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When you’re pregnant, it is so easy to get overwhelmed with all of the baby products on the market. You go into the store to register and you stand there with no clue where to start. They have everything from ten different bottle brands to high tech baby monitors. I highly suggest breaking everything down by category before you go, so that you can easily walk through the store and register for each item. You can break them down into categories like feeding, diapering, clothing, toys, or nursery. Then, narrow down to what you need in each category. Here are the top 10 Nursery Must Haves I always suggest:
Crib
The focal point of your nursery will be the crib. After all, you will need somewhere for your baby to sleep for the next 2+ years. I suggest investing in a great crib that is neutral and durable. We knew that we wanted at least two children, so it was a piece of furniture we knew would get passed down to siblings. Because of this, we wanted to go with a neutral color. This is something I highly suggest because even if you are only having once child, you might want to sell it one day as well.
Mattress
Now that you have a crib in mind, the next step is to select a mattress. A firm mattress tends to work best for newborns and honestly, that is about the only requirement. You can go spend a lot of money on a mattress or a little. They have a wide array of price points and this was one thing we chose to go on the cheaper end. When we actually went and felt each mattress, we did not feel a difference between $80 and $300. I can say that after two babies, it has not made a difference. Both of our babies are great sleepers and love their beds so much!
Mattress Protector
Next comes the mattress protector. Mattress Protectors are so important! Babies spit up and pee A LOT! You want to keep their mattress clean and free of any germs. We actually bought two mattress protectors and it was a great idea. I can’t take all of the credit. I actually read this tip on Pinterest and it was great advice. Be sure to buy two mattress protectors and two crib sheets. I will explain more in the crib sheet section!
Crib Sheets
Like I said, buy at least two. Then, put on your mattress protector, then crib sheet, then mattress protector then crib sheet. This will save you time and exhaustion in the middle of the night. It is inevitable. Your baby is going to spit up or pee in their bed or both. Then, it will wake them up, they will cry, you will wake up and then you have to clean it up and them. By having two layers, you can just take one layer off and throw it in the wash without having to make the bed again. When its 2am, every minute is precious and having the extra set already in place gets everyone back to sleep quicker!
Monitor
The next important item in the Nursery is the monitor so you can see and hear your baby at all times. We have tried LOTS of monitors and the VTech Brand is the one we use the most! With VTech, you don’t have choose between style or features. VTech is full of features yet has a modern design. They have an array of options from a simple audio monitor to audio, video, and soothing lullabies. They also come equipped with features that can be used into early childhood and additional monitors can be added for multiple children.
Right now, we are using the VTech VM5251 5″ Digital Video Baby Monitor with Full-Color and Automatic Night Vision, White from Target.com. It has a fixed camera that gives you multiple viewing options. It has infrared night vision and features soothing sounds and lullabies that play right from the camera unit. Plus, the built-in temperature sensor will let you know with an alert if the nursery is getting too hot or too cold so you can adjust the thermostat. It also has a two way, talk back intercom which is my favorite feature for early childhood. We use it in Brooke’s room A LOT. I can easily tell her to get back in bed during naptime or to “close your eyes”.
Swaddle
We were BIG believers in swaddling. We swaddled both our babies beginning at about 4 weeks old and they slept through the night. With Brooke, we stopped swaddling around 5 months old, but with Baby Kevin, we swaddled him until about 8 or 9 months. He just loved it so much. We used a tight swaddles that had a velcro closure.
Changing Table
Changing tables make everything more convenient. We used ours for diaper changes and changing clothes. I know that some people buy an actual changing table, while others use the top of a dresser. We decided to use the top of a dresser with our kids and it worked great. Essentially, you can use any space that is about hip height off of the ground.
Changing Pad
Next, you need a changing pad to go on top of it! This is slightly cheating because technically it is a separate item, but be sure to get changing pad covers as well. We had three because accidents happen!
Rug
I also suggest a great rug in their room. Not only does a rug really help the space come together, but it is soft for them to play on with their toys. I also recommend one that is easy to clean because it is for a kids room and they love having lots of fun playing!
Decor
And, last but not least, decor! I know this isn’t a “must” but it is on this mama’s list. I love decorating and my babies rooms were my favorite in the house. I just love creating a fun, safe space for them to play and learn. It brings me a lot of smiles to daydream and find fun pieces for them.
I hope that this list really helps you start planning and shows you how easy it is to break down your registry by category. I highly suggest going in store to Target and looking at each item and what works for your family. Like I mentioned, just with VTech, they have a great product line up with so many options to fit your family’s needs!