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What do you need for a nursery? While there are many things you would like to have for your baby's nursery, today we are looking at the must-have nursery essentials.
Let's be honest. Decorating a nursery can get expensive. So if you are trying to design a nursery on a budget, it's important to first understand what you need for a nursery instead of shopping for all those gorgeous nursery decor pieces. We know, it's easy to get carried away!
When considering what you need for a nursery, think about the essential zones that need to be created in the nursery. First, baby needs a place to sleep. Second, you need to plan an efficient diapering station. You also need to plan for a nursing nook in the baby's nursery. Don't foget to incorporate storage for baby's clothes, accessories and toys/books.
Here is our list of what you need for a nursery to make the nursery functional and comfortable.
NURSERY ESSENTIALS LIST
CRIB | LIGHTING | CRIB MATTRESS | CRIB SHEET | CURTAINS | NURSERY CHAIR | SOUND MACHINE | CHANGER DRESSER | DIAPER PAIL | NURSING PILLOW | SIDE TABLE | BASKET | RUG | POUF
1. CRIB
The crib is a nursery essential item. Whether you use a crib from day one or transition your baby into the crib later, you’ll be sure to get years of use from it.
A crib is simply the safest place for your baby to sleep. Here's our blog post on choosing a crib for the nursery and factors to consider when buying a crib.
2.CRIB MATTRESS
Your little one will spend a lot of time sleeping on the mattress. So even though choosing a crib mattress might seem like a boring task, it's an important decision for sure.
Read this post where we share how to choose the best crib mattress.
3.CRIB SHEET
Don't forget to purchase a couple of crib sheets and mattress protectors to keep in rotation.
4.sound MACHINE
A sound machine will drown out those startling noises and soothe your fussy little one to sleep. Seriously, the last thing you want to happen is for the baby to wake up as soon as you put her down to sleep!
5.DRESSER OR CHANGING TABLE
You need to plan for a smart and efficient diaper station. A changing table could work, but a dresser is the best solution with space for so much storage. Having baby's outfits close by, will make life so much easier. Find out how to organize your dresser here.
6.CHANGING PAD OR BASKET
You can go with a changing pad or a changing basket to secure baby in while changing the diaper.
6.DIAPER PAIL
A diaper pail with contain those stinky smells from dirty diapers. So you'll need a diaper pail to keep baby's nursery smelling fresh and sweet!
7.NURSERY CHAIR
The nursing nook will probably be your favorite spot in the nursery whether you are sitting there watching your little one sleep in the crib, calming the baby when he's fussy or feeding the little one.
You want to choose a nursery chair that's comfortable above all else. A good nursery glider or rocking chair should be soft but supportive, with enough height to rest your head.
8.NURsing PILLOW
If you plan on breastfeeding the baby, a nursing pillow will be helpful. It will help prop your baby up next to your breasts, so you can position the baby correctly for breastfeeding.
9.SIDE TABLE
A functional nursing nook needs a side table to place your glass of water, phone, etc.
10. NURSERY STORAGE
When it comes to the functionality of your baby's nursery, storage is important. You'll be surprised at how much stuff your baby will have from toys to books and clothes.
Adding storage to the nursery such as shelving, storage bins and bookcases will keep messes at bay and make tidying up the nursery much easier.
11.NURSERY LIGHTING
Lighting is an important element of design, so add nursery lighting including overhead lighting, changing table light, and a reading lamp to the nursing nook. This way, you'll have enough lighting, right where you need it.
12.NURSERY RUG
What else do you need for a nursery? We happen to think no room is complete without a rug.
Add a rug to the nursery to tie all the different pieces together visually and anchor the nursery.
13.WINDOW TREATMENTs
Last but certainly not least, the nursery needs curtains, drapes or shades. Avoid blinds with long, exposed cords since they can pose a strangulation hazard for little ones. ( Read this post for a complete Baby Proofing Checklist)
Last Updated on February 1, 2021 by Tira Attygalla
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