Pregnancy is an incredibly exciting time for yourself and your partner, though it is not without its challenges. Not only will your body be going through a lot of changes, you’ll also have about a million different things to organize ahead of time—from shopping for clothes they’ll grow out of too quickly or getting their nursery together.
Decorating the perfect nursery for your child is a lot of fun but can also be rather stressful if you aren’t sure where to get started or simply want to save money when shopping. Fortunately, with a little bit of planning and organization, putting together a warm, welcoming space for your little one can be a breeze!
With that in mind, here are twelve things that every nursery needs!
- A crib. When designing your child’s nursery, your focus should be on creating a space for the perfect sleep. After all, the more shut-eye that your little one gets, the more rested you will feel, too (and sleeping with a newborn will always prove to be difficult). Therefore, it’s important that you choose the perfect cot for your baby—focusing on comfort, practicality, and safety.
- A mattress. While your choice of crib is important, the mattress is perhaps the most important piece of furniture within your baby’s room—as this will affect their comfort and quality of sleep the most. Typically, the best mattress option for your cot is a foam mattress. This is because they are highly durable and provide your baby with plenty of support. They are also hypoallergenic, meaning that they won’t allow dust to gather there.
- A calming color scheme. Decorating your child’s room means you get to experiment a little when it comes to how you design the space – however, you should ensure that you focus on cool, calming colors as opposed to those that are overly bright. Pastel tones or neutral shades are ideal as they can help your child feel calm and relaxed. You can read more about the psychology of colors and how they can affect your mood and mindset here. In addition to painting the walls or adding wallpapers, you could also hang up some cool wall art—such as prints from popular children’s TV shows and books. Alternatively, you could choose a theme for your room and base your design choices around this. Themes could include under the sea, pirates, fairies, princesses, and more!
- Plenty of storage options. It’s important that you make the most of the space available in your child’s room—as you will likely have a lot of different items you need to store within there—from diapers to toys. Therefore, you should ensure that you know exactly how to organize a small storage space (i.e., don’t just shove everything in the cupboard and shut the door). If you’re running low on space, check out these clever storage options for nurseries.
- Baby Bouncers. Items such as baby bouncers, sometimes referred to as baby swings, are another great addition to any nursery. They are a great way to help your child settle down and fall asleep if they are feeling stressed or restless, as they often find the gentle rocking and bouncing motions soothing. Furthemore, baby bouncers usually do not take up too much space—meaning that you can easily set one up if you’re running short on space.
- Changing Table. A changing table or station is an essential when it comes to baby-proofing your home—after all, you need to ensure that you have everything on hand to keep them clean and mess-free. In addition to a changing table, you should also make sure that you have some kind of diaper bin or disposal unit close by.
- A Baby Bath. Bathtime with your little ones can be a lot of fun, especially if they enjoy the sweet-smelling bubbles. Bathing your child regularly is important as not only does it help keep them clean, it also ensures that they do not develop any rashes. While you may wish to move the bath into the bathroom (where they can splash away to their heart’s content), you should ensure you have storage space for these items within your nursery.
- A Nursing/Rocking chair. Whether you plan to breastfeed your child or give them a formula of some kind, you need to ensure you have a place within the nursery where you can feed them quickly and easily. It should also be a place where you yourself feel comfortable, such as nursing or a rocking chair.
- A Nightlight. A nightlight is another great way to create a space where your child feels relaxed and safe. For example, turning on a nightlight in the evening ensures that they open their eyes to a welcoming and comforting environment should they wake up the night—meaning they are less likely to cry out or need any attention. They are also a great way to keep them entertained and ensure they are not afraid of the dark. On a similar thread, you may also want to get hold of a mobile to hang above their crib.
- A Baby monitor. A baby monitor is a great addition to any nursery based on the fact that it gives you much greater peace of mind. For example, while your newborn may sleep in the same room as you to begin with, when they start to sleep in your own room—a baby monitor means that you’ll always know when they are crying or when they need you—as opposed to hoping that the sound will carry through to your room.
- A bookshelf. Reading to your child, even at an early age, can help them develop a life-long love of reading and stories. Furthemore, it can help them develop a range of cognitive skills that will allow them to grow and develop. Therefore, a bookshelf—complete with a range of age-appropriate picture books—is another useful addition to your nursery. They also look great!
- A Toy Chest. A toy chest is a great way to add an extra special touch to your nursery and also provides you with a great storage option for their toys, games, and other activities. By having a designated place to store toys, you’ll also be reducing clutter within your home—which is a great way to reduce stress (and saves you vital time when it comes to cleaning).
While the above list may seem a little expensive, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to break the bank when buying items for your little one. For example, you should keep an eye out for second-hand items in local thrift stores or online groups—some of which are even given away at no cost to you. Furthemore, if the items are not in the best condition, you can easily breathe life into them by getting to grips with upcycling.
In short, there are various steps you can take to create the perfect nursery for your child—but it’s also important that you focus on creating a space that not only looks great but is also highly functional and easy to navigate. You should keep the design and layout simple to avoid tripping hazards and ensure you can move around the space quickly and easily. Furthemore, don’t be afraid to have fun when it comes to creating your child’s room—as this is the one space in the house where you can afford to have contrasting colors displayed together or whacky and crazy designs on the wall.
Mia Guerra
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