The new baby is on the way. Do you still have a few months, or is the date closing in on you very fast? You need to get busy and prepare your nursery, even if it is just a corner of your own bedroom.
No matter where the nursery is going to be in your home, the first item you need to plan for is a bed. Are you going to use a bassinet or a full-sized crib when the baby comes home from the hospital? If you are starting off with the baby in your bedroom, the easiest option is to have a bassinet. It can take care of your new baby’s sleeping needs for several months, and leave space in your bedroom
One item often overlooked for a nursery in the parent’s bedroom is the rocking chair. While it may fill your bedroom to overflowing, it is a very critical part of your survival gear. Your new baby will be waking up at the worst times, and sometimes will stay awake longer in the middle of the night than you wish. This is the perfect time to have a rocking chair. You can relax and give the baby the movement they love. It will help your baby fall asleep easier, while allowing you to relax. Being up pacing the floors at 3AM is not much fun.
As part of your nursery, you may want to consider a new baby swing. Instead of you constantly rocking and holding your baby, you can lay them down gently in the swing and let the slow rocking motion aid them going back to sleep. Then you can fall asleep again, too.
While this sounds like a strange accessory for a new baby nursery, you should have an alarm clock. It is almost unavoidable, some night you are going to fall sound asleep in the nursery, and without an alarm clock you may sleep right through going to work, or an appointment. You will be exhausted, and you will fall asleep easily, even on the floor of the nursery.
Adding a music player, whether it is for CD discs or MP3′s can be very helpful. Playing music for your new baby can help them fall asleep, and stay asleep longer. This is for your benefit as much as theirs. You need your sleep. If you are exhausted you cannot enjoy your baby, and they will feel more stressed. When you are rested and happy, they catch the feeling and are more relaxed and happy, also. Part of your job as a new parent is to keep yourself happy and healthy.
There are many other items you will want for your new baby, but the most important ingredient is always Mom and Dad. You need to setup the nursery, your room, and your lives for all 3 of you to thrive. Creating an environment to aid in your taking care of the baby, and your own comfort will be beneficial to everyone.