Figuring out everything you need for a baby nursery can be overwhelming.
So you’re pregnant and super excited to start setting up your baby’s nursery, right?
Look no further. I have all the must – have items you need in this free nursery checklist below!!
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I’ve thought of all the necessities so you don’t have to!
I’ve broken down this checklist into 4 main sections. These are the items that you can’t go without. From furniture to clothing. Designing your baby’s nursery is so exciting! But sometimes excitement can lead to forgetting important things.
Furniture
Baby’s furniture is pretty important. You’ll definitely need a crib and a changing table. Pro tip: crib and changing tables can be all-in-one! This is a game changer for smaller rooms. We have a crib similar to this one for our son. It even has drawers to put diapers, wipes, and extra items like diaper cream and lotion!
A dresser can be optional depending on the size of your baby’s room. We chose not to have a dresser since his room is small. However, we did get cube organizer to put in his closet so it didn’t take up any space in his room!
Do NOT forget a laundry hamper! You’ll be doing plenty of laundry between blow outs and spit up. Oh the joys of motherhood, haha!!
Diaper pails are controversial. I’ve had many mother’s tell me they’re the worst thing ever. I have mixed feelings about them. They’re convenient since they don’t take up much space and can hold a lot of diapers. But they do tend to get pretty smelly. I like to stick an air freshener in mine!
Crib/Bassinet
By now, you’ve probably picked a theme for your baby’s nursery. This is the fun part! You get to pick out an adorable crib bedding set and matching mobile. Make sure you get a mattress cover. This will protect the mattress from any accidents. You’ll also need a few extra mattress sheets for late night changes.
Same thing for the bassinet. Mattress cover and extra sheets. I can’t tell you how many times I had to change the bassinet sheet at 3AM because my son spit up all over it.
Most changing tables come with a changing pad but it’s usually pretty thin. So you can definitely buy a better padded one if you’d like! Stock up on extra changing pad sheets. All kinds of messy things happen on this (pee, poop and spit up).
Clothing
This was probably my favorite part. Once you get close to your delivery date and you start washing and hanging your baby’s clothes… it all becomes real!
Onesies are a must have item. My son is almost 2 1/2 and he still wears them. I think it’s best to get every size up until at least 12 months. They’re great for cold weather and super easy to take off with accidents. (BTW- you can actually pull them off from their shoulders instead of pulling it over their head if there’s poop every where!)
Hats are also a must have. Since babies can’t wear heavy jackets in the car seat, it’s important to keep their heads warm. Mittens are optional. We had a few pairs for our son but I rarely used them. They fell off a lot.
This is probably the most important thing in this entire post. Do NOT buy any other PJ’s but zipper ones! No button/snap PJ’s!!!! I seriously can’t stress this enough. I only had a few of these and I did use them. I regretted it every single time and I’d be cursing at 4 in the morning trying to get it snapped.
One piece outfits are very easy and convenient when your baby is little. I wouldn’t go to crazy with shoes until your baby is after a year old. They honestly don’t wear them that often. Even at daycare, they end up falling off. It’s also better for babies to be barefoot when learning to walk!
Shirts, pants, shorts and dresses are so fun. We’ve gotten so much clothes from friends and family. I also love buying my son new clothes. But unfortunately, they do grow out of them ridiculously quick.
Miscellaneous
A white noise machine is great to have! Babies are used to all kinds of noises being in our belly. A humidifier works wonders when babies get a cold. You can also get drops to add to it for stuffy noses if it’s a diffuser like the one below!
Hangers, hangers and more hangers. Don’t forget them!
Diapers and wipes will be kept by/on the changing table. You’ll need an insane amount of these. (Diaper raffles are great for getting a huge stash of diapers!)
Wipe warmer. I didn’t get this for my son but I kind of wish I did. I’m sure babies would love a warm, cozy wipe compared to a cold one.
You can’t ever go wrong with too many blankets or bibs.
Happy nursery designing momma! Remember, don’t stress. Take your time and start planning early!
