The goal of a nursery is to create a welcoming, calming, functional, and safe space for your baby. It’s important to set up a nursery prior to a baby’s arrival, and you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to do so. That being said, don’t risk your child’s safety and health in order to save a buck. Here are some helpful tips for setting up your nursery:

1. Safety is crucial
   • Get a crib that meets current safety standards.
   • The placement of the crib is important, so avoid placing it near any windows, cords, or blinds.
   • Keep the crib empty. No blankets, pillow, stuffed animals, or toys. These are all potential choking and suffocation hazards for your child. These items can be added later as the child gets older.
   • Anchor and dressers, shelves, cabinets, and anything else that has the potential to tip over.
   • Install smoke and CO detectors.
2. Choose the essentials
   • A crib with a firm mattress and fitted crib sheets. Obviously, no loose sheets or blankets.
   • Sturdy changing table at proper height with appropriate safety straps or barriers.
   • A comfortable rocking chair. (Great for if the mom is breastfeeding, pumping, or while rocking the baby to sleep)
   • Diaper pail or bin.
   • Soft nightlight and a white noise machine.
   • Baby monitor. (Perhaps even a camera)
3. Organize the room for convenience
   • Label the baskets and drawers so you can easily find what you need.
   • Keep diapers, wipes, and extra clothes within arm’s reach. Before the baby arrives and you’ve set up the nursery, practice changing a diaper by standing by the changing table and making sure everything is accessible.
   • Store clothing based on sizes, so you can easily move from bin to bin as your baby grows up, which will happen quickly.
4. Consider sleeping comfort
   • Install blackout curtains, as your baby will be sleeping at all hours of the day, and so will you.
   • Consider a white noise machine. Ours played calming music of different varieties.
   • Maintain a comfortable temperature level in the room.
   • Have dimming lights for nighttime feeding and diaper changes.
5. Make the room feel personal
   • Add some nice artwork. We have some motivational quotes in our nursery.
   • Family photos, and add photos of the baby as they grow.
   • A growth chart.
   • A favorite blanket that should only be used during supervised moments outside of the crib. My mom knitted our son a blanket.
   • Some children’s books that you can start reading to the kiddo.

Remember that your nursery does not have ot be perfect, especially at the beginning. Your baby will not know or care whether their nursery is social media-ready. Once again, it just has to be safe and comfortable. Of course, maybe you or your partner care about perfection, and if that’s the case, knock yourselves out.

As a dad, walk around the nursery multiple times and inspect it. Feel the temperature, observe the surroundings. Make sure it meets proper standards. Most of all, get ready to welcome your new little one into the room.