Being a first time mama, everything can seem a little daunting; the furniture, the toys, and the accessories… the list is endless. Your nursery is ideally the little safe haven for your new arrival. Whether you decide to have them in your room for the first few weeks/months, or whether they are going straight into their own room, having the nursery set up is a really exciting time, and makes you feel a lot better about being organised!
As you can imagine, there are most definitely the must-haves, and then there are the nice-to-haves. If you aren’t really sure where to start with your nursery, follow these simple tips to keep you organised, prepared, and most importantly – ready!
Cot
Seems very obvious, but buying a cot almost sent me into meltdown! Why are there so many styles and designs?! How will I know if I want my baby to use it as a toddler bed too later on? Why do they cost almost as much as a single bed? All of these things went through my mind, I just had to bring it back to basics. For me, I wanted a white nursery, with fine detailing, I didn’t want loads of timber, or too much of a theme in the room. Clean and simplistic was my style, so once I started to think about that, I finally came to a decision.
Bassinet
It never occurred to me to buy a bassinet, but once I had done my research, I truly believe everyone needs one, especially in the early days. The first month is hard. Hard on your body and the lack of sleep really starts to wear you down at some point (unless you have an angel!) Having a bassinet made life that bit easier because we had it right next to the bed, and were able to have Sophie sleep next to us every night safe and sound. Honestly, they don’t last forever, maybe 4-6 months, but so worth every penny.
Change Table
Another essential for any new mama, but do remember, change tables aren’t the greatest re-usable pieces of furniture, unless of course- your having more then one child. I personally went for a change table, that was extremely simplistic (it almost looks like a little shelf) so that I can reuse it later on. Filling your change table with nappies, wipes, powders and lotions is great to do before you have bub, but keeping things separate and organised is key. Make sure you have lots of little compartments and containers to store all your secret products in.
Swing or Rocker
Owning a rocker seemed like a just “another” thing we had to buy, but boy was it something we have used, and used! I never really knew what life with a newborn would be like, and I was so unaware of all the time you do really spend at home, whether your cleaning, cooking, sleeping or folding the washing- having your little one in a rocker or swing keeps them totally occupied while you are busy! Your little one will grow quite quickly too, and may grow out of a particular style of swing, so I highly recommend you do some research and find what will work for you!
Storage
No brainer really, but when you have a newborn, you have ALOT of baggage. Trying to be as organised as possible is a great way to stay on top of things! Utilising current storage in the space you have is great, but having big clear boxes that are easy to see through and easy to store are the best option. You may be given lots of toys, clothes and furniture so being able to store it in age appropriate boxes are a life saver!
Nursing Chair
To be honest nursing and feeding sitting upright wasn’t the most comfortable thing personally, however in the latter months when we started to use bottles, it was my absolute go to. Being able to feed your little one in a quiet comfortable corner can sometimes be the difference between a solid nights sleep, and well, you know! These days with a toddler, I spend at least an hour a day sitting in the nursing chair rocking her to sleep, she’s not a great sleeper!
The difference in the range of nursing chairs is overwhelming! You can get everything for a basic canvas sling back chair, to the most plush seat, with big fluffy cushions. Whatever you decide to do, keep in mind that it has to be comfortable for you to sit in and somewhere you can relax and spend quality time with your newborn.
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