The Etsy Way

I've lost my foldable diaper changing mat. I've no idea how it happened - I mean, this is not a tiny little thing that could inadvertently be left behind. And it's all part of the whole diaper changing procedure, once baby is snug in some fresh new diapers, you clean up, pack up your wet wipes, roll up the mat and pop it back in your bag. It's not like you can actually just up and go with the baby and leave the mat behind. 

So I had to get a new one. Now the old one served me very well and it was exactly what I needed in a foldable diaper mat. It was part of a Kate Spade diaper bag which I got as a gift when I was pregnant with my son, and it was a fantastic mat because it worked for me on every level - it was lightweight, made of a really good smooth waterproof material (none of that plastic-ky clear surfaces which are stiff and crinkly), nicely cushioned and padded, lovely color, easy to roll-up and store in the bag, and importantly, large enough.

I'm a little paranoid about public baby changing stations - I just think they're not very sanitary and with squirming babies, it's so easy for them to roll, flail their arms, stretch their legs, and - God forbid! - touch the surface of the changing station. It's essential for me that the diaper mat is large enough to comfortably accommodate my baby with enough head room, leg room, arms' length room, and just about everywhere-room, so she can squirm and roll all she likes and still remain within the safe confines of our own personal diaper changing mat (I'm aware that I sound completely mental). 

Naturally I wanted to get the same diaper changing mat from Kate Spade, and I didn't want to buy the diaper bag just to get the mat, so I went hunting for it on eBay, which was completely futile. You simply can't just buy the mat without the bag. Evidently free market economics is wanting here.

So I went to Bumps to Babes, but the ones they had were all too small. Or made of some PVC-ish material which smelled like plastic. They just don't make them long enough or wide enough, especially those fabulous (you would think) ones which claim to be an all-in-one mat with compartments for wipes and diapers. These mats look to me like they can accommodate a baby height of up to 4 months tops. They can comfortably handle the head and torso length of your baby, but this is assuming your baby's legs are always curled up and she's not going to stretch them out at some point.

It occurred to me that I need a custom-made mat, one where I can specify exactly how I'll like it. So I went on to Etsy, which is such a great concept - I really like how the art of working with your hands is celebrated here.

I found so many options of affordable diaper mats, all lovingly handmade, and many in the very homes of stay-at-home moms. I got mine from Paisley Pockets (I like that both sides of the mat are printed fabric; a lot of mats have the printed fabric only on one side and the other side is just plain white), specified the size I wanted, and it was done within a day and shipped out here to Hong Kong.

Here's my mat, in just the size I wanted: