Which Indispensable Baby Nursery Items Should Be On Your Checklist?

Which indispensable baby nursery items should be on your checklist?

- Yoojin Lee

If I could go back in time, I would’ve become a wedding planner—or someone who decorates nurseries for expecting moms. Why? Because there are two events in a woman’s life where she goes above and beyond a rational budget: her wedding and her baby’s arrival.

While it’s possible to reduce newborn baby costs, nurseries can become very expensive. Anxious and excited new moms often want to make sure their child has two of everything that stores suggest should be in the nursery. Purchases often become more emotional than logical.

To figure out the crucial elements of a nursery, let’s begin by understanding who it’s really for: the mother. By the time your baby becomes a toddler, the nursery has to transform to what’s required for a child that age. All that occupies the nursery is temporary. The nursery is really for the mother because each item in the room is meant for her comfort: either physically, mentally or emotionally.

So, what should you buy for your nursery?

CRIB

A crib, before all else, must be safe. It’s where a newborn will spend most of his or her time. According to BabyCenter.com, newborns can sleep 16 to 17 hours a day (67% of their day), so a good crib is important.

A factor to note before purchasing a crib is the visibility. More than half the cribs available today have sides that are closed off. Make sure you choose one that’s barred and visible on all four sides so you don’t have to go to the nursery every five minutes to make sure baby’s well.

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