Getting ready for a baby is an exciting time. One of the things I loved most about it was creating the nursery; I came up with a unique theme for each of my babies before they were born. It can be tricky to decide on a theme if you don’t know the sex of the baby beforehand. I always preferred to be surprised when they were born, so I had to make sure my themes were “safe” whether they were boys or girls. I ended up having one of each, and it was a whole lot of fun.
When my daughter became pregnant with her first child, she wasn’t nearly as adventurous as I. She wanted to know ahead of time what she was having so she could plan the baby’s room accordingly. She did the same with her second child. She also had one of each, and I have to admit, helping her plan the nurseries each time was a lot of fun since we knew “who” we were planning it for.
Baby Nursery Necessities
No matter which way you go, knowing or not knowing, there are a few things you need to be sure you include in your plans for creating a wonderful nursery. What you will need to have when setting up a baby room:
- A crib and/or bassinet
- A Changing table
- Laundry hamper
- Diaper pail
- Soft lighting
- Window shades
- Window curtains
- Organic baby sheets
- Organic crib bedding
- Crib bumper sets
- Onesies
- Several pairs of socks
- 2 newborn hats
- Burp cloths
- Bottles
- Baby toys
- And lots and lots of diapers
Some additional items that come in very handy are wiper warmers to take off the chill before you wipe your baby’s bottom, a baby monitor, a radio, a clock, and a rocking chair to rock them to sleep at night.
Comfortable Bedding Means Better Sleeping
When you set up your baby nursery, be sure to get comfortable sheets and blankets. The more comfortable they are, the more likely they are to enjoy sleeping; that means you’ll get to enjoy sleeping more too. Coyuchi organic crib sets are made with 100% organic cotton so they’re comfortable and much safer for your baby than commercial cotton grown with chemicals. You will need 3 or 4 fitted sheets so you can change them often, and the organic sheets from Coyuchi are percale. That means they are made with a tighter weave so they are not only softer, they are better able to stand up to multiple washings.
Don’t forget the crib outfitting. There are several nursery set-up ideas when it comes to how to outfit the crib, but all of them include a bumper so infants do not roll and get their arms or legs stuck in the bars. A dust ruffle isn’t absolutely necessary, but it will look nicer, and create a more visually appealing nursery. You’ll be spending a lot of time in that room, so it should look great.
Another cool baby nursery idea is to place a crib mattress pad under the sheets. This protects the mattress from those little burps and drools, so it lasts longer and is more hygienic. You can easily remove these pads and wash them as needed.
Make your baby nursery whimsical and airy. The colors in the room can be light and bright, but make sure you have a good set of shades to darken the room for mid-day naps. The darker the room, the easier it will be for your baby to sleep. Take your time creating a special place for your baby to come home to and grow up in. You have 9 months to prepare, and a lifetime to enjoy.