Setting Up Your Baby’s Nursery

There's so much to be excited about when you find out you're pregnant, and plenty to do to prepare the arrival of your bundle of joy. One of these important tasks that can actually be a lot of fun is to set up the nursery for your little one. Whether you're choosing to find out the sex or not, there are lots of options and decisions you can make to get set up with everything you need in time for their grand entrance.

Many first-time parents can feel a bit daunted when it comes to setting up a space for their baby. Like any other big undertaking, the easiest thing to do is to break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. It’s no secret that there are so many different products on the market, all claiming to be the one thing you need for your baby so making those decisions can be tricky (hint: check out our post about baby 'must haves' to get you started) but don't be afraid to jump in and get your inner decorator on. 

Here are 3 steps to follow when it comes to setting up your baby’s nursery.

1. Start With A Theme

This is the fun part! Rather than just heading straight out to the shops and buying everything in sight that looks cute (spoiler alert: it'll be everything), a theme is a great way to reign yourself in and make sure you are only spending money on products that you will actually use in your baby’s room.
If you aren’t finding out the sex, there are plenty of gender neutral themes you can choose from, and once your little one arrives, you can simply add a splash of colour to tie it all together (or leave it as is!).

Here are some fun options to get you thinking:

• Fairy tales
• Superheros
• Monochrome
• Space (think stars, planets, moons, spaceships)
• Underwater adventure
• Airplanes
• Teddy bears
• Bright and colourful abstract shapes
• Forest animals

 2. Start With Big Ticket Items

With the theme sorted, you need to sit down and think about the big purchases you want to make for your baby’s room. Buying sets mean you'll have matching items that go with your theme, and can be a great way to save money. Here are some items to consider:

• Crib/bassinet: all babies will eventually move into a cot, but if you are starting off with a bassinet, this item can wait.
• Change table: remember if you are short of space, a change pad securely attached to the top of a set of drawers is a great way to save space. You can also consider a portable change mat that you can use in the room as well as on-the-go.
• Drawers/Wardrobe: You will need somewhere to put baby’s clothes, but where is entirely up to you. Work out how much space you need and how much room you have to work with.
• Rocking chair, recliner or other comfy chair: if you are planning to feed in the baby’s room, then a comfortable spot to sit is essential.

 3. Start Personalising

Now comes the fun part – your chance to personalise the space and bring your theme to life. Here are just a few of the ways you can add personal touches:

• Bunting
• Wallpaper or wall decals
• Rugs
• Cot/crib mobile
• Picture frames

Most importantly, have some fun with it. This is a space both you and your little one will be spending a lot of time together, so make it special.
It's also a great way to keep yourself busy while waiting to meet your new little bundle. Nesting anyone?