Newly pregnant and not sure what to do once the baby arrives? Well, one of the most important things to start planning for is the nursery. It may seem months away but it never hurts to begin making a list of things needed before setting up the nursery.
Baby Crib and Mattress
Safety should always come first. Don’t buy a crib just because it looks nice. The Infant Furniture Safety Guide by the American Academy of Pediatrics advices parents to make sure the crib comes with all parts that fit tightly and is free of splinters or exposed screws that may scratch the baby. Check that the mattress fits snugly against the sides of the crib.
The space between the bars in the crib should not be more than two to three inches apart. When raised, the top rail of the adjustable side of the crib must be 26 inches from the bottom of the crib’s mattress to prevent falls. When lowered, the height should be at least nine inches from the crib’s mattress support.
Bedding
Young babies don’t need a lot of bedding. In fact, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) guidelines discourage the use of pillows, quilts, toys and sheepskins. The baby will only need a fitted cotton base sheet with a mattress protector beneath and a top sheet to tuck the baby in firmly.
Change Table
This is extremely useful as mum will change the nappy at least 10 times a day! All the bending over and picking up baby on a low surface during a nappy change can be backbreaking. So choose a sturdy, wide change table with a good height. Make sure it comes with some form of roll-off protection such as a child-safety harness and raised sides and ends of at least four inches high. Change tables with storage areas for water, lotions, wipes and cotton balls are very useful as well.
Baby Storage
As small as the baby is, she will need plenty of storage for her clothes, towels, nappies and toys. Storage can range from expensive toy boxes to plastic containers. Some storage units can also be adjusted as the baby grows and her storage needs change. Open shelves are convenient but can be a hazard to the baby. Drawers will keep things from falling over the baby but be sure to use guards to prevent jammed fingers.
Baby Monitor
This device is a must if the nursery is a distance away from the parents’ bedroom or if the house is large. These days, some higher end monitors can play music to soothe babies back to sleep if they wake up in the night. Video monitors are also available. These allow parents to see as well as hear their babies. Parents who want mobility can use a baby monitor with a handheld parent unit that can be charged at a base by the parents’ bed and also be carried around to other rooms so that they can hear the baby anywhere within the house.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector
Obviously, these are essential items in the event of a fire. No nursery should be without them. These are available as individual units or as a combination alarm at most hardware stores.
Nightlight
The nightlight is handy for parents who want to check on their baby during the night. There are many cute plug-ins and low-watt lights available nowadays. Avoid putting nightlights at floor level as this may attract a crawling baby, putting her at risk of being electrocuted. So plug it in somewhere out of the baby’s reach.
Comfortable Armchair
If mum is breastfeeding, a good and comfy armchair will be very useful. Some mothers highly recommend the use of rocking chairs or gliders as the rhythmic movements can be soothing for both mother and baby. Rockers, however, may crush a crawling baby’s fingers. So it may be better to use a glider.
Make a list of what to buy for the nursery. Then prioritise it. Shop around and compare prices and features. Most importantly, check for safety features before settling for any of the items needed.
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Reference:
Justine Davies. How to Afford a Baby. Sydney: ABC Books, 2007
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