Rail Riding Change Pad

by J on April 4, 2013

If you’re like us, there are so many things taking up space in the baby’s room (all those toys from Grandma, more clothes than me and my husband combined) that we’re constantly searching for storage solutions. And a change table is such a bulky, big, space-waster. This space-saving, light-weight change pad shelf from Janet is built to fit over crib rails. It fits a standard change pad and also makes a fun hiding spot for crib playtime!

Submitted By: Janet Oswald

Total Time Required: Can be completed in an afternoon – a bit more or less depending on your handy skills.

Working Time Required: This took about three hours, including shopping for wood.

Project Costs: Under 20$

Materials & Tools Required:

Wood, flat and wide for shelf
Wood, long and narrow for rail guides
Carpenters glue
Screws
Non-slip shelf liner
Change pad
Pencil
Measuring tape
Drill
Saw
Sandpaper

Tutorial:

1. Measure your crib

Outside rail to outside rail =A. If this measurement is less than the length of your change pad, use the change pad length instead.
Width of the change pad =B
Width of the individual crib rail =C

2. Measure and cut the wood, sand rough edges (NOTE: We decided to use three rail guides instead of four, making it easier to slip the shelf on with one hand)

Shelf pieces x 2 , length = A+width of your rail guide pieces
Rail guide pieces x 3 (or 6 if you double layer them like we did), length = B

3. Assemble the pieces

Space the shelf pieces so that they equal the width of the change pad (B).
Lay the rail guide on the shelf pieces.
Starting at one end of shelf, secure a rail guide with carpenters glue and screws.
Leaving a gap equal to the width of the crib rail (C), secure another rail guide.
Leaving an overhang equal to the width of a crib rail (C), secure the third rail guide at the other end of the shelf.
Using the carpenter’s glue, or another adhesive, attach strips of non-slip shelf liner to the shelf where it will sit on the crib rails.

4. Attach the change pad