Preparing the Nursery

By Rosemary E. King

Preparing room for baby with a nursery is fun, but it can also be expensive, if you don't know what products you really need to survive those first few months!  As a mom of six, I can tell you that you don’t need a lot of fancy stuff for the baby!  Some place to sleep, food, diapers and food are all you need those first few months.  Everything else is just icing on the cake. 

Let’s start with the basics.  Sleeping.  Many people buy a crib, but I never used a crib until my kids were at least 3 months old.  This was because we’re co-sleepers and in those first few months, wanted our kids in the room with us.  It was easier to feed and change while they’re in the same room, rather than some place separate.  I had a cradle by my bed that we used.  If you’re not going to have the baby in your room, a crib would be a good option.  For the bedding, don’t use the padding that goes around the crib.  Sure it’s pretty, but a baby can suffocate from it or become entangled.  And don’t use the comforter until your baby can easily roll back and forth.  Many stores now carry a sleeper suit for baby, so that they’re still warm at night when they sleep and then there’s no worry of having a blanket in the cradle or crib that can endanger the baby.  We usually just swaddled our children in thin blankets. 

Now that your baby has a place to sleep, let’s continue on to diapering!  Cloth or disposal, I use disposal, and will be investing in cloth.  The reason, it’s too expensive to continue buying disposal!  And it’s better for the environment.  Whatever you decide, be sure to have some on hand, newborn sizes to size 2.  Those first few weeks some babies outgrow the newborn diapers almost immediately, so having other sizes on hand will give you peace of mind that you’ll have the right size on hand.  Baby wipes are also a must.  Make your own or buy them.  If you want to make your own, an easy and green recipe is

·         Water

·         Baby soap

·         Paper towels

·         Plastic bag

Use about 1 cup of water with a few squirts of baby soap.  Gently mix.  Soak paper towels in mixture.  Gently strain excess water off paper towels.  Place wet paper towels in plastic bag.  Repeat as necessary.

I wouldn’t use cheap paper towels, get something absorbent and soft.  Remember this is going on a very sensitive bum! 

                You don’t need a changing table.  I had one for my first and never had another one after that.  It was unnecessary and a waste of money.  If the table is also a dresser, it might be useful.  Otherwise, save the cash from the changing table and use a changing pad on the ground.  Works just as well, if not better, and you’ll have more control over the little one when he becomes more mobile.  Walking to his room to change a diaper on the table became a hassle and by the time he was a few weeks old, I stopped using it.  Unless I was in his room, the table was hardly used.

                Feeding a baby seems to be a heated debate, not just among mothers, but the medical community abroad.  I was able to breastfed all my children as long as I could and switched to formula when breastfeeding was no longer feasible.  Even if you decide to breastfeed, having bottles on hand to put expressed breastmilk in is always a sound investment.  If you’re nursing, buy cotton breast pads.  Don’t invest in a breast pillow.  A regular pillow works just as well, if not better (in my opinion).  Be sure to have shirts that will allow you to breastfeed your child easily.  Nothing is more frustrating than trying to unbutton a shirt with a screaming, hungry baby.  If you’re formula feeding be sure to buy bottles that reduce gas in babies.  Research what type of formula you choose to use and then follow the directions.  Don’t’ use less than the recommended amount of formula for your baby in each bottle.  Doing so can cause your baby to have water poisoning.  Be sure to correctly measure out the formula and then place in the water.  You can also invest in a good pitcher, so you can make formula, place in fridge and then reheat it as needed.  This is especially helpful at night, when you’re half asleep.  Being able to just pour the formula into a bottle is easier than mixing it. Having a place to sit in the room is valuable, if you use a separate room.  Otherwise, your bed is just as good. 

                Clothing is fun, but don’t over buy!  Babies grow out of their clothes fast, so don’t overspend in this department.  Go to consignment shops to get great deals on used baby clothes.  No one will know the difference!  I would recommend having 2 outfits per day for one week.  No need for more than that until they’re a little older and growth has slowed down.  My kids stayed in their sleeping one piece outfits most days until they were about 3 months.  Then I started putting them in actual outfits.  Zipper, one piece clothing is the best invention for baby clothes.  After six kids, I still can’t button properly!  You’ll need a coat and hat if you live in colder climates or if you’re due in the winter months. 

Rosemary E. King is a  Mom-preneur.  She is the owner and is the administrator of The Baby Kottage and Beauty Advice by Rosemary.  She is also an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay.  Rosemary is married to Wayne, a Naval Officer.  Together they raise and homeschool their six children.