Five things you need in a nursery…and three things you don't
Preparing a nursery for a new baby is an exciting and memorable stage in any prospective parent’s life. Yet it’s also one fraught with complexities, from colour schemes and safety features through to the rival merits of solid wood and flat pack furniture.
It’s important to start parenthood as you mean to go on – making logical choices while reining in the temptation to be overly protective. As well as including five essentials every new nursery needs, we’ve therefore also listed three things which aren’t required…
Essentials in a new nursery
- A multifunctional cot
While a crib or bassinet by your bed is advisable for the first weeks of a baby’s life, a cot will be a more enduring presence. Heavy-duty solid wooden ones should withstand any assaults, with breathable mattresses maximising comfort. Extend the cot’s lifespan by choosing one with removable sides, enabling it to serve as a halfway house between a cot and a single bed.
- A drawer unit with changing mat on top
It’s astonishing how many things you need to store in a nursery, many related to nappy changing. Hiding these in a drawer (or several drawers) is a far more aesthetic approach. A chest of drawers with a changing mat on top serves two roles at once by keeping everything to hand, while removing the mat leaves a conventional-looking drawer unit behind.
- A comfortable rocking chair
Unless your child has an exceptional night-time routine, there are going to be periods when you want to sleep and the little one doesn’t. Gentle movement will help baby nod off again, while also soothing fractious and over-tired parents. Look for comfortable materials with a deep seat base, padded armrests and the ability to rock back and forth without creaking or juddering.
- A nightlight
Another key aspect of getting up for 3am feeds is being able to see where you’re going. A nightlight is of vital importance not only to soothe a crying infant, but also to avoid stubbed toes as you venture through. Don’t be seduced by animal shapes or projections – instead, focus on soft colour schemes and remote app control via your smartphone.
- Blackout curtains
While a little light is a soothing presence, too much can cause interrupted sleep patterns, especially in June when sunrise across the central belt takes place around 4.30am. Lined blackout curtains made from densely woven fabrics will prevent daylight creeping through, providing they hang well below the windowsill and are fully drawn at night.
……and three things to avoid
- Video monitors. Won’t it be wonderful to check on the baby while we’re out of the room, you might think. No, it won’t. You’ll become obsessed with the live feed, your attention span will suffer, meals won’t be tasted and date night will be a disaster.
- A TV. Even if you strap it to furniture or wall-mount it, leaving a flickering screen on is a bad idea. Not only could it prevent the baby falling asleep (or wake it up), too much screen time can affect babies’ ability to interpret emotions and remain calm.
- Heavy objects above the cot. Babies have no sense of danger, so hanging a large frame or mirror above their cot is an open invitation to try and pull it down. It’s best not to place anything above the cot which might fall on them, like shelves or cabinets.
