Bumper pads are great for making newborn changing pads. I used to take the old bumper pads, tear off the old fabric, fold in half lengthwise and slide into a sleeve of material about 1 yd long. Do this 4 times. Then sew the bottom edges to a sq piece of fabric and then use ribbons to tie the corners together to form a boxed in matt. The idea is that the baby cannot roll off the bed, or whatever surface you place the changing matt on with the sides reinforced this way and yet it can be untied at the corners and folded away for easy traveling. I also used to take them along as a throw whenever visiting a girlfriends house and i'd lay it next to wherever I was sitting. My children would lay there happily without fuss as long as they were nearby and they were safe. They also launder easily.