Nursery Essentials
Six nursery nesting essentials
Needs, rather than nice-to-haves
Choosing furniture and decor for your new babe’s nursery is an exciting part of nesting, but can also be pretty confusing. There’s an overwhelming amount of choice, and thanks to Instagram and Pinterest there’s no shortage of ‘nursery of your dreams’ inspiration. But how much of it is more for the followers than for function? Here, we look at the top six nursery nesting essentials, so you’ll be clued up on needs versus nice-to-haves.
1. Night-night, sleep tight – the cot
A decent cot is a worthwhile investment – it’ll get plenty of use for years to come. A convertible cot with adjustable mattress heights and the ability to transform from bassinet to a toddler bed will extend its lifespan even more. Cots sold in New Zealand will meet the required safety standards, which means they are the correct depth (to avoid escapees), have correctly spaced bars (to avoid stuck heads) and have no sharp or protruding parts. Aside from these basics, another thing to look out for is a correctly fitted mattress. Any gaps between the edge of the mattress and cot can be a suffocation risk. A cot which features a side that drops down to make putting your baby in or taking him out will save your back!
Save – For beautiful and basic, whether you're aiming for a modern or earthy vibe, the Mackenzie range has you covered.
Splurge – Invest in top-of-the-line quality with The Stokke® Sleepi™ that evolves from cosy bassinet to toddler bed, then child’s couch with its distinctive oval shape.
2. Action station aka the change station
Not the prettiest nursery item, but very high on the usage and functionality list! While it’s entirely possible to make do with a change pad which can be moved around and popped on the floor, table or cot, a specific change table makes life easy. It’s no lie that small babies need a lot of changing (both outfits and nappies), so having all the essentials like nappies, wipes, nappy cream and spare clothes at the ready will save you scrambling around in a barely-awake haze at 2am!
Save – a decent waterproof change mat like this one is a great option if you want something to move around the house.
Splurge – the Linea Change Table is compact, super stylish and functional with plenty of storage.
3. Sit back and relax – the feeding chair
Don’t underestimate the humble feeding chair. While it can be tempting to go purely for aesthetics when choosing a chair for the nursery, keep in mind you might end up feeling like you spend more time in it than in bed, so comfort is important! Consider these factors when making your choice:
- Easy to get in and out of – if you’ve just spent hours trying to get a fussy baby to sleep, the last thing you want to do is wake a little dreamer while struggling out of your chair.
- Comfortable for feeding – sounds obvious. Wide armrests will give you somewhere to rest your arms while feeding and help you get in a better position. Even the lightest baby starts to feel heavy after 20+ minutes!
- Easy to clean – top points for something that can be easily cleaned with a baby wipe. Plush fabrics may look great to begin with, but might not survive the inevitable spills.
- Longevity – a feeding chair that can go on to become a cosy spot for storytime or serve another purpose in your home will give you more value for money.
Don’t forget to add a side table stocked with your middle-of-the-night feed essentials – a water bottle, healthy snacks and something to keep you entertained.
4. Deceptively tidy – clever storage
Although they’re only little, babies’ wardrobes can seem anything but. With multiple outfit changes a day and stacks of accessories like bibs, hats and muslins, investing in some decent storage will help you look and feel like you’ve got things under control. Clean clothes can go straight into drawers rather than hanging around the dining table, and the inevitable nursery clutter can be contained.
A dresser with a matching cot option like this one that matched the Scoot Cot will keep your nursery furniture looking sleek. Or choose a dresser where you can add a change-table component to save on space.
5. Let there be night light
Entering a bright new world, your baby won’t develop a fear of the dark for at least her first couple of years. Like most nursery essentials, a nightlight is really all about your comfort. Save yourself from knocking over a noisy toy at 2am and provide just enough light to feel your way through a nappy change. A dim glow means you won’t need to turn on the main light, which helps your baby learn to distinguish night from day, and keeps them feeling sleepy. The Moonlight not only offers you a soft golden glow – perfect for night feeds – but also three different light levels and a clip so you can have your hands free for nappy changes. Genius.
6. Peace of mind – the baby monitor
Being a new parent is full of unknowns, keeping an eye on your baby while they’re in the cot is one less thing to worry about. Video monitors (while not essential) will save you from having to creep to the nursery to peer through a crack in the door. There are many monitors on the market, from purely audio right through to monitors with connected breathing movement alarms like this one from Oricom. Think about what will suit your family best and what purpose you want your monitor to serve.
