Planning a Nursery

Getting ready for baby can be overwhelming. Some moms-to-be want to jump right into planning a nursery while others want extra time to think about it, especially if they are going to be planning their nursery design around their baby’s gender.

Regardless of what works best for you and your family, here are some baby room tips and ideas to consider when planning a nursery for baby.

1. Baby won’t use the nursery right away. Because of baby’s sleep and feeding patterns, you will want to keep your baby as close to you as possible right after baby is born. Make sure you set up this space in your bedroom first. You’ll need a place for baby to sleep, like a Moses basket, co-sleeper or bassinet. You’ll also need to carve out some space to keep diapers, wipes, your breastfeeding accessories, and some of baby’s clothes.
2. Put safety first when decorating the nursery. Expecting moms need to be extra cautious when painting or climbing ladders. Pregnancy can make mom less agile than normal, and paint fumes can be dangerous if rooms aren’t properly ventilated. Painting is a great project for partners or friends and family who want to help get ready for baby’s arrival. If you do paint, make sure the room is well-ventilated. Take regular breaks and don’t stay if you’re feeling dizzy or light-headed.
3. Newborns actually don’t need that much. There are cuter options for nurseries than ever before, and thanks to Pinterest and bloggers, the possibilities seem endless. Keep in mind that your new arrival won’t be a baby forever, and you don’t need to go into debt to have a cute nursery. You will need:
   • A place for baby to sleep. Make sure your crib meets the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) safety standards. For example, drop-side cribs are now illegal.
   • Somewhere to change diapers. This could be a changing table, but if space is tight, a changing pad on top of a dresser will eliminate the need for a separate changing table. Just be sure it is secured to the top as babies get wigglier as they get older.
   • A place to store clothes, blankets, diapers and more. You will need somewhere to keep all of the adorable clothes and blankets you will collect for baby, as well as somewhere to store items that need to be in close reach – such as diapers, wipes, lotion and other baby care items.
   • A comfy place for nursing. A rocking chair or glider for nursing, as well as a side table and nightlight, are nice to have, but are not necessities.