When it comes to a nursery, emotions often affect logical thinking. Expecting moms are in their nesting period. They want everything that stores suggest, though lots of the nursery items are not usable at all. Follow our baby nursery checklist and provide a safe and functional baby room without spending a ton of money!
What you really need for the nursery in 2024
When arranging the nursery, functionality and safety should be your priorities! Keep in mind that your baby won’t mind how the nursery looks. She won’t complain about wall colors, fluffy rugs, or the wrong patterns.
Of course, you can include the latest trends, adorable decorations, and paint the walls with your favorite color. After all, you will spend a lot of time in the nursery, so it has to be appealing to you. But if you want to follow the latest safe sleeping guidelines, you will have to give up certain nursery items, like those cute matching crib bumpers and blankets. They pose a high risk of suffocation or strangulation for the baby!
Another important thing you have to consider is that you are arranging a nursery for yourself. Yes, you! As I said, you will spend a lot of time there, so make it comfortable and practical for yourself! The nursery has to offer mental, physical, and emotional comfort for the mother. A happy and calm mom, a happy and relaxed baby!
Last but not least, the layout and pieces of furniture in this room will change at least three to four times before your child grows into a teenager, so think ahead. Nowadays, you can pick a lot of juvenile furniture that grows with your child, including convertible cribs, changing units, etc.
Baby Nursery Checklist
Ask yourself what nursery items are essentials to you! Someone who lives in a smaller home, where rooms are close to each other, might not need a baby monitor. Yet, someone else might feel more comfortable with a baby monitor or baby cam.
What I want to say is that there are nursery items that are essential for everyone, items that are potentially needed, and some that you can avoid entirely!
Must-Haves in the Nursery
Let’s begin with the list of the nursery essentials that should find their place in each nursery.
1. Crib, Cradle or Bassinet:
- You have several options, among which, a full-size convertible crib that grows with your child is the best choice for the nursery! Such a model may convert from a newborn crib to a toddler bed, daybed, and even into a full-size adult bed.
- For a small nursery, opt for a mini convertible crib, which is as functional as a full-size model, just in smaller dimensions.
RELATED: Baby Crib Buying Guide
No matter what type of crib you choose, it has to meet all required safety standards! All cribs undergo rigorous testing to meet all applicable standards, so if you are purchasing a new crib, there shouldn’t be any problems. If you are buying a secondhand crib, make sure it is made after 2011, when the new safety standards took effect.
2. Proper Crib Mattress:
Purchasing the right baby crib mattress for your selected crib is crucial! Choosing the wrong one puts your baby in danger despite having a safe and sturdy baby crib.
- You have to choose a snuggle-fitting crib mattress! There should be no more than two fingers of space between the mattress’s edge and the crib’s frame. A wider gap poses a risk of the baby’s entrapment, which may have severe consequences.
- A crib mattress must be flat and firm, without any visible gaps or dents. High firmness is essential! If it feels too hard for you, it is probably great for your baby.
I know it might seem a little intimidating, but it’s not as difficult as it sounds. Knowing what to look for can help you find a proper crib mattress at a glance. You can find all the guidelines in our baby crib mattress buying guide.
3. Fitted Crib Sheets (2 – 4 pieces):
First, you need at least two sheets, ideally four or more. Second, choose machine-washable and dryable sheets for your convenience!
Nighttime accidents will happen despite the nappy. The baby may vomit or spit up, etc. You have to give yourself an option to swap out dirty sheets during the night.
Choose tight-fitting sheets for your baby’s safety. There shouldn’t be any loose parts in your baby’s cribs. As they remain fit and snug all night long, I’ve decided on those with a 360-degree elastic band.
A soft 100% cotton sheet will keep your baby cozy and comfortable. It is also breathable and helps prevent overheating.
4. Receiving Blankets (4 – 6 pieces):
Their primary purpose is, of course, swaddling babies. But receiving blankets are very versatile, so you’ll soon find yourself using them for almost everything.
You can lay it on the ground to provide your baby with a quick, safe place to lie, tummy time, and play, or use it as a changing mat substitute, a burp cloth, etc.
5. At least 2 Sleeping Sacks:
Sleeping sacks or wearable blankets are a must-have in the nursery. If you have to cover your baby, use a sleeping sack, not a blanket!
It is so much safer! A sleeping sack
Depending on the time of the year, you can choose between thin sleeveless sleeping sacks or long-sleeve fleece sleeping bags.
Nursery Essentials for the Parent’s Comfort
1. Crib Mattress Covers (1 – 3 pieces):
Purchase a waterproof mattress pad to save yourself the trouble of cleaning the crib mattress. You should have at least two pieces so that you can change the crib if a nighttime accident occurs.
For your convenience, choose machine washable and dryable models. And be careful that they are of soft material, which eliminates noisy “crinkling” sounds.
Crib mattress covers are either water-resistant or waterproof. The water-resistant cover keeps liquid on the surface only for a short time, after which it starts slowly leaking inside. The waterproof model keeps the liquid away from the mattress’s core and should be your preferred choice.
2. Nursing Chair:
You will spend a lot of time in the nursery, so you need a comfortable and calming ambiance. A quality nursery chair is the best investment for you!
You will use it a lot, whether breastfeeding, cuddling, relaxing, or just rocking to sleep. Not only will it save you a lot of physical pain, but its gentle movement will also soothe you and your baby!
You can choose between classic rockers and modern gliders. The latter ones are more comfortable, with smoother and quieter movements, and may have added features, such as a swivel or recliner.
3. Nightlight:
Babies are not afraid of the dark, so they do not need a nightlight. Though it is very convenient for you, a dim light allows you to check your baby, and most importantly, it does not completely wake up the baby during nighttime feeding and changing.
I recommend you choose a nightlight with a warm orange or red spectrum. Other colors inhibit the production of the hormone melatonin, which contributes to better sleep.
There are countless options when choosing a night light. You can choose one that changes colors, turns on and off remotely, has a timer, doubles as a sound machine, or is even manageable by your phone.
4. Dresser with a Changing Pad:
If your nursery doesn’t have enough space for a dresser and a changing table, a dresser with a changing pad is your winner.
The dresser offers storage space for clothes and baby-changing accessories. By adding a changing pad on the top, you can easily repurpose it into a changing table. Last but not least, you can use it as a standard dresser once the baby outgrows it.
5. Baby Monitor or Baby Cam:
The need for a baby monitor depends on the size of your home. If you live in a smaller place where you can hear the baby in all the other rooms, there is, of course, no need to buy a baby monitor.
However, if you think you won’t hear your baby, purchase one. Knowing your baby is not crying will make you calmer and more relaxed.
Another advantage of a baby monitor is that you will hear your baby much faster when the crying starts. This way, you will be able to comfort her more easily as if the cry had already fully developed.
This is a fun story from my life. When my firstborn was born, we lived in a small apartment. However, I had not only a baby monitor but a baby cam. Why? Because I was alone with my baby for the whole day, and we had a dog. And a dog has to pee.
Luckily we have a French bulldog that only needs a minute and then goes to rest on the couch again. When my baby girl fell asleep, I quickly grabbed the camera and the dog, jumped in front of the house, and waited for her to pee while I was continually staring at the screen.
I have to point out that I was able to get back inside in about ten seconds. For all dog lovers, the dog went for long walks in the morning and evening when the husband was home.
Optional Nursery Items
1. Music box, white noise machine, or other sound machines:
Yes, the baby might fall asleep faster with a gentle lullaby or white noise in the background. Those mimicking the mother’s heartbeat are usually especially comforting for newborns.
While gentle noise can block out other household noises, they often exceed recommended noise limits for babies, babies can become dependent on them, and not all babies respond well to the sound.
2. Changing table:
As I said before, if you plan on having a dresser in the nursery but are short on space, a separate changing table is not needed.
However, changing tables are better suited for diaper changes. They include open, easy-to-access storage spaces to keep necessary baby items like extra diapers, diaper cream, wipes, and extra clothes within arm’s reach.
Another benefit of a changing table is its raised edges on the top. These edges surround your baby on at least three sides to help prevent rolling off of the table, which adds to its safety.
On the other hand, you can use a convenient changing table topper that is placed on top of the dresser and offers the same security as a regular changing table.
3. A crib mobile is a nice addition, but it can be a waste of money:
Depending on the model you choose, a crib mobile may stimulate or soothe the baby. I had a great experience with a crib mobile, as it was soothing to my child. However, some babies are not interested in it, or they only want to pull it down from the crib.
4. Other unnecessary things in the nursery:
- Toy boxes and tonnes of toys
- Nursery decoration, such as wall art
- Baby room bookshelves
Nursery items that you do NOT Need!
1. You do not need blankets for the crib:
Not only do you not need them, but blankets are also dangerous for the baby. They pose a risk of overheating and suffocation!
The same applies to baby comforters, pillows, sheepskins, and plush toys. Never put any of them in a baby’s sleep environment to prevent suffocation!
2. You don’t need Infant Sleep Positioners:
Baby-safe sleep guidelines recommend sleeping on the back. Infant sleep positioners keep the baby in this position by preventing rolling.
Because of this, using one of them seems like a perfect choice. In fact, sleep positioners used to be one of the best-selling nursery items, but not anymore!
You can choose from many designs, from a wedge-shaped mat with side bolsters to padded plastic tubes with mesh on the sides. However, infant sleep positioners are unnecessary and unsafe, so avoid using any of them!
Infant sleep positioners already caused tragic deaths when the baby pressed her face against the side of the device or became trapped between the positioner and the crib’s side.
3. Avoid crib bumpers:
Crib bumpers are soft pads made of fabric, which you tie to the inside of the crib. Their purpose is to protect the baby from injuries induced by bumping on the crib’s sides.
Crib bumpers do look promising, the same as sleep positioners. But in reality, they pose a danger to your child.
Same to any other soft products in the baby’s crib, safety experts advise against crib bumpers too!
Baby Nursery Checklist
What you Need, what might comes in handy to you, and what you should never buy!
| Nursery Essentials | toy boxes and tonnes of toys | Optional Nursery Items | Do NOT buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| crib or bassinet | 1-3 crib mattress covers | music box or white noise machine | blankets |
| proper crib mattress | nursery chair | changing table | infant sleep positioners |
| 2-4 fitted crib sheets | nightlight | crib mobile | crib bumpers |
| 4-6 receiving blankets | dresser with a changing pad | toy boxes and tones of toys | |
| 2 sleeping sacks | baby monitor | nursery decoration, such as wall art | |
| baby room bookshelves |