The first few days of your baby’s life involve a lot of address changes! Bouncing from the womb to the hospital room to their new home has a lot of moving parts which makes taking the time to prepare your baby’s space even more important. We at mumlists believe that in the earlier months your bedroom is the perfect room for your newborn as they will need you more than anything else. Also, the close proximity makes night-time feedings easier and, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, can reduce the chance of SIDS by up to 50%. While we strongly recommend co-sleeping, the decision of where your baby sleeps is yours and yours alone. The bond between you and your baby will not change!
Getting your nursery ready for baby can be overwhelming. The best way to approach it is by categorizing the essentials of your newborn’s daily schedule and requirements into the following categories:
We also have a separate blog post detailing out each category listed below.
7. Bottle warmer – Keeping an extra one in your nursery can save you a drowsy trip across the house.
8. Small fridge – (optional) This can be a great tool to keep breast milk or pre-made bottles in your nursery so, even if you’re breastfeeding, your partner can help with midnight feedings too
(Click here for a detailed list)
1. A changing station – This can be a changing table, but using the top of a dresser gives you plenty of storage and a multi-functional piece of furniture in a tight space.
8. Diaper caddy to store all the diapering essentials.
7. Night lamp
2. Video monitor – Make sure to test that your video monitor reaches all corners of the room.
5. Any medicine your baby needs
6. Babyproofing measures – From open outlets to curtain cords, it’s important to look out for any potential dangers to your baby, especially as they learn to get around on their own. Magical Mama has a great post that makes sure you are babyproofing in ways people could easily overlook!
8. Carbon monoxide detector
1. Extra Towels – While most of your bathing supplies will stay in your bathroom, your nursery is an excellent place to store extra, clean towels or have hooks on the back of the door to hang them up when you’re done.
2. Post-Bath Products – You can keep any products you will use on your baby after the bath such as lotion or massage oil near your changing station. For a full list of everything you will need in and out of the nursery to bathe your baby, check out our blog post The Complete Guide to Bathing Your Baby [link].
1. Clothes & Accessories for every season - You will be amazed at how your baby’s closet will be even more jam-packed than your own. For the baby boutique basics, read our post " Baby clothes lists for beginner’
3. Dresser/ Drawers/ Storage Bins – These are a great way to store out-of-season clothes where they are still accessible, but not in the way. The Sterlite drawers are also great way to store stuff since they allow you to view what is in what.
4. Drawer labels – So anyone helping with your baby can find a change of clothes quickly!
5. Drawer/Closet Organizers – Inserts are a fantastic way to keep tiny items, such as your baby’s socks, organized when they’re in a giant drawer.
Playtime
5. Toys – Whether you’re a fan of tech-savvy toys or taking a more Montessori approach, it is crucial to remember to not have any toys in your baby’s crib or toys with tiny pieces your baby can easily swallow.
Now that you know what you need, it’s time to figure out where to put everything! Consider functionality when deciding on your layout. Having your nursing area close to the crib will make for shorter transports and less time for your baby to stir as you’re putting them down after they’ve fallen asleep. Maybe you notice it’s quicker for you to keep the laundry bin and diaper disposal bin close to the door so you can quickly grab them while you’re on the way out. Finally, this is the time to ensure that all of your devices, such as mini-fridges or white noise machines, are close to outlets! Setting up your nursery, or “nesting”, can be a wonderful bonding experience with your partner. Picking out colors, pictures, and imagining how you’ll use this room in a few short weeks can get you both excited and feeling more prepared for your new arrival.
“Do you have a design in mind for your nursery already? Whether you prefer a trendy peppy look or you’re going for a more pastel or farmhouse style - there’s a stunning layout for everyone. Take time to look around for ideas on Pinterest or your favorite store. Good Luck! ”