby award-winning product, the Splash About changing mat has a lot of perks that make it a strong contender for the best changing mat; it's antibacterial, non-slip, easy-to-clean, rolls-up easily for carrying, and is incredibly budget-friendly too.

Our Mother&Baby Awards 2018 mum tester Rachel Robinson Tingle really liked this changing mat and thought it was great value for money. She said, "it rolls up, so it's easy to put away in my swimming bag for the little one. It's very comfy and soft, grips well, and dries really quickly after use." The only thing she would like to see improved is the length of the mat made slightly longer. The slightly shorter length does add to the portability of the mat though.

Rachel noticed there was a bit of a chemical smell when first using the mat, but says it disappeared over time. She loved the antibacterial feature and the fact that the mat rolls in on itself for ease of transport and containing when it's wet. She says, "I hate changing rooms so it's nice to know I can go swimming and change baby hygienically. The mat also keeps the baby warm as it feels sort of padded and it means that baby isn't on cold tiles." The mat is indeed 3mm thick, and the non-slip base is ideal for secure poolside changing

Read our full Splash About Anti Bacterial Changing Mat review

This discreet grey star patterned baby changing mat by East Coast is nice and neutral for any nursery. but they have a range of other, more vibrant designs too. They are designed to fit most baby changing units so you can go for a design that best suits your decor and keep the changing mat on display and ready for use. The mat is well-padded, waterproof and wipe-clean – you can't really go wrong.

One reviewer who bought one for their new nephew said it was just what's expected for a good quality baby changing mat: "Easy to clean and comfy for baby, not the flimsy kind that comes with a changing bag." Another reviewer who loved the design they chose said the mat seems sturdy and is an excellent product. Despite the design being fairly standard and basic, overall, buyers think the mat is functional and aesthetically pleasing. They also like the value and durability of the product, as well as the fact that it's comfortable for baby and a practical size for changing.

Ideal for travel, the Bambino Mio Changing Mat is super portable as you can fold it compact to fit in a changing bag. It has absorbent inner padding as opposed to sleek wipe-clean types of changing mat, which means it can catch and absorb anything that escapes the nappy, including accidents while changing baby.

One buyer points out that the microfibre outer material does tend to pick up all sorts of materials, but while you can't wipe it down, on either side, to keep it clean, you can throw it in the washing machine and tumble dryer, ready for the next use, and it dried quickly! The changing mat also has eight funky designs to choose from.

One reviewer who was very pleased with the changing mat said it was so easy to fold and unfold, and fit perfectly in their changing bag. They described it as being soft on the inside and comfy for baby while being changed, They said, "I love that it is machine washable, ours has been through the wash multiple times and it's still in great condition! 100% recommend"

Featuring the cutest child-friendly storybook illustration-style print designs, this changing mat by Ceba Baby is portable for moving around your house and designed to fit on most baby changing units, although one reviewer describes it as nice and big, saying you need a maxi-changing table, so make sure your double check measurements first. They like how the raised edges allowed them to be more relaxed when changing baby, and they thought the designs were nice and in line with a Nordic style bedroom.

The changing mat has supportive padding for baby's head too, which this reviewer felt gave them peace of mind knowing they wouldn't bang their little one's head while changing them. Another reviewer said they bought this mat as one of the few available for the Polini changing table adapter from IKEA, and say it fits perfectly. One thing to keep in mind is that the cushioning makes this changing mat very soft and buyers point out that it could be more durable.

The versatile Pronto changing bag from Skip Hop has an expanding extra-wide changing pad which can be wiped clean. There's even a comfortable little pillow for baby's head and the pad can be zipped off and used independently. One reviewer said this was one of their best baby buys, and that they take it everywhere. They like that it provides a nice cushion for baby when he's being changed and that it gives them the freedom to take baby literally anywhere. They found it's also good to take into baby changes as it provides protection from the often dirty changing tables and means you don't need to take the whole changing bag in with you as you can easily keep wipes, nappies etc inside it.

It is indeed very practical, with two inside pockets that can hold four nappies, and a zipped front pocket on the outside for changing essentials. There is also a translucent wipes case, with the see-through design making it easy to know when to reload so you never get caught out without wipes! We love the practical elements of this changing mat, but we also love that the design is modern and fun and doesn't scream "baby changing mat". Similar to a clutch bag, it has a convenient strap attached so you can attach it to your wrist or your stroller.

The Silvercloud Counting Sheep Changing Mat was designed to fit and sit perfectly atop a baby changing unit. It's several inches thick, which means it's nice and comfy for babies, and it comes in a nice and subtle unisex sheep design to go with any décor. One buyer who thought it was a really cute design and very functional, said, "love the fact that it can be matched up with other items in the Counting Sheep range."

To clean this waterproof mat, just wipe it down with a damp cloth. Overall buyers like that the mat is thick for comfort, easy to clean, and the fact that it can be used for both boys and girls. There have been some concerns about the durability of the soft padded material, so this is definitely one to treat with care.

The Baby Me Super Thin Diaper Changing Mat was awarded Bronze for Best Product For A Newborn 0-4 months at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.

The Baby Me Super Thin Diaper Changing Mat is extremely soft and kind to skin giving you peace of mind when using it with your child. They quickly retain moisture, with a cellulose layer providing effective hygiene control to coordinate reliable experience when changing nappies or to use for extra protection while sleeping. Our mum tester said: "I’ll be honest, when they arrived I expected super basic simple disposable changing mats but these are so much nicer! Not only do they have nice patterns but they are unbelievably soft and super handy! My daughter had some nappy free time and they are so absorbent that there were now spillages, at all!" She found them handy to have with her when out of the house as they're extremely compact and also says that as a mattress protector they have been a Godsend. You don't get that many in a pack - only 10, but packs are cheap to buy and while it may seem wasteful to have disposable changing mats, they do make a good back-up.

Read our full Baby Me Super Thin Diaper Changing Mat review.