When we, as Mothers are beginning to get excited about setting up the nursery, planning and knowing what exactly we should have can become overwhelming. Here is my list that I would recommend to any family, if I were conducting a “nursery check” with you, personally.
- A crib is going to be the most expensive item. There are some things to remember: any crib that is a “hand me down” should not be missing any screws and should be tight and secure. Do not use a crib that has the side railings that slide up and down, these are now banned and illegal, due to infant injuries and deaths. With all the families I worked with, I would recommend getting a crib after the baby reaches 25 pounds. In the early days after giving birth, there is no rush to have a crib, instead invest in a bassinet or a Pack’n’Play.
- A pack’n’play is highly recommended! I love these! Not only does it provide for a safe sleeping space for all newborns, but they have lights for those night- time diaper changes, music and vibrating options. It has an option to place the baby into a bigger sleep area, once the baby outgrows its basinet area. The bottom portion also converts into a play pen for when your baby is able to sit up on their own. Three things in one, genius! The diaper changer and basinet will usually support a baby up until they reach 25 pounds, this is when you should switch to a crib. I say that because all babies do not develop at the same rate, most will recommend a crib once the baby reaches 6 months of age, but this does not apply across the board.. Some more top-heavy babies (which are usually the tall ones) will reach 25 pounds at an earlier age. Just keep note of your baby’s weight, plus you’ll know by just looking at their size because they simply will not fit anymore! I recommend this item to be right next to Mom in the bedroom, until that crib transition is ready to begin.
- I prefer this to any infant baby sleeper like a Rock’n’Play. These have recently been recalled in older infants that have learned how to sit up, etc. As a post-partum Mom, you WILL be extremely tired and being in a lying down position (in your bed) puts you at risk for falling asleep, easier. Yes, if baby is in the middle while in a baby basinet, baby is safe, but there is something to consider. I highly recommend getting a basinet that will be at the side of your bed like a basinet side sleeper. The main reason I do NOT recommend having a basinet in your own bed is because you will become co-dependent with your baby. Not only will this cause an unhealthy relationship with your baby, but it will also affect your relationship with your husband/partner. Trust me, I know that every Mom will want to see that their baby is breathing, but this is training for both you and your baby. It is forming a healthy sleep association from the beginning and avoiding an unhealthy co-dependancy. For Cesarean Moms, I just love the side sleeper basinets. It makes it easy on Mom to be able to safely roll over and get up to check on baby, while recovering. Pack’n’plays or a basinet that are at the side of your bed, is the smart way to go. Start off right, from the beginning.
- Crib bumpers. Once you transition to a crib bumpers are required to be mesh. All other “old school” bumpers are banned, due to safety reasons. Babies have rolled over and suffocated with the older bumpers. Mesh bumpers allow a child to still be able to breath and they will not be able to get their limbs stuck in between the bars of the crib. I know that babies can still “bang” their sweet little heads on the bars of the crib, but I assure you, your baby can survive a bump over S.I.D.S, which I will discuss in a different post. If you receive an old-fashioned bumper as a gift, kindly receive it or ask for a gift receipt and exchange it. If you receive it, you could always find a local maternity re-sale shop that will give you cash or store credit to trade it for a mesh bumper.
- Crib bumpers. Once you transition to a crib bumpers are required to be mesh. All other “old school” bumpers are banned, due to safety reasons. Babies have rolled over and suffocated with the older bumpers. Mesh bumpers allow a child to still be able to breath and they will not be able to get their limbs stuck in between the bars of the crib. I know that babies can still “bang” their sweet little heads on the bars of the crib, but I assure you, your baby can survive a bump over S.I.D.S, which I will discuss in a different post. If you receive an old-fashioned bumper as a gift, kindly receive it or ask for a gift receipt and exchange it. If you receive it, you could always find a local maternity re-sale shop that will give you cash or store credit to trade it for a mesh bumper.
- Changing table. A changing table comes in very handy for quite a long time. With saying that, some parents are on a budget and there are other forms of making the most use of what you have. For example, you can have a changing pad that has a working seat belt on top of a set of drawers and that is completely fine. You don’t have to purchase a separate table. As long as the drawers are against a wall, the baby cannot have a fall, since you will be on the other side and the baby should always wear their safety belt! Also, make sure that the drawers are secure and level.
- Nursery Chair. Many families opt to get a rocking chair for their nursery, but please consider this a safety issue and also a precursor to establishing an unhealthy sleep association that will be a nightmare later! A rocking motion will not only rock the baby to sleep, but will also rock YOU to sleep! Many newborns have been dropped, simply because your body has gone through, what I call, “maternal trauma.” You are exhausted and recovering in the early months and a rocking chair will only add to that. Safety first. Plus, you will be predisposing your newborn to needing motion, this sleep association will become a nightmare. We will discuss establishing a healthy sleep association in a later post, but stick to a couch or a stationary nursery chair for holding and breast feeding your newborn.
- 3 or 6 Drawer Dresser. This is nice to have to be able to keep your baby clothes organized and tidy, you can also place a changing pad on top of it, as well and avoid the extra cost of having to purchase a changing table.
- Firm crib mattress. You should never get a “hand me down” mattress, if possible. This is due to the possibility of bed bugs or other toxic bacteria that could cause S.I.D.S. (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Make sure that 1-2 fingers are all the space in between the crib and the mattress. Always purchase a new baby mattress that is firm.
- Crib sheets. You only need a set of 2 crib sheets. After you remove the dirty one, place the new one on. In the meantime, the other one gets washed and the cycle continues. There is no need to over- buy baby items. Just make sure that they are tight fitting and secure.
- Baby monitor. First time Moms are always really good at checking on their baby continually, but baby monitors are so useful and you are trying to get housework done. Again, they are a luxury and if you cannot afford one, do not feel guilty. I do recommend them if you live in a two -story home. If you are downstairs and baby wakes up, it is good to have a two -way monitor. This allows for you speak to your baby and soothe their crying (without having to run upstairs with a basket full of laundry)! There are many options now, so do your research and find the one that best fits your family’s needs.
- Clothing hamper. You can literally use a laundry basket if you want, but have a separate container for all of your dirty baby clothing, its just nice to keep a separate area also for baby’s dirty clothes.
- Diaper Genie– This is a luxury, but not a necessity. I have worked with many moms that would save those Wal-Mart bags and place the dirty diaper in it, then dispose of them in a separate enclosed trash bin in the nursery or one that was kept outside, to avoid any bad odors in the room, itself. So just do what works for you.
As far as furniture items go, this is all you need! There is no need to have an overly crowded room, keep it simple and essential.
Safety
Before purchasing any furniture items, you need to do your research for safety issues and recalls. Two good places to start are: www.recalls.gov and www.makesafetyhappen.com
Register your product so that you get notified of any recalls
Read your manuals! You always want to make sure that your product is right for your babies age and weight.
One final and VERY important item is to please get a Carbon Monoxide tester placed and tested into room where baby will be sleeping. Early Childhood professionals call this the guard against the “silent killer.” Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless and invisible and it will kill any baby, due to their size and can even cause serious bodily harm to adults, if not kill them, as well. If you have a two story home, you should have one in each bedroom, but just get into a routine of occasionally checking the status of it.
