Keeping It Simple! The Nursery

Family & Parenting, Family Money Saving Tips, Money & Finance, Parenting

Avoid clutter and keep things simple. Discover what you really need for your new little one’s nursery and what you don’t.

When we first found out we were expecting, all of a sudden visions of perfectly coordinated nurseries began to swirl in my head. You know the type I mean. Look up “baby boy nursery” on Pinterest and you’ll see themed nurseries with beautiful furniture and matching everything. They look amazing! And expensive! I found out just how expensive when I began looking at rocking chairs and cribs.

Let’s face it though, your new bundle of joy doesn’t care if there is crown molding in their room, what the drapes look like, or if their crib is stylish. As long as they are safe and loved, that’s all they need.

In this post, I’ll go over what you actually need to set up the perfect nursery without breaking the bank.

Nursery Necessities

Bassinet (Optional if keeping baby in your room since it takes less space than a crib)
Crib
Bedding
Changing Spot
Monitor
Night Light
Storage
Rocking Chair (Optional if not keeping baby in your room)

When you first bring your new baby home, you’ll want to have spaces already set up for your baby’s basic needs: sleep and diaper changes.

Bassinet

We opted to keep Dom in our room in a bassinet for a couple of reasons. First, doctor’s recommend that your baby stay with you in your room for the first year to help lower the chance of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Secondly, having him in our room made middle of the night feedings so much easier to handle. We just had to walk across the room instead of going down the hall and into the nursery. By not having to move him as much and us not going very far, all of us were able to get back to sleep much more quickly after he’d eaten. New parents don’t get much sleep as it is so the easier you can make it on yourself, the better.

We chose the Dream on Me Karley Bassinet and ordered it from Amazon (Amazon.com: Dream On Me Karley Bassinet in Blue & Grey, Lightweight Portable Baby Bassinet, Quick Fold and Easy to Carry , Adjustable Double Canopy, Indoor and Outdoor Bassinet with Large Storage Basket. : Baby). They hold up to 25 pounds, come in many different cute colors (we went with the blue and grey), are foldable for travel, and range in price from $45-$65 making it very affordable. It was easy to set up and it slides nicely on carpet so I could have him right beside me at night. The peace of mind I got from being able to just put my hand on him while he slept was priceless.

When you look for bassinets, you’ll find a lot of different options. Find one that works for you but keep in mind that they don’t use it very long especially if your baby is larger. They will either get too long or too heavy for it rather quickly. They don’t need it to vibrate, have a sound machine, or flashing lights. They just need it to be safe.

Cribs

There are a million options when it comes to cribs. They vary from plain to incredibly detailed to downright gaudy. Find one that will work with your color scheme and be able to be used for as long as possible.

We went with the Storkcraft Steveston 4-in-1 in Espresso (Amazon.com : Storkcraft Steveston 5-in-1 Convertible Crib (White) – Converts from Baby Crib to Toddler Bed, Daybed and Full-Size Bed, Fits Standard Full-Size Crib Mattress, Adjustable Mattress Support Base : Baby) so that we could use it as a toddler bed and then a full-sized bed once he is ready for that.

You can generally find second-hand cribs in pretty decent shape as well if you’re on a strict budget. If you go with that option, however, be sure to examine every inch of it before purchasing and ensure it has all the parts to it. Getting spare parts for an older crib can be a nightmare and that’s the last thing you need to deal with when it’s almost time to meet your little one.

Bedding

Once you’ve found the perfect sleeping spot for your new little one, you’ll need bedding for them. Thankfully the days of crib bumpers, skirts, and a million other things tied on to your little one’s crib are long gone for safety reasons. Now, all you need is a mattress (the firmer, the better), a waterproof cover, and a regular fitted sheet.

To keep it simple, we went with 2 waterproof covers and 2 fitted sheets (Amazon.com: American Baby Company Heavenly Soft Chenille Fitted Crib Sheet 28″ x 52″, Warm and Cozy Neutral Chenille Sheet, Gray 3D Cloud, for Boys and Girls, Fits Crib and Toddler Bed mattresses : Movies & TV). The reason we got 2 was so that if he leaked through at night, we could quickly change them and then worry about washing in the morning. These will also come in handy when going through the toddler years of potty training as well.

Changing Spot

A convenient spot to change your baby is a must. You’ll want diapers, wipes, creams, and a place to dispose of the used ones all within easy reach.

Since diaper changing tables aren’t that useful after they are potty trained, we went with a dresser (yay for storage!) that was at the right height. We put the diapers in the top drawer and have a basket with diaper cream, socks, extra burp cloths, and bibs right next to it. A simple changing pad (Amazon.com: LA Baby 4 Sided Waterproof Diaper Changing Pad, 30″ with Easy to Clean Quilted Cover – Made in USA. Non-Skid Bottom, Safety Strap, Fits All Standard Changing Tables/Dresser Tops : Everything Else) and some covers (Amazon.com: BlueSnail Plush Super Soft and Comfy Changing Pad Cover Change Table Cradle Bassinet Sheets for Baby 2-Pack (Navy Buffalo Plaid) : Baby) made it perfect for those middle of the night diaper changes. In this case, the covers also fit our bassinet nicely.

Baby Monitor

If you’re ever going to lay your little one down for a nap while you get stuff done in another room, you’ll want a baby monitor for peace of mind. They can be as simple as one that has a speaker so you can listen to your baby or as elaborate as a wireless camera system that allows you to move and zoom in as you wish.

We went with something in between as the basic video monitors are relatively inexpensive and easy to take with you when you travel.

Whichever style you choose, look for one that has a good battery life on the receiver. Some will hook directly to your phone as well but beware, not only do those have a much higher chance of being hackable but they also will drain your phone battery much more quickly. If you only use it once in a while, that’s not so bad, but if you plan on using it every day, you may want to consider a standalone unit.

Night Light

A night light may not seem like a necessity and you may already have one at home that you can use, but for middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes, you’ll want something that allows you to see without being so bright that it wakes your little one completely up.

Sleep is precious, especially in those first few months. The last thing you want to do is spend a couple hours convincing your baby that it’s time to go back to sleep after they’ve eaten.

We went with a soft adjustable cordless night light (Purea LED Nursery Night Lights for Kids, LED Bedside Lamp for Baby, Rechargeable Bedside Lamp for Breastfeeding, 1 Hour Timer, USB and Stable Charging Pad for Indoor & Outdoor – Amazon.com) that we could move depending on who was handling the feeding. For less than $20, it was more than worth it for the short time it was needed and can be used through the toddler years instead of relying on plugin lights.

Storage

Storage is a must. You’ll have baby clothes, diapers, blankets, toys, and all the other miscellaneous things that your little one needs off and on. If you can manage to have multipurpose pieces of furniture, that makes it all the easier. For example, the dresser we chose is the perfect height for our changing table but also has 4 drawers to keep diapers, pants, bibs, extra bedding, and various other things that either don’t fit yet or aren’t age appropriate.

Baskets for the closet (Amazon.com: Goodpick Small Woven Basket, Decorative Basket for Home DéCor, Small Woven Basket with Handles for Gifts, Dog Toy Bin, Storage Basket for Bathroom, Living Room, 12″x 8″ x 5″, Jute and Black : Baby) are a great way to organize pants, socks, and shoes and can be used for years to come. The last thing you want is to not have a spot for everything especially when you’re both tired and just want to get your little one changed and back to bed. Don’t forget about baskets for toys (Amazon.com: Sea Team 2-Pack Cotton Rope Baskets, 10 x 3 Inches Small Woven Storage Basket, Fabric Tray, Bowl, Round Open Dish for Fruits, Jewelry, Keys, Sewing Kits (Grey & White) : Home & Kitchen) as well!

It’s also never too early to look at a toybox as they make a wonderful storage option that will grow with your child. My son inherited my brother’s and we currently store extra blankets and stuff he’s not quite ready for there. It keeps it out of the way and clean while still handy for when it’s needed.

Rocking Chair/Comfortable Seat

If you’re unable to keep your little one in your room at night for the first year, you will need to make sure you have a comfortable spot to sit and feed them. A rocking chair can also come in handy when they just don’t want to lay down for that afternoon nap as they get older.

While it’s not a necessity, it is a good idea to figure out where you’re going to sit while feeding them. Ideally, you don’t want to move them very far from their bed for middle-of-the-night feedings as that will only wake them up more. The more relaxed and asleep they are, the faster you’ll get to go back to sleep as well. In our case, we sat on the edge of the bed and rocked back and forth or during the day, used our rocking recliner both to feed and put him to sleep. No need for bouncers or swings in our house that he’d outgrow in only a few short months.

Conclusion:

The nursery is a special place for both you and your child. It is where we, as parents, tend to focus our energy before they are even born. It’s easy to get carried away and turn it into a Pinterest-worthy space, fit for your little prince or princess. Just don’t forget that it won’t be long before they go from your sweet sleeping babe to a tiny tornado of a toddler. Try to think ahead in terms of safety and useability so that you don’t have to babyproof it in a few short months when they have their legs under them.

Did you have something that you found you couldn’t live without in your nursery or that came in handy as your child grew? Feel free to share in the comments below!