Changing
Changing Pad Covers: Fit, Fabric and How Many You Need
How to measure a changing pad, which cover fabric suits which nursery, and what a spare actually costs, worked out from Owlowla prices.
Published 19 September 2026 ยท Prices updated 19 September 2026
The changing table gets used more than any other piece of nursery furniture, many times a day in the early weeks. The cover on it gets wet, gets washed and goes back on while someone waits.
That makes the choice more practical than it looks: does it fit your pad, how does the fabric behave after a leak, and how many do you need so one is always dry.
Start with the pad, not the cover
The standard changing pad measures 16 by 32 inches, with raised sides. Every Owlowla cover is cut for that footprint up to about 5 inches deep, with elastic all the way round underneath.
Three fabrics, three kinds of day
We make covers in three fabrics, and none of them is best for everyone. The table sets out what each one is good at and what you give up.
| Fabric | Good for | The trade-off | Owlowla covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minky | A plush, dotted surface that stays soft through regular washing, on covers, bassinet sheets and the double-layer blanket. | It is the warmest fabric here. For a hot nursery, muslin is the lighter choice. | Minky Changing Pad Covers |
| Muslin | Open cotton gauze that breathes and gets softer as you wash it. | Fresh out of the pack it can feel thin and a little crisp. One parent compared it to linen. | Printed Muslin Changing Pad Cover Muslin Changing Pad Covers, Two-Pack |
| Vegan leather | A smooth synthetic surface you wipe after a leak instead of washing the whole cover. | It feels like a mat, not like cloth. Parents who want softness under the baby pick minky or muslin. | Wipe-Clean Changing Pad Cover |
How many covers you need
One cover is on the pad, one is in the wash, and a third saves the day when both are wet at once. Two-packs make that cheaper per cover, and the table works it out from today's prices.
| Cover | Sold as | Best value offer | Per cover | Three covers cost about |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minky Changing Pad Covers | single, pack of 2 | $11.99 for 2 | $6.00 | $17.98 |
| Muslin Changing Pad Covers, Two-Pack | pack of 2 | $11.99 for 2 | $6.00 | $17.98 |
| Wipe-Clean Changing Pad Cover | single | $17.07 for one | $17.07 | $51.21 |
| Printed Muslin Changing Pad Cover | single | $17.99 for one | $17.99 | $53.97 |
Worked out from prices updated 19 September 2026, offer by offer. Prices differ by print, so a particular print may cost more.
On the road
A portable pad is a different tool. It folds into the diaper bag, opens on a restroom counter or the back seat, and wipes clean afterwards. Ours are 30 by 16 inches and come in pairs, so one can dry while the other goes out with you.
They are not a replacement for the pad at home: there are no raised sides, so a hand stays on the baby the whole time.
