An Expert Guide on What Is Needed for a Nursery

Designing Your Baby's Room

One of the most exciting parts of pregnancy is getting to play the part of an interior designer. Planning out your future kid's nursery can get you excited about parenthood. Also, if you're raising the child with a partner, it can be a good bonding experience to furnish the baby's room together.

Of course, you can wait until after your baby is born to decide what you want to do with the nursery. Some parents prefer having baby stations around their home rather than dedicating a whole room to their newborn. The baby will more than likely sleep in the same room as their mom for the first few months or even the first year. So there is no real rush to getting your nursery done or knowing exactly what curtains you want to match with the crib.

The following article is intended to help you figure out what to get for your baby's room. As a mom, I know what items really matter to me and which ones I'd skip. I've included a price chart, so you have an idea of how much this is all going to cost you.

A Nursery Is a Multifaceted Room

Keep in mind, the nursery is a place where your baby sleeps, plays, eats, and uses the bathroom. Frankly, they do these things everywhere! It's best if you can help them designate where they sleep, eat, and poop ... even if they'll do what they want until they get a better handle on these things.

The following chart is organized by the least expensive item to the most expensive.

Cost of Items for Baby's Room

1. Crib Mobile

A crib mobile is a classic toy for babies. It's out of reach, but its movement, shapes, and colors entertain the baby when they're awake in their crib. It's said to stimulate creativity. I recommend one with a music box. Songs can be used to help lull the baby to sleep for afternoon naps and at night.

It's a good idea to remove the mobile when your baby can get on their hands and knees. You don't want your baby reaching toward the mobile, falling out of the crib with it, or ripping the item apart. You can safely move the toy somewhere else so that it can still be enjoyed.

2. Curtains

I promise you, blackout curtains will make all the difference in your life. Newborns sleep a lot, but they also sleep intermittently. It can be hard to get your baby to go to sleep for lengthy naps. There are certain things that help improve sleep and prevent fussiness. As a mom, I can say blackout curtains are one of the best things you can own to help your baby fall asleep and stay asleep. My other recommendations are velcro swaddles, a swing, and a white noise machine.

You'll be waking up and going back to sleep a lot. Newborns eat every 2-3 hours, sometimes even more than that! Pregnant moms-to-be might already be used to getting up and going back to bed because they have to take more bathroom breaks. You also toss and turn a lot more throughout the night because of your baby's movements. Your partner might not be as used to sleep disturbances.

Here are some big takeaways when it comes to curtains:

• Blackout curtains can limit how much light gets into the room, which can help your newborn to fall asleep at any time of the day.
• You want their room to encourage sleep, not get them too excited and stimulated. When you can darken the room and make things less interesting, that will be a big help.
• Toys are a great idea in the nursery, but I would suggest having the bulk of their toys somewhere else, like the living room. These items can distract them from sleeping.

3. Dim Lighting

When it comes to getting a baby to fall asleep, having dim lighting can do wonders. You may also appreciate dim lighting when you're half asleep in the middle of the night having to change the baby and/or feed them. You can get dimmer switches for lamps. It might also be smart to replace the room's light switch with a dimmer.

Definitely avoid bright lighting in the nursery. For stimulation, it's better to take your baby into other parts of the house, like the living room or kitchen. When they get older, babies appreciate colors and fun patterns.

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Pro Mom Tips: You may want to consider removing some bulbs from overhead lamps that take multiple bulbs. Also, avoid having mirrors on the walls which can amplify lighting.

4. Diaper Pail

Don't forget, you need a designated spot to throw away the diapers. You're constantly going to be changing your baby. Don't leave diapers in the pail for too long. You're continually going to be making trips to your outdoor trash can. The better your baby's nursery smells, the happier you and your baby will be.

Ideally, place the crib and changing table on opposite sides of the room. The diaper pail, of course, should be next to the changing table.

Just so you know, the real dirty and smelly diapers don't start happening until your baby starts eating solid foods. If your baby is only taking formula, their diapers will have a distinct stench to them.

5. Soft, Easy-to-Clean-Rug

It's nice to have a rug in the baby's room even if there already is a carpet. In case of any spills, vomit, pee, or poop, you want something that's easy to clean. A wet vac is a great cleaning tool to have in your home if you have kids or pets. It can help your carpets stay fresh and stain-free.

A rug can also help bring a nursery room together. A rug can make the theme of the nursery come alive. I bought one for this reason. Sometimes you should buy something for a room to bring up the positivity in the space and not so much for utility.

6. Mini-Fridge

Here's why I recommend a mini fridge for the nursery: it makes life easier when storing milk bottles, and you get impressively hungry while breastfeeding. It takes a lot of calories to produce milk, so don't be surprised when you're ravenous. You need a place to store snacks, especially if you live in a two-story house and your kitchen is on one floor and your bedroom is on another.

It's also nice when you don't have to worry about breast milk taking up lots of space in your main fridge. Mini-fridges are generally pretty cheap. This is also an item you can use well beyond your child's baby stage.

Here are some of the pros of having a mini fridge:

• You can store all of your frozen breast milk here.
• A fridge with no food in it will ensure that your milk bottles don't take on funky scents and/or flavor profiles from other food items in the fridge.
• A fridge in the nursery can make it easier on your legs, and I'll admit your postpartum body is going to be really achy and tired those first few weeks.
• A fridge that's designed for snacks means you'll open it and be able to make a quick decision as opposed to a full fridge with lots of various items.

7. Paint or Wallpaper

When it comes to selecting the right color for your baby's room, go light. Pale colors are calming; vivid colors are exciting. Yellow is considered one of the worst colors to paint a baby's room. The color tends to upset them and cause more temper tantrums. No parent wants their child to have more temper tantrums.

Blue and pink are popular colors, but I would suggest opting for a light shade. Green and purple are also common colors in nurseries. I don't recommend brown as it will remind you of gross things, so for your own mental well-being ... skip brown hues in the baby's room.

White is another great color in the baby's room. It's a clean color and pretty unoffensive. Vibrant colors tend to promote energy, whereas soft and faded colors make a room more relaxed.

Here are some of my tips for wall colors and decorations:

• I love the idea of blue walls with white clouds. A friend of mine had light gray walls, and they painted flowers on one wall to make an accent wall.
• Wallpaper is common in nurseries; however, remember your little one will only be little for so long. It can be fun to put up wallpaper that has lots of cute zoo animals, but your kid will eventually grow out of it and want something new. It's safer to add art to your walls of cute animals. You can take this stuff down when it's no longer wanted.
• Paint the baby's room a light color that's unoffensive. It's easy to paint over a light color if the child's interests change. Let's be honest: Your child's interests are going to change.

Important: If you are pregnant or nursing, you shouldn't do any of the painting. Let your partner or other family members and/or friends do this work for you. I recommend leaving the house and going somewhere while the painting happens. Make sure your home is well-ventilated. Leave windows open, use fans, and get the bad paint smells out of your home.

As an expecting parent, you don't want to be around harsh chemicals like the ones that come from paint. It could make you or your developing baby sick.

8. Baby Swing or Bouncer

This is a go-to place for your baby! I don't think my baby would have taken to afternoon naps as well without a swing. Most babies like the movement they get from it, reminding them of the comforting walks of their mother while they were in utero.

Keep in mind, pediatricians recommend moving your baby out of swings and bouncers once they fall asleep and placing them in a crib or bassinet. Don't leave a baby in one of these unsupervised. Stay in the room with them.

9. Bookshelf

You don't necessarily need a giant shelf for storing your baby's books. A small hanging shelf can do the trick. This is also a good place to store stuffed animals and toys.

When your baby is young and you're just trying to put them to sleep or nurse them, you might want some reading material for yourself. Skip the cute kid stuff and hide Stephen King novels in the nursery. They can't read it yet! You can always turn books to have pages pointed out if you don't want to mess with the aesthetics of the room.

Here are some other reasons why shelves are a good idea:

• Extra storage for clothes and blankets.
• A place to organize toys.
• A place to put cute pictures.
• Great space for learning tools like flashcards and playmats.

10. Comfy Chair

You need a comfy chair for yourself. It'll be a good spot to feed the baby, read to them, and just sit there and relax. Rocking chairs are great because babies love movement. My suggestion: Find something comfortable that you love. A footrest is a great idea too.

You don't necessarily need to buy a new chair. You might look around your home and find something that's already suitable. For breastfeeding moms, I found the massage chair in my house was one of my favorite places to sit and take care of the baby. It's okay to splurge so you can maximize comfort.

11. Crib or Bassinet

One of the most obvious things that your baby is going to need is a crib or bassinet. Your baby needs a designated place where they can sleep and be comfortable. These aren't things I would buy used. It might be tempting to cut on the cost here, but a crib is something you should buy new.

You want to make sure the crib is in excellent condition and hasn't had any wear and tear. When you buy it used, you might not notice something that's off. It's also a good idea to buy it new and have the instructions and warranty for it.

Some cribs will convert into a toddler bed. These are usually more expensive. Bassinets are generally less expensive than cribs; however, your little one will grow out of the bassinet and into a crib. It's a good idea to have both. Keep the bassinet in mom's room. The crib can wait for them until they're a little older.

Here is what you need for a crib:

• You want about 1-3 washable crib pads. You're constantly going to be changing and cleaning your baby's room. It can get really stinky if you're not on top of cleaning.
• You need a firm, flat mattress that fits in the crib. Do not add lots of random things into their crib. These can be choking hazards. If you have a cat, always make sure they're not in the baby's room where it could accidentally suffocate your baby.
• I recommend about 2-5 fitted crib sheets.

12. Dresser

It's a good idea to have a dresser in your baby's room, even if you have a closet with lots of space. I do like the idea of a combined changing table and dresser. You can store diapers in the dresser. It's a good place to store other items as well, like breast pumps and pacifiers.

A dresser is also one of those items you can keep beyond your child's baby years. I recommend buying one that will be evergreen, as in it will make sense for them when they're a baby, toddler, child, and maybe even teen.

13. Changing Table

I know some parents eventually ditch the changing table because their baby gets too squirmy on it. My changing table was custom-built, so it was measured to the right height for me. His grandma also designed him a super comfy changing pad. My baby sometimes sleeps on it, so he actually weirdly likes getting his diaper and clothes changed.

The changing table acts as a diaper-changing station where you can easily get new diapers, wipe down the baby, and put on new clothes. It's a great place to store lotion, shampoo, and soap for your little one. I like changing tables because they keep things organized.

You want a changing table that works for the primary caregiver's height. Rails around the changing table are a good idea. Eventually, your baby is going to start rolling over, so you don't want things to be too easy for them to fall off.

Some changing tables are combined with a dresser; this could save space in your nursery as well as save you money. You need a comfy pad for the changing table; don't leave them on something stiff and old.

Extra Resources

1. Boyle, Susan. Design Ideas for Baby Rooms. Creative Homeowner, 2009.
2. Coe, Naomi. Your Perfect Nursery: A Step-by-Step Approach to Creating the Nursery of Your Dreams. S&S/Simon Element, 2021.
3. Ideas for Great Baby Rooms. Sunset Magazines & Books, 2006.
4. Salk, Susanna. Room for Children: Stylish Spaces for Sleep and Play. Rizzoli International Publications, 2010.
5. Still, Joanne. The Smart Approach to Baby Rooms. Creative Homeowner, 2004.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2022 Andrea Lawrence