Are you ready to make all those daydreams about your baby’s room come true? It’s time to get your little one’s nursery in order, starting with the nursery essentials.
This is such an exciting adventure! But how do you know what crib to choose? What mattress to choose? What sheets? Nightlight? Rocking chair? You’ve got so many choices to make, and you may feel overwhelmed.
That’s why we’ve created this list of nursery essentials, so you know just what you need!
Key Takeaways
Table of contents
- Nursery essentials for sleeping
- Nursery essentials for feeding
- Nursery essentials for diaper changing
- Nursery essentials for storage
- Nursery essentials for playing
- Nursery essentials for safety
- Nursery extras
- Nursery no-nos
Nursery essentials for sleeping
Crib or bassinet
When your baby is a newborn, they have a couple of sleeping options: a crib or a bassinet.
To help you nail down your choice, check out our article Bassinet Vs. Crib: What’s the Difference and Which One is Best for Your Baby. But here’s a quick look at the differences between the two.
Highlights of a bassinet:
- For babies from birth until they outgrow it or can roll over or push up on their hands and knees
- Smaller sleeping space (think cozy!)
- Fits well in smaller living spaces
- Moveable
- Makes room sharing easier
- Less expensive than a crib
Highlights of a crib:
- Can be used for a longer time than a bassinet
- Uses standard-sized mattress
- Stable and sturdy design
- Adjustable mattress height to grow with your little one
(Note: cribs came in both standard and mini size. The above highlights refer to standard cribs.)
Both a bassinet and a crib are great choices for your baby. Your job is to assess what works best for your lifestyle and preferences.
Just remember that regardless of what you decide right now, your baby will eventually end up in a crib and will spend a lot of time in it. So make sure it’s sturdy! Safety is a top priority when it comes to your baby’s sleep!
Mattress
It's also important to consider safety when shopping for a mattress. For the safest mattress, choose one that’s breathable, like Newton’s Bassinet Mattress or Crib Mattress. Both are ultra-breathable, comfortable, and washable!
Every part of our mattresses can be cleaned. The mattress cover can be unzipped, removed, and washed in the washer. And the core can be placed in the shower or tub and spot-cleaned with water and detergent or vinegar.
With our mattress, you can say goodbye to worry, sweaty backs, mold, bacteria, and allergens, and hello to a good night’s sleep.
Babies often sleep better on a Newton mattress. That’s because, unlike traditional mattresses made of springs, foam, plastic, and latex, ours are made mostly of air.
Mattress pad and cover
Your baby will make plenty of messes in their crib over their first year and beyond. But you can get ahead of them by trying our Waterproof Crib Mattress Pad.
It’s ultra-breathable and waterproof, so it protects your baby while protecting your mattress from leaks, moisture, and mold. It’s perfect for quick changes after those middle-of-the-night accidents!
Swaddles
Your baby is used to being snug and tight in your belly. To give them that same feeling outside the womb (and to help them sleep better!), swaddle them during the first few months of their life.
Important note: Keep in mind that you’ll need to stop swaddling your baby once they start showing signs of rolling over.
Sheets
If you’re using a Newton mattress, it’s OK to skip the sheet. Our mattress covers are comfy even without one!
But if you’re using another mattress (or you’d simply prefer adding a fitted sheet to your baby’s sleep surface), look for sheets that are soft and safe, or more specifically, breathable.
For example, your little one can breathe straight through Newton's Breathable, Organic Cotton Sheets, and the all-around elastic guarantees the perfect fit for any crib mattress.
The most important thing to remember is that bare is best when it comes to your baby’s sleeping space. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidance for safe sleep, all your little one really needs is a crib and a mattress.
Nightlight
To set the mood and help your baby associate dimmer lighting with nighttime, add a nightlight to their room. You’ll also find this nursery essential helpful when you stumble in for those late-night feedings!
Blackout curtains
Even a tiny sliver of light can disturb your little one from a sound nap or wake them up early in the morning. Blocking out daylight can be a lifesaver (or at least a sleep-saver!) for you and your baby, and blackout curtains are the best way to do this.
Nursery essentials for feeding
Rocking chair or glider
After you bring your baby home from the hospital, there will be plenty of snuggles and feeding sessions happening.
This is where a rocking chair or glider comes in handy. Choose a chair that has good back support. You want it to be a comfortable place to sit while feeding, and the rocking motion helps soothe your baby.
And even after your baby moves beyond bottle-feeding or breastfeeding, you can use the chair for reading, rocking, or late-night cuddling!
Small side table
Consider placing a small side table near your rocking chair or glider. Having a place to put pacifiers, bottles, and a glass of water for yourself will make a big difference when you’re awake and feeding in the middle of the night.
Nursing pillow
In the early days of your baby’s life, you’ll nurse at least eight to 10 times a day. If you add up the minutes you spend during one nursing session, you end up calculating a lot of time spent sitting for feedings in one day.
Obviously, you’ll need to be as comfortable as possible. Whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, a nursing pillow allows you to comfortably (and safely!) support your baby in your lap.
Nursery essentials for diaper changing
Dresser/changing table and changing pad
You’ll need somewhere to store all of the essentials you were gifted with at your baby showers. A dresser is the perfect solution.
And if you’re running low on space, your little one’s dresser can double as a changing table. To make the dresser multifunctional, you’ll need a soft, comfortable changing pad and cover to place on top.
Conveniently, the obvious essentials for diaper changes, like wipes, diapers, and creams, can be stored right under the changing pad in a top dresser drawer. And since you’re using the dresser as a changing area, you can skip purchasing a separate changing table.
(If this is the route you take, always securely strap the changing pad to the dresser so it doesn’t slip off. And make sure the pad has safety straps to buckle around your baby to keep them from wiggling or rolling.)
Diaper pail
Alongside your changing area, you’re going to want somewhere to put those dirty diapers. You can use a regular waste can, but to better manage odors, you may want to invest in something designed for diapers.
Nursery essentials for storage
Storage bins or baskets
Easily accessible baby essentials are going to be a top priority when your little one makes their big debut. But all of those items can create a big mess!
Find a solution to your clutter woes by designing an organizing system in your baby’s nursery using storage bins or baskets.
Strategically place these storage bins or baskets where you can easily reach for blankets or other necessities while holding onto your baby, like right by the rocking chair and within arm’s reach of the changing area.
Hanging bookshelf
Books are the next best thing to all of the baby essentials you received at your baby shower. But where in the world are you going to place all these precious picture books?
Instead of a bookshelf taking up space on the floor, get creative by hanging one on the wall and using books as nursery décor.
Hanging closet organizer
Sometimes standard closets aren’t practical for your baby’s little clothes and accessories. A hanging closet organizer is just right!
Even better, this storage solution is ideal for the additional baby essentials you couldn't fit in the dresser or baskets.
Nursery essentials for playing
Baby seat
Your baby will need a place to sit while you fold clothes, clean up, or do all the things. And sometimes your arms just need a break from cradling your sweet little one.
While you could place your baby in their crib so you can get things done, that doesn’t allow them to look around much, especially during the first several weeks of their life.
A baby seat gives your little one the chance to play, learn, and observe their surroundings.
Bonus: This way, you’re teaching your baby that their crib is just for sleeping, not for playing, which is beneficial when it’s time to sleep train.
Age-appropriate toys
A play mat is the perfect first toy for your baby! Toys hang from the top of the play mat, encouraging your little one to start reaching for things, and the mat is visually appealing to them.
Store age-appropriate toys in an easily accessible place, like the basket we mentioned above. Any other toys that your baby isn’t quite ready for yet can be stored in the closet.
Toy shelf and bookcase
As your baby gets older, they’ll start moving around to investigate just about everything. If you’ve got space in their room, you may want to keep toys and books where they can reach. A toy shelf or a bookcase gives your little explorer some independence.
Nursery essentials for safety
Baby monitor
A monitor becomes your eyes and ears while your baby sleeps in the nursery, and it allows you to keep visual contact with them. The technology for baby monitors these days is phenomenal. Your preference and budget are the only limits on this one.
Outlet covers
Your little one will be rolling around and crawling before you know it. And when your baby starts crawling, they start exploring. Their minds are inquisitive, and electrical outlets are the perfect height for those curious little fingers to touch and investigate.
Your baby’s safety is your number one priority, so before they become mobile, cover the electrical outlets throughout your home with outlet covers.
Thermostat
According to the AAP, you want to keep your little one’s room at a comfortable temperature, especially while they sleep. Because your baby can’t regulate their body temperature on their own yet, you need to make sure they aren’t too hot or too cold.
One way to do that is to set the thermostat so they can sleep comfortably and safely. And while there is no hard and fast rule about the specific temperature, the typical recommendation is between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you don’t have a thermostat in your baby’s room, a common bit of advice is to make sure it’s comfortable for an adult (you!) wearing a light layer of clothing. But if you want to invest in a separate thermometer for the room, you might want to think about these features:
- A clear, digital display you can see in the middle of the night
- Room temperature alerts so you don’t have to check it
- Humidity readings (the EPA recommends 30-50% humidity readings for your home)
- No bright lights or beeping sounds to disturb your baby
For a detailed look at keeping your baby’s room at the ideal temperature, read our article Baby Sleep Temperature Guidelines to Keep Your Baby Cozy and Safe.
Nursery extras
Journal
Those early days of parenthood can leave you sleep-deprived, which paves the way to a forgetful brain.
To help your mommy-brain (or daddy-brain!) out, keep a notebook and pencil handy to jot down when your baby napped, pooped, and ate. This way, you can more easily predict the next feeding or nap time.
Keeping a record of your baby’s diaper changes also helps you see your baby's patterns, so you can detect what’s normal and what’s not.
And while you’re at it, jot down any milestones — like smiling, cooing, and rolling over. Your mommy-brain or daddy-brain will thank you later.
Sound machine
Babies, especially newborns, aren’t used to sleeping in silence. They’re not used to silence at all! Before your baby was born, they were serenaded with all kinds of sounds, from your heartbeat to your humming. Sound machines can feel familiar.
When used correctly, sound machines on a constant setting can soothe and calm some babies. Recommended safety tips from the AAP include:
- Place the sound machine at least seven feet from your baby’s crib.
- Set it at a moderate volume, under 50 decibels. (Some apps can measure decibel levels.)
Laundry basket
Maybe not an absolute essential, a laundry basket in your little one’s room can help keep it tidy and organized. Imagine mornings when you need to rush out the door. You change your baby, toss their jammies on the floor, and head out…or you toss them in the laundry basket.
Nursery no-nos
As you spend time and energy creating a cozy room for your little one filled with essentials and fun personal touches, remember your choices need to prioritize safety. Some items and situations you want to avoid include:
- Loose blankets, pillows, crib bumpers, and stuffed animals in your baby’s crib
- Mobiles or other toys that attach to the crib
- Harsh, overhead lighting
- Scented candles, air fresheners, and plug-ins
- Unanchored furniture
- Window blinds with cords
- Small rugs and carpets
- Electronics too close to your baby’s crib
For more safety tips, take a look at our Complete Parents’ Guide to Baby Safety at Home.
Do you have everything?
There are tons of items out there in the baby market, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed trying to decide what to buy. Stick to our list of nursery essentials, and you’ll have the things you need to care for your new little one.
Babies don’t need a lot besides your love. Everything else is pretty simple, so keep their nursery simple with these essentials. Consider our list when planning for your baby’s nursery, and give your little one the best sleep possible with a Newton Bassinet Mattress or Crib Mattress!
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to set up my baby’s nursery?
The best time to set up your baby’s nursery is when it makes sense for you and your family. Many parents begin late in their second trimester or early in their third, but some want to wait to meet their baby before determining what they need.
The most important thing is to make the process as stress-free as possible. That means giving yourself time to plan, to make decisions, and to create.
Is it OK to buy a used crib?
The answer to this question is: it depends. Safety standards change, and if you buy something secondhand, you can't know if the crib is up-to-date. You also don’t want to risk a piece being missing, loose, or broken.
So, if you’re looking at a used crib, make sure it meets current safety standards, has no recalls, and is fully intact.
That said, for items like baby dressers, bookcases, and rocking chairs, using “pre-loved” is a great idea!
How can I keep my baby’s nursery organized?
Try to delineate separate spaces as much as possible. Place baskets on your toy shelf to keep toys organized. Put drawer dividers in the dresser to separate socks from onesies.
Keep only what you and your baby need right now in the nursery. If someone gave you toys that are for later, store them away. If your baby outgrows clothes (they’ll do it quickly!), place them in a bin to store or give away.
Where should I place my baby’s furniture?
Your baby’s crib is the most important piece of furniture in their room, and you want to make sure you position it so your baby stays safe. This means keeping it away from windows, heaters, outlets, and cords. And don’t place it under a shelf or piece of art.
The same is true for your changing table. You don’t want it where your baby can reach and grab something or pull something over.
In terms of efficiency and ease, you might want to think about creating zones in your baby’s room. So you have the changing table, dresser, and diaper pail in one spot. And you have a toy shelf and baskets of books in another.
