Preparing a nursery for your baby can be one of the most exciting, yet stressful times of your life. Exciting, because it means you have a whole new room to decorate with cute things - and stressful, because you’re not sure if you’ve got everything that you need for when your baby comes!
Preparing a nursery for your baby can be one of the most exciting, yet stressful times of your life. Exciting, because it means you have a whole new room to decorate with cute things - and stressful, because you’re not sure if you’ve got everything that you need for when your baby comes!
Below we’ve divided what we believe are the essentials and necessities - alongside what we think aren’t the make or break of a sleepless night, but what we think (and a lot of other mums think!) are super useful.
For expectant mamas who are short on time, we suggest that you try to tackle the first list - as these are things that you don’t want to realise you’re missing when you’ve got your hands full in the middle of the night!
So what are the essentials?
Essential:
- Bedding:
- 1 x Cradle, crib or bassinet (width of slats should be no larger than 6cms apart)
- 2 x bedding & sheets
- Crib mattress (no more than 2 fingers of gaps along the edges) - for safety reasons, they should also be firm and hold shape
- Mattress pad or waterproof cover - you want at least 2 of these in case one becomes soiled in the middle of the night. It should also be snug and not come loose.
- Diapers: Cloth or disposable depends on your lifestyle and personal views.
- Cloth (approx. 36 cloth diapers) & 5 waterproof diaper covers
- Disposable (initially, your baby will need to be changed up to 12 times per day - so we’re huge advocates of bulk-buying!)
- Dirty diaper bin (with a close fitting lid!)
- Baby wipes
- 3 x Soft baby towels
- 2 x Soft wash cloths
- Baby soap or wash
- Nappy rash cream
- Baby/Talcum Powder
- Baby clothes:
- 6 x cotton onesies (we recommend ones that snap at crotch)
- 4 x Pyjama sets
- 6 x singlets
- Cotton cardigan
- Sun hats, knit caps & beanies
- 2 x bibs
- Socks for colder months
- Pram / Stroller
- Baby car seat
- Feeding:
- 5 x Baby bottles with newborn nipples
- 1 x Bottle brush
- Sterilising equipment for bottles
- 5 x burp cloths
- 3 baby wraps/swaddles
- Round tipped nail scissors
- Thermometer
- Dummies
- Safety equipment (gates, locks, guards & covers)
- Large baby bag for outings
And what’s useful?
- Breastfeeding bras and tops
- Crib bumper
- Baby monitor
- White noise machine
- Cool mist humidifier/vaporisers
- Dresser
- Table top changer (which can go on top of the dresser)
- Storage bins & baskets
- Wipe warmer
- Squirt bottle (for easy clean ups)
- Baby bath
- Baby bouncer
- Breast pump (especially when you need to leave your baby in someone else’s care!)
- Breast pads
- Baby body carrier
- Pram rain cover
- Car window shade
- Nipple cream
- Petroleum Jelly
- Mild soap for laundry
- Bulb nasal aspirator
- Baby mat for tummy time
- Rattles/toys
It may seem like a lot, but we always like to think that it’s better to be over-prepared than underprepared. And you’ll also find that a lot of these things will only have to be bought once - and you’ll soon get into the habit of knowing what you need to grab when you go out. Eventually, it’ll become quite similar to going out and grabbing a bottle of milk or a loaf of bread!
Another handy tip is buying your supplies after you already throw a baby shower (if you decide to have one). You wouldn’t want to stock up on everything to realise that after the baby shower, your baby will grow out of all of the clothes before he/she gets a chance to wear them all!
