Your little one is on the way! While there are so many things to plan, appointments to make, and things to do, one thing you aren’t going to want to leave till the last minute is the nursery. Getting everything ready so that you can comfortably take care of your new baby does require a lot of steps – possibly far more than you realize. That’s why it’s a good idea to start early. Starting early can help you save big, takes away a lot of the stress, and can help you feel more prepared while your baby is developing.
Not sure where to begin? Not to worry, these five top tips will take you from beginning to baby:
1. Create a List
The first step is to create a list of what you need, and then start setting up price alerts. Don’t be afraid to look on the second-hand market for certain things like the crib, changing station, or even Moses basket. Solid furniture with no soft furnishings can quickly and effectively be cleaned with some mineral spirits! This includes wood, plastic, and metal items.
2. Know When to Double Up
Some items on your list will need multiples, like crib sheets, for example. If your baby upchucks, dribbles, or their diaper leaks while they’re in the crib, then you will need to quickly change it out to something clean and fresh. The same goes for reusable diapers, clothes, wipes and so on. Know what you will need to change out quickly, and how to do just that.
3. Pick a Soothing Color
If you already have a soothing neutral color on the walls, then you don’t actually have to change anything. If you have something bright, loud, or distracting, however, then you will want to repaint the baby’s room. This is because loud or bright colors can actually make your baby fussier, so choose something calming instead.
4. Secure All Furniture to the Wall
Newer furniture especially tends to be quite top-heavy. That’s why it’s so important that you secure it when you can so that it cannot topple. This is less of an issue with antique furniture that’s heavy-set and has a wide base, but even then, you will want to be extra careful, since falling furniture can come with disastrous consequences, especially if it’s something your baby at one or older can start reaching for and grabbing.
5. Make Storage Easy
Think about how you can keep the space tidy with as little effort as possible. This is going to be your motto for the entire time you have kids in the house. Baskets with tops on them are going to become your best friend. Don’t assume you’ll even have the energy to fold things and put them away properly. You will likely get tired, or you won’t have time, at which point how can you accommodate that future self and still make it easy to keep things near and orderly? Baskets, deep drawers, pedal pins – all of these are going to become your best friend. One type of storage you will not want to invest in, however, is open shelving. Things fall all the time, and the last thing you want is for something that was put away haphazardly to fall on your baby.
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