How To Prepare Your Nursery
Having a baby is the most exciting experience moms, and dads alike get to experience. You and your baby are both going to spend a lot of time in the nursery, especially when you first bring your baby home. But before you bring baby home, you want to make sure that you’re prepared for that special day. Since you and baby will be spending so much time in the nursery, it is essential to make it a calm, comfortable, and most importantly, a safe place for you both.
We want to share with you some very simple tips on how to prepare your nursery for your newborn.
Don’t Procrastinate
It is essential that you don’t wait until the last minute to get the nursery ready for baby. Babies have a mind of their own, and they may want to join the world a little sooner than expected. Not to mention, you don’t want to be 7, 8, or 9 months pregnant and trying to set a crib up, hanging the curtains, or getting the nursery organized. Some say that you should have the nursery ready to accept the newborn by the time you are six months along.
Nursery Temperature
Since babies can’t tell us when they’re too hot or too cold, it’s up to us as parents to know the proper baby sleep temperature guidelines to keep them comfortable and safe. Experts say that the nursery should be between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20-22 degrees Celcius). If the nursery doesn’t have its own thermostat, you can get an indoor thermometer so that you can closely monitor the nursery.
Crib
All babies need a crib. The newborn may not sleep in the crib right away, but you want to make sure that the crib is in the room, assembled, and ready to accept baby when you and baby are ready. And again, you don’t want to procrastinate. It is recommended that the crib assembled by the time you are 6 or 7 months pregnant.
When it is time for your baby to sleep in the crib, you need to remember that less is more. You want to make sure that the crib is free of toys, stuffed animals, and extra blankets. If the temperature tends to drop below 68 degrees during the overnight hours, you want to dress them warmly. See how to dress your baby for sleep based on the room temperature in this post. The only things that should be in the crib are the fitted crib sheet, the bumper pads for when they start to roll around, and the baby Diaper Changing Table
Some people may choose not to get a diaper changing table; however, you have to remember that you are going to be changing diapers for several years. Having a diaper changing table, or using the top of a dresser with a changing pad, will help save your back for the many years of changing diapers. You will not always be able to use the changing table, so you might want to take advantage of it as long as you can.
Thoroughly Clean the Nursery
Clean all of the surfaces in the room. Newborns are especially susceptible to allergens like dust, mold, and pet hair, so you should get the room as clean as possible. Use a sponge and soapy water to sweep and mop hard floors, and shampoo the carpet if you have carpet.
Do not use harsh chemicals to clean the nursery. Stick to plain soap and water, homemade cleaners like baking soda or vinegar, or green cleaners made with non-toxic ingredients.
If the carpet has a lot of ground-in dirt, consider replacing it if you can. The expense will be well worth your baby’s health.
Comfortable Chair
If you are going to be nursing your newborn, it is essential to make sure that you are comfortable during feeding time. Being relaxed and comfortable with help ensure that your milk flows; not to mention you will be spending a lot of time in this chair for the first few months. Some moms prefer a rocking chair with arms and a padded back and seat, and others prefer a rocking recliner. The choice is yours, and you just want to make sure you and baby are comfortable.
Supplies
To be ready for the baby, you need to make sure that you have all of the supplies you will need right away. Diapers, wipes, diaper rash ointment, crib sheets (several!), burp towels, and pacifiers (if you’re so inclined to use them). You can never be too prepared! When you think you have enough diapers and wipes, you probably don’t - trust us, we've been there and there is never enough! It is also essential that you remember your baby will be growing super fast, so don’t worry about stocking up on too many newborn or size one diapers.
Lifetime of Memories
No nursery is complete without love and the start of a lifetime of memories. Remember to cherish every minute you can with your baby in the nursery! They grow up too fast...
