Welcoming a new baby into your family is an exciting time. For many, it’s the culmination of a lifelong dream. Expectant parents typically spend months reading about newborns and getting ready to have a child.
It’s normal to prepare a nursery before your newborn arrives. The nursery is where your infant sleeps and where you’ll change diapers and store clothes and supplies. Disorganization causes stress. When you welcome your newborn, you’ll go through many lifestyle changes and may not get much sleep, which can make it a challenging time. Having an organized nursery makes it easier to care for your infant and find what you need promptly. Use these tips to ensure your nursery’s ready when your newborn arrives.
Purchase essential furniture.
Invest in a crib and place it in a quiet corner of the room farthest from high-traffic rooms to prevent your baby from being woken by household noise.
You’ll use your changing table a lot. It can be a good idea to have it closer to the door for quick access when you need to change your baby in a hurry. Have a diaper pail beside the changing table for disposing of soiled diapers or storing cloth diapers. Investing in a sealed diaper pail will prevent odors. Your changing table should have shelves or drawers where you can store clothes and supplies.
Many parents opt to include a rocking chair in their nursery. A glider is an excellent option for rocking your infant to sleep and soothing them when they’re fussing. You can also sit in the chair while you nurse your baby.
You’ll need a lamp for the nursery. When you’re trying to rock your baby to sleep in the middle of the night, you won’t want to put on the overhead light. Instead, you’ll need a soothing light near your chair.
Make structural changes and invest in your home’s air quality.
Ensure you have enough electrical outlets for the nursery and that the electrical’s upgraded and grounded. Have one of Wagner Mechanical’s licensed electricians install additional outlets or upgrade the wiring to ensure it’s safe before your newborn arrives.
Your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system heats or cools the air in your home. HVAC systems that aren’t maintained can spread toxins throughout your home. Have certified HVAC technicians, such as the experts with Wagner Mechanical, inspect your system and perform routine maintenance. HVAC technicians will replace old parts, clean mold growing on your condenser coils, replace dirty air filters, and clean your ducts. Investing in this routine maintenance ensures your HVAC unit’s working effectively before your baby arrives. HVAC maintenance also prevents your HVAC system from working harder to heat or cool your home, helping you avoid high energy bills.
Your home’s air quality prevents everyone in the home from breathing in pollutants and allergens, such as pet dander and pollen. Pollutants and allergens in your home’s air can affect sensitive skin, causing rashes and atopic dermatitis, often caused by irritants or allergens.
Once your systems are ready, paint your nursery and add wall art, mobiles, and other decorative items.
Stock your nursery.
Invest in extra washable mattress pads for your crib so you can swap them out if your baby wets through their diaper during a nap. You should also have at least three fitted crib sheets and extra blankets.
You’ll want the best diapers for newborns to prevent leaks. Look for brands with wetness indicators, such as Huggies or Pampers, to ensure you know when your newborn has a dirty diaper. The right diapers should have a secure fit and move with your baby. Invest in chlorine-free diapers to prevent exposure to cancer-causing dioxins. Your baby’s skin is sensitive, and using diapers with leak guards can help keep their skin dry.
Midnight feedings and diaper changes are typical, so make sure you have a nightlight for your nursery. You may also want to put a nightlight in the hallway.
Getting your newborn’s nursery ready involves purchasing essential furniture and stocking up on supplies. Have certified technicians inspect and clean your HVAC system and hire an electrician to upgrade your electrical and add extra outlets before the baby arrives.
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