5 essentials when planning a nursery

As a mum of five I’ve had my fair share of experience when it comes to planning a nursery and, with every baby, I’ve come to realise what the real essentials are for your baby’s new room. I’m sharing my top five nursery essentials for new parents preparing for their baby’s arrival or moving them into their own room for the first time.

1. Nursery furniture

The main one for me is definitely buying a good quality nursery furniture set. Finding a good package deal is a great way of furnishing your nursery and often saves money over buying each furniture item individually. When choosing your nursery furniture set try and find a set that will grow with your baby for longevity, including a cot which can transform to a cot bed, or a taller wardrobe which remains practical for their clothes as they grow.

2. Rocking chair

A rocking chair was a real necessity to me when feeding the children, especially with the youngest three when I developed severe neck and back issues and needed a comfortable space to sit for those long night feeds. As most new mums will know, you can be sitting with your baby for a long time to settle them and having a comfortable chair, and the addition of a foot stool to sit back and relax, was a life saver!

3. Changing table

With my eldest I didn’t have a changing table and insisted I would manage with just a changing mat. I soon realised that bending over changing twenty nappies a day was hard work, especially on the old knees and back, and so having a nappy station with the younger three was a game changer! I loved that everything I needed was right there in one place – wipes, nappies, change of clothes, and definitely recommend a changing table to all new mums!

4. Room thermometer

One of my biggest concerns as a new parent was worrying about whether my baby would be too hot or too cold. I found it very hard to decide purely by touching the skin on their chest and, given I am always cold, it gave me sleepless nights worrying about it. Once I had invested in a good quality room temperature it took away the guess work and I felt far better about my judgement!

5. Brightly coloured accessories

I loved accessorising the children’s nurseries with brightly coloured bedding, cot mobiles, curtains, rugs and wall decorations just to brighten up their room to hold their attention. Although neutral nursery decors are very popular at the moment, adding in those coloured accessories is a fun way to change the feel of the room as they grow.

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