Are you preparing a nursery for a newborn and wondering which nursery essentials are best for you? These are the tested and approved 13 must-have nursery essentials you will want for your nursery.
Having gone through this process twice as a parent of two, we have experienced some of the best and worst nursery essentials. As you eagerly await the arrival of your bundle of joy, crafting your ideal nursery is one of the best memories before your little one arrives. However, having the right nursery essentials is critical.
This post is all about the nursery essentials you will need to inspire the ultimate room for your little one.
#1 Best Baby Crib
The crib is the centerpiece of a nursery. The Delta Children Essex 4 in 1 Convertible Baby Crib is beautiful, made of nontoxic materials, and adapts to your child’s needs as they grow. You’re sure to get your money’s worth out of this purchase.
#2 Best Baby Crib Mattress
The Graco Premium Crib & Toddler Mattress is a full-sized foam crib mattress that has already won the hearts of many parents. It boasts several awards and certifications, making it one of the best on the market.
#3 Crib Mattress Protector
To help protect your mattress, you’ll want a Crib Mattress Protector that is Waterproof & Noiseless. This mattress protector is breathable, waterproof, and, best of all, machine washable.
Here is a pro parenting tip you’ll love that helped us many times. Be sure to purchase two or three mattress protectors and crib sheets. Put a mattress protector directly on the mattress, followed by a crib sheet. Then, place another layer of mattress protector and crib sheet on top of the first layer. When you’re half-sleeping, accidents or sickness will happen in the middle of the night. When it does, you can easily remove the first layer (sheet and protector), revealing a clean, dry layer ready to go. This gets the baby (and you) back to sleep quicker! This process also works for toddlers until they are potty trained.
#4 Bassinet
As mentioned in our Preparing a Nursery for a Newborn post, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2022) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend that infants sleep in the same room but not in the same bed as their parents for at least six months to one year to help reduce the risk of SIDS by up to 50%. This is so you can immediately respond to the baby’s needs during sleep.
We recommend the HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0 Baby Bassinet because it swivels over your bed, has a lowering wall, making it easier for mom recovering from delivery to get the baby in and out, and is made with great-quality materials.
#5 Changing Table
It is nice to have a dedicated space to change diapers and store diapers, wipes, and other accessories. This Delta Children Convertible Changing Table with Drawer is stylish and practical. The changing top is removable, so it can be used as a regular piece of furniture long after the diaper-changing years are over. However, don’t forget the Delta Children Contoured Changing Pad.
#6 Chest of Drawers
A chest of drawers is an essential storage solution, offering space to organize and store baby essentials such as clothing, blankets, diapers, and other accessories. The Delta Children Essex Collection offers a 6-drawer and 3-drawer option, which best fits your space. Be sure to secure all furniture to the wall for safety as your little one grows curious and becomes more mobile.
#7 Diaper Pail
We’ve been to people’s houses where their whole house smells like a dirty diaper, which isn’t pleasant. This is primarily because they throw their diapers away in a regular trash can or their diaper pail fails them. We used and highly recommend the Ubbi Steel Odor Locking, No Special Bag Required Money Saving, Diaper Pail, White. Not only does it lock in and secure the smell, but it allows you to use your own trash. Other versions make you use their bags. So this is a money saver in the long run. One tip we used was to place an opened box of baking soda at the bottom of the pail before adding your trash bag for a little extra smell reduction.
#8 Glider Chair / Rocker
When choosing a chair for the nursery, the most important requirement for those late-night feedings or soothing babies back to sleep is comfort. Check out the following options and find the one that best fits your space and style.
Delta Children Blair Slim Nursery Glider Swivel Rocker Chair: Swivels, rocks, and does 360 degree rotation
Delta Children Mercer Electronic Power Recliner & Swivel Glider: Reclines with the push of a button, swivels 240 degrees, and built-in USB charger.
#9 Baby Monitor
Keep a watchful eye on your little one with a reliable baby monitor such as the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro which features a 5 inch monitor screen, interchangeable lenses, quick setup, and a closed loop system that doesn’t use wifi for ultimate security.
#10 Baby Sound Machine
We highly recommend the Hatch Rest+ Baby & Kids Sound Machine is a sound machine, Toddler Sleep Trainer for personal experience. It will grow with your child and help them with sleep training as they grow by acting as a night light that is customizable to your desired sleep and nap times, all set up via the Hatch app. It takes a while before kids learn to tell time, but they learn their colors much sooner. Choose one color for sleep time and another for wake time so when your little ones wake up in the middle of the night, they will know if it’s time to go back to sleep or wake up. For example, our family uses blue for sleep and yellow for wake. It offers white noise or other soothing sounds. This version has a backup battery, which is great if you lose power in the middle of the night. This item will be used for years to come!
#11 Darkening Curtains
Naps and even bedtimes don’t always happen when it’s dark outside in those early years. Darkening curtains help create the perfect dark environment to help your baby sleep comfortably no matter what time of day they need to rest.
#12 Best Books for Baby
Every nursery needs a few books. Here are the top 3 favorites you’ll love:
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- Description: This classic bedtime story features a gentle, rhythmic lullaby and charming illustrations.
- Why You’ll Love It: You’ll find this book to be such a calming way to end the day. The soothing rhythm is like a lullaby that helps your little one drift off to sleep peacefully.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
- Description: An inspirational story about life’s challenges and the adventures that await.
- Why You’ll Love It: Its encouraging message and whimsical illustrations inspire children and adults alike. It’s an excellent book for motivation and positivity, especially given each of us parents’ hope for our little ones to achieve great things as they grow older.
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
- Description: A heartwarming story about the enduring love between a mother and her child.
- Why You’ll Love It: This emotional and touching story beautifully expresses parental love. It’s a book that resonates deeply and is perfect for expressing how much you care.
For more recommended baby books, check out our Top 15 Must-Have Best Selling Baby Books post
#13 Extra organization / storage
Do you have a small space and need to maximize storage? Here are a few ideas of ways to utilize space you already. Door hanging organizers and Hanging closet rod for additional hanging space in closet.
We also used cube organizers laid horizontally for addition clothes and shoe storage on the floor of the closet. ClosetMaid 6 Cube Shelf Organizer and Amazon Basic Collapsible Fabric Storage Cube.
In Conclusion
We enjoyed sharing our 13 must-have nursery essentials with you. Best wishes as you begin creating the perfect nursery for you and your little one.
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