Creating a nursery space is one of the most magnificent experiences ever. Thus, no wonder every future parent easily succumbs to the nesting fewer. Your offspring deserves a comfortable and cozy piece of heaven, but even more importantly, a place that is functional, safe, and of easy maintenance. Even though there are some fantastic baby equipment and accessories out there, it’s crucial to focus only on the essentials and things that will make the beginning of parenthood more manageable. Therefore, thinking practically and making a checklist for the perfect nursery will help you focus your budget and optimize your baby’s room in the best possible way.
Baby’s crib and bedding
A baby crib is the main item of any nursery. It serves to provide comfort, rest, and safety to your newborn child. Having a bed for themselves helps babies adapt to independence, giving a mother some time to rest as well. Also, after your child no longer needs safety crib rails, you can transform them into a toddler’s bed. Since cribs are often a second-hand gift from friends or family, you might not have much say in their design. However, if you’re getting a new one, make sure to choose the one with slats positioned close together. Moreover, pay attention that the crib doesn’t have drop-down sides since such design can be dangerous if it malfunctions.
The inside of the crib should only have a mattress encasement, a pad, and a fitted sheet. It’s essential not to use blankets, flat sheets, and any additional coverings, except a simple baby blanket. And instead of a blanket, you can opt for a sleeping sack. It’s an excellent option since it won’t roll under the baby as it moves.
Changing table
The changing table is a significant piece of nursery furniture that will help you tend to the needs of your little one while having all the supplies and nappies in one place. The top consists of a mat, while the bottom parts usually have drawers or open shelves, so you can easily access and store clean clothing, baby towels, and other stuff. Some of them come with wheels, so it’s easy to move them around if necessary. In addition, this brilliant piece of furniture has a multifunctional role since a lot of moms use it for bathing as well. All you need to do is remove the mat and put the bath vessel on top.
Feeding chair
Like most essential items on your checklist for the perfect nursery, a feeding chair will make your early months of motherhood much more manageable. To sustain in demanding tasks of raising a baby, you need to treat your body well, resting as much as possible, even during feeding. That’s why a comfortable feeding chair is worth every penny. Position it in the best place in the nursery, next to a crib, near the source of natural light. Naturally, it’s essential to have bibs, covers, and towels nearby if you need them during the feeding. Also, having some throw or bolster pillows might also help find the proper position for your back.
Rocking bassinet
A rocking bassinet is a lifesaver in the first couple of months after the labor. They are an excellent daily fit for every room, even for your master bedroom. Both a bassinet and a crib have the same function, and that’s why people usually opt for one of them. However, besides apparent differences in size, bassinets are portable and easier to use for many parents. The rocking function will help you occasionally rest your hands. Or, if you’re lucky, sometimes it may even put your baby to sleep. Still, having a proper crib has its benefits as well. Cribs don’t have a weight and size limit and can be in use much longer, unlike the bassinets.
Storage options
Like in any other room of your home, storage space plays a crucial role in keeping the nursery neat and clean. As you know, babies have many small things that may not be taking much of the space but require organizing and fast access. Thus, every nursery needs a good and practical cabinet. Luckily, they are sometimes combined with a changing table. However, most likely, you won’t be able to fit all the accessories into one cabinet. In such cases, due to the usually limited spaces of the nurseries, using the vertical storage space is a good idea.
There are so many things to fit on shelves, from sheets to books and baby toys. With smart storage options, you will be able to navigate demanding situations more easily. The same implies handling potential unexpected life changes, like moving to another location. With a good storage organization, preparing the nursery for the move will be more manageable. You will be able to pack everything up in no time for the relocation partly because everything will be neatly arranged in one place and partly because sometimes storage options can function as a container.
Disposal area
Babies make a lot of mess, so before you are swamped with dirty diapers, napkins, tissues, and towels, make sure to arrange the trash bins and dirty laundry baskets. It’s essential to separate a diaper bin and washable items baskets. Therefore, it might be good to organize the disposal areas in two places or make distinguishable differences between containers.
Giving the nursery a personal touch
Some people might say that decor is not crucial for the nursery since it provides no practical function. However, they are wrong because colors, movements, and shapes stimulate cognitive functions in a growing newborn. Therefore, paint a nursery into eye resting tones and give it a personal touch. You can achieve it with the decor in the form of age-appropriate toys, wall art, and lighting that will make the room more pleasant for you and the baby.
Conclusion
There are hundreds of cute baby things, accessories, and props that can make motherhood easier. However, investing too much of your budget into a nursery is not advisable since a child’s demands change quickly, especially in the first months of growth. Focus your checklist for the perfect nursery on essential items that will help you go through the first six months and upgrade the room in time. Having too much stuff in the nursery is never good since it creates clutter. And God knows how little time for cleaning you will have after the child is born.