Getting Ready for Baby: Setting up the Nursery

The truth is baby doesn’t actually need a room of her own…yet. All baby really needs is a place to sleep, a place to be changed, and a place to keep clothes and possibly a few books and toys. If space is tight, that could be the corner of your room. If you have more room then you may want to set up a nursery.

A Place to Sleep

Most parents will purchase a crib. However, if you plan on cosleeping with your baby (have baby sleep with you in your bed), you may not need one. Often families that choose to cosleep find that their crib serves as an expensive place to keep stuffed-animals. If you do purchase a crib, make sure meets current safety standards. This is especially important if you buy or are given a second-hand crib. The mattress should fit snuggly into the crib and should be firm. Some cribs convert into a toddler bed. Although these are more expensive, it will give you a couple more years of use.

All you really need for bedding are blankets. Newborns should not have pillows, thick blankets or stuffed animals in the crib. Crib bumpers used to be popular, but today organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Consumer Product Safety Commission, and National SIDS Alliance recommend not using them as they pose a risk of suffocation.

You may also want to purchase a bassinette. Bassinettes are nice because they are smaller, so they fit a newborn better and are also fairly portable. Again, make sure your bassinette meets current safety standards.

A Place to Change Diapers

A bed or the floor will work but a changing table is much more convenient. Look for one with safety rails, a strap for securing baby, and plenty of storage for diapers, creams, powders and the like. Some changing tables are combined with dressers, which can also be helpful. Remember, always keep a hand on your baby while changing her, and never leave her on the table unattended.

A Place to Keep Things

If money is tight, you can keep baby’s clothes and toys in bins, but ideally, drawers and shelves are nice to have. Make sure you secure shelves and dressers to the wall, especially if you live in an earthquake-prone area. Baskets and bins do work well for board books and toys. Since you can’t keep stuffed animals in the crib, you might want to purchase a stuffed animal hammock.

A Rocker or Glider

You don’t need one, but a glider or rocker is a nice addition to a nursery. Ideally, get a padded one and consider a footstool. Many gliders have matching footstools that also glide.

Decorating the nursery can be a lot of fun. If you enjoy finding or making the perfect bedding with curtains to match, by all means go for it. Paint the walls, add a boarder. But if decorating is not your thing, don’t feel pressured to make the perfect baby nursery. All baby really needs are a few essentials and a lot of love.

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