Making the transition from adulthood into parenthood can be an exciting ride filled with fun and adventure. It can also be incredibly nerve-wracking. Sure, you're thrilled about the idea of bringing a new life into the world, but how do you take care of it? How are you supposed to be responsible for it? Moreover, do you know how to prepare for a newborn baby in the first place? If not, never fear! Here's everything you need to know to at least get their room ready to go.
1. Focus on the Crib
While you may think that decorations and clothes are what you should focus on for your baby's room, the crib is where you should spend the majority of your attention (and money). Besides making sure that it matches the rest of your furniture, you'll want to make sure you take a couple of other things into account: durability and adaptability.
Believe it or not, babies will usually only sleep in the crib for about 1-2 years, until they can start crawling out and move all over the place. For that reason, you might consider getting a crib that changes into a bed so it can grow with them. Or, if you're planning on having more kids, get a crib that will last so you can hand it over to the next one when they're born.
When it comes to bedding, go minimal, at least at first. On average, one baby every hour is hurt (or worse) from crib-related accidents, so make sure you keep all pillows and blankets out of the crib while the baby is sleeping for at least the first year.
2. Make a Space for Diaper-Changes
Depending on how much room you have, you'll want to either invest in a free-standing changing table, or a changing top that you can put on a dresser. Since you most likely won't use the table once you're done having kids, look for ways to transition it into something else after you're done, like a bookshelf or an end table.
The key here, as with most baby-related furniture items, is storage. Lots and lots and lots of storage. Make sure you have wipes within grabbing distance as well as a stack of diapers nearby. Also, plan to have a toy that the baby can play with while you're changing, or else they might get squirmy; to that end, look for a changing table that has a strap that you can hold the baby in place. If you're new to the diaper-changing game, there are many guides online that will walk you through it step-by-step.
3. Don't Forget the Furniture!
Next, to the crib and changing table, a rocking chair is the most essential piece of furniture you'll want in your nursery. Pick a chair that glides or rocks so you can use it to put your baby back to sleep, and invest in a quality chair that will last from child to child. This is about your comfort as much as the baby's, so don't go cheap.
Since you'll be spending a lot of time in your chair, look for bookcases that can go next to it and hold books or toys for your baby to play with. Have bins that you can pull out and stuff things in to make for easy access, and place them all over the room. When you shop for a rug, go with a low-shag style, as anything too high could possibly pose a choking risk for your baby. Get something that's soft and will last, as your baby will most likely spend a lot of time rolling around on it.
Curtains are another consideration. Most newborns sleep sporadically, but as soon as they hit a few months, they'll start to develop more of a routine, which will consist of taking a couple of naps a day. To help her fall asleep quicker, choose blackout curtains that can make her room dark and make her rest more peaceful.
