In the fall of 2008, two women sat
in the office of a local accounting firm and dreamed of the day when they could
make simple, natural, healthy choices for two babies that were to be born the
following summer. Kristina Amiraslani
and Elizabeth Pilgrim shared a common goal.
Like all moms, they wanted the best for their children. To them, one of the easiest solutions was to
cloth diaper. Elizabeth’s oldest child
experienced a reaction to the chemicals found in disposable diapers. She knew cloth was the only option to protect
her future child’s little skin and immune system. Kristina wanted to make a smaller footprint
and leave this earth a little better for her son. Since disposable diapers are the third
largest consumer item in landfills, taking up to 500 years to decompose, using
reusable diapers was also an easy choice for Kristina. As they planned together, each accumulating
“diaper stashes”, they quickly realized how overwhelming the choices can be.
As their research expanded, and
their frustration with the lack of local resources grew, their passion for
educating about cloth diapers also increased day by day. The research into personal diapering choices
planted a seed that quickly grew into the birth of a new cloth diaper store, The
Changing Table. In the fall of 2009, The
Changing Table opened as an online and in-home store focused on helping parents
make the best diapering choices for their little ones.
It was a labor of love. Kristina and Elizabeth quickly became a local
resource for one on one education and worked days, evenings, and weekends
meeting with clients and answering phone calls and emails. Through the years, the women have found that
many families want to cloth diaper for economic, environment, or health reasons
but are held back by the fear of the unknown.
Because of this, The Changing Table has three special programs to help parents. The most widely-used program is the Cloth
Diaper Trial. Parents meet one on one
with local cloth diaper experts and choose twelve diapers that best fit their
lifestyle. Families can try these
diapers for 30 days for only $15 after deposit.
“We have had hundreds of families try cloth diapers over the past four
years. Only a few decided not to continue with cloth diapers after the
trial. It is a testimony to how simple
reusable diapers are once you find the perfect fit for your lifestyle,” says
Elizabeth.
The Changing Table outgrew the
in-home store and opened a brick and mortar in October of 2012. The women wanted to keep the intimate feeling
of the previous location, so they created a warm, fun, and kid-friendly
store. With bright, cheery colors on the
walls and photos of beautiful babies smiling down on you, it’s a place you want
to hang out. Children love to come to
the “diaper store” to play in the enclosed kids’ area, and new moms are often
found using the store’s baby scale to watch their little ones grow. There is a diaper “play station” that allows
parents to touch and feel each type of diaper available. “Shopping locally with us guarantees one on
one troubleshooting whenever you need it.
We are not just a store. This is
a community,” says Kristina.
As The Changing Table continues to
evolve, the women have added a selection of baby carriers, breastfeeding
necessities, environmentally safe teethers, toys, and more. There is even a “Made in Oklahoma” table
which showcases local, handmade items.
“We choose our products carefully by selecting items that are
functional, beautiful, and sustainably made” says Kristina. New moms enjoy browsing the selection of
amber teething necklaces and the array of silicone Chewbeads. The Changing Table’s bamboo swaddle blankets
and Kleynimals non-toxic stainless steel baby keys are a hit at baby
showers. The store is truly a natural
baby boutique.
The Changing Table offers many free classes
including their Cloth Diaper Crash Course every second and fourth Saturday of
the month at 10 a.m. and one Thursday evening class a month at 6:30 p.m. They also have monthly classes on folding prefolds
and flats, wash routine troubleshooting and how to use wool. Monthly babywearing classes teach moms, dads,
and caregivers how to safely and comfortably carry their babies in a variety of
carriers. In honoring their first love
of education, Elizabeth continues to advocate for cloth diapers and is a Real
Diaper Association Board Member and Central Oklahoma real diaper circle
leader. Kristina is following her
passion to help other moms with breastfeeding through becoming a Certified
Breastfeeding Educator. In September,
The Changing Table will be offering free breastfeeding classes for expecting
parents. The Changing Table’s
babywearing class is taught by a Babywearing International Volunteer Educator.
For additional information, visit
the store at 1145 SW 74th Street, Bldg D, OKC, call (405) 632-5684,
email info@thechangingtableok.com, or visit www.thechangingtableok.com or
www.facebook.com/thechangingtable.
