Nursery Checklist: These Are The Things You Need To Have (And The Ones You Don’t)

To say I spent most of my waking hours of pregnancy planning the nursery is a complete understatement. Unfortunately, at the time, we lived in a two bedroom apartment and the second bedroom was the home office of our business. We had two choices; move house, or set her up in the ensuite. Handy for washes but not such a great start for our little princess. Luckily, our situation evolved and we ended up moving in with my in-laws where they happily let us go to town on the baby's room. I had a romantic vision of painting it together - stopping every now and again to exchange loving glances and tummy caresses. The reality was brutally different; my leg cramps meant I could only paint at my arm height. My husband hates painting and in my opinion, spent way too long preparing the brushes and less time actually painting. Despite the rough start, we ended up painting the room a lovely pale grey, we (he) built the white furniture, and all we needed was a splash of blue or pink to finish it off once our baby arrived. It is very easy to get a little bamboozled by all the gadgets that come with baby, especially if you are on a budget. I wanted everything brand new for the baby, but looking back, I should have just taken anything I was offered. Here are the things I couldn't have lived without: (Image via The Container Store on Pinterest) 1. Cot I didn't bother getting a Moses basket. Although they are super cute, I felt they only gave my baby about four weeks before we had to move them to a bigger cot - they are a little unsturdy for my liking too. We used the same small crib for all my three children and then moved them to a standard sized cot when they were about 5 months old. I wouldn't advise buying a convertible cot/bed. Chances are, you will want to buy them a cute little toddler bed when they are big enough to graduate to the next stage. 2. Baby bath They are so little and the main bath is just so big. These mini baths are ideal for placing on the kitchen table or on the bed with a towel underneath to give your baby a splash and dash without the backache. Don't bother getting a seat to help baby sit up in the bath as these can be quite dangerous if they tip over. You can always transfer the baby bath into the big bath once they get a little more upright. 3. Baskets When you are busy with the baby, you often have to send your mum or your partner up to the nursery to get something. I found it easier to put all things nappy related in one basket, with the cotton buds, wipes and nappy rash cream, in another basket I had all vests and babygro's. It is just easier to grab and go and, let's be honest, most of the changing is done on a roll out on the couch anyway. 4. Baby Monitor With every child I had, the volume would turn down a notch. On my first, I had a handy 'hook on' receiver so I could even hear the baby if I was hanging out the clothes. How cute was I? Now I know the baby will be just fine if I have to pop out of earshot for more than 50 seconds. These monitors were invaluable during naptime and at night as knowing you won't sleep through their cries actually makes you a little more relaxed. There are some very fancy viewing monitors where you can also see your baby and I can understand how that would put your mind at ease too. (Image via Amazing Interior Design on Pinterest) 5. Changing table We didn't get caught up in the 'nursery set' trap that many of my friends fell foul of. Firstly, you don't need a tiny wardrobe for your baby and it is easier just put a changing mat on the top of a chest of drawers. You can get great changing pads with lips on them so baby doesn't roll off. 6. A Rocking chair/Glider Put this chair in whatever room you are going to be feeding in. If you decide that will be the nursery, great. But keep in mind you may not want to abscond upstairs on your own every time you want to feed comfortably. When my baby was little, every room was the nursery. I had roll-out changing mats in at least two other rooms, and the rocking chair was in our living room most of the time. It is really important to have a cosy feeding chair though, for all those tiring night time feeds and those magical mummy moments when it does just seem like it is the two of you against the world. 7. A lamp with a dimmer switch Sometimes during the night, you need to change baby without wanting them to be WIDE AWAKE, so I found a small dimming light which was one of my best buys ever. It is also handy if you want to read while feeding but not wanting a bright light to disturb your little one. (Image via Bloglovin' on Pinterest) 8. Blinds These are a life saver for keeping your little one napping during the day or even when it gets bright at 5.30am - You can also get portable ones for your windows while on holidays. This was another thing I couldn't have lived without during our babyhood years. 9. Bedding I know it is tempting, but try to avoid picking up those cute bumpers that go around the head of the cot as they can be dangerous for baby. Do ensure you buy enough sheets as you will be surprised how many times those little scamps puke up. You won't need a pillow just yet. HerFamily tip: Hang a shoe bag in the closet to keep sheets and baby towels out of view but within reach. Things you should absolutely not buy include a cool mist humidifier, a nappy disposal unit and a baby wipes heater. I am not even joking. Instead, save all that money for cake and coffee; you are going to need a lot of it. For more information on the award-winning Mamia range, visit the Aldi website.