Preparing your home for the arrival of a little one is exciting. If you’re someone who loves to decorate and spend money on interior design, then a nursery project is one that you can really get stuck into.
So what do you need? What are the essentials that your little one is going to need? While the room itself might not be used for at least six months after they’ve arrived, it’s always good to be proactive and dress the space before their arrival. Otherwise, you might find yourself a little limited on time once they’re here.
With that being said, here are some top essentials to have in your baby’s nursery so that the space is prepared for when they arrive.
The crib
A crib is probably the most important part of the nursery and for many, the focal point of the room. Therefore, it’s good to do some research on what’s available. For example, do you want a crib that only sees your baby through the first couple of years?
Perhaps you might want something that’s a bit more of an investment but will result in a longer option for your baby to sleep in.
For example, you might want to look at something like a convertible crib. This Convertible Crib Buying Guide: Everything Parents Should Know is helpful if you want to spend your money on the right crib.
The position of the crib is important too, especially as you might experience some bright light hitting certain parts of the room that you want to avoid placing the crib.
Plenty of storage space
Storage space is an essential part of your baby’s nursery because a baby comes with quite a lot of stuff. You wouldn’t think such a small human being would need quite so much stuff but they’ll certainly get through a lot of nappies, clothes that get poop or vomit on them, and an abundance of toys.
With storage space, you keep everything in its place without it being another room that becomes messy. That’s one thing you might experience as a new parent, your home will soon become a dumping ground that you’re constantly cleaning up at the end of a long shift.
If you’re looking for storage options consider under the crib options, a wardrobe, and perhaps a chest of drawers. This will put you in good stead when it comes to keeping everything in order for when the baby comes.
Night light
A night light is a common purchase, especially when it comes to seeing your baby in the night so that you can change and feed them without waking them up. Some dream feeds are a great way to send the baby back to sleep without waking them up, so having minimal lighting will aid this and help you get a good night’s sleep too.
Not only that but a night light can be a great source of comfort. The warmth of the light is usually what makes it helpful to ensure your baby sleeps well at night and doesn’t necessarily feel alone in the dark either.
Some night lights will come with a variety of settings, including sounds or songs. This is useful for when they get older and need some comfort when being rocked or soothed off to sleep.
Baby monitor
To help keep a close eye on your baby when you’re out of the nursery room, a baby monitor is helpful to have installed. This could be placed in the corner of the room from up above, or attached to the crib for a close-up visual.
You’ll want a baby monitor that’s not going to need linking to your WIFI as that can pose a danger to it getting hacked. Ones that operate via Bluetooth or via an app using Bluetooth are going to be your best bet.
Baby monitors are a good way of keeping a watchful eye on your baby in their nursery to ensure they’re ok at all times. Some monitors also come with sensors that you can put beneath the crib in order to track the movement of your baby and as such, can help reduce the chances of SIDS.
Thermostat
Talking of SIDS, the temperature of the nursery is important to get right, otherwise, it can increase the risks of SIDS. The warmer the room is, the more dangerous it becomes. It’s not something you might be mindful of considering adults are able to regulate their temperature.
However, babies will rely on your efforts to ensure they’re kept warm or cool, whether that’s what they’re wearing or how warm or cold the room is. With that in mind, a room thermostat might be useful to have in the room at all times. That way, you can keep an eye on when the temperature dips or spikes.
Keep an eye on the peak times of the year when it gets particularly warm and be mindful of how much you dress them in. You may also want to introduce a room fan to help keep the room cool, along with opening windows intermittently.
Nappy caddy
While a nursing station is sometimes a feature of the room, it can be dangerous if you leave your child unattended on it. That’s why it’s good to have a nappy caddy available so that you can change your little one on the floor instead. That way, there’s less risk and you end up having more space in the room which can be used for that all-important storage space or play area.
Nursing pillow or chair
Finally, it’s good to consider the option of a nursing pillow and/or chair. Nursing chairs can be useful to some, whereas, for others, they might not be as helpful. Instead, a nursing pillow might be a preferred choice, especially if space is limited in the room.
Hopefully, these essentials will set you up when it comes to decorating your nursery space and making it extra special for your little bundle of joy.
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