Nursery Essentials

The Little Things that Count Shop months of sales, and store your treasures in a diaper pail, bathtub, and clothes hamper. Yes, you will need all of these items: diapers, liners, rubber pants, and diaper pins; baby powder, shampoo, soap, oil, and rash ointment; cotton balls and swabs; vaporizer, baby monitor, night light, musical crib mobile, bottles, bottle brush, dish and spoon, thermometer, nail scissors, nasal aspirator, brush and comb; crib sheets, mattress cover, bumper pads, receiving blankets, changing pads, undershirts, one-piece jammies and sleepers.

Peaceful Moments
A rocking chair or glider will provide comfort night-after-night, whether rocking baby to sleep, or calming a fussy or gassy baby who can't sleep. Make sure to look for a glider/rocker with an ottoman for added comfort. You might consider a nursing stool in place of an ottoman during the first months.

Crib styles and finishes vary; slats of the crib should be no more than 2 3/8-inches apart. A traditional crib can be handed down from baby-to-baby. However, if this is your last or only child, a crib that converts into a junior bed or daybed is a practical purchase. Add a mattress to your list - most cribs do not include mattresses.

Nursery Storage
You'll need a changing station - most have storage for diapers, lotions, etc. Unfortunately, changing tables are used for a limited time. New options include dressers with changing-table tops and changing table wall units that can later be used for storage centers. Make sure your changing table comes with safety straps to secure baby to the table and rails to prevent baby from rolling off.

A well-built 4-5-drawer chest or double dresser can be used from infancy through the teen years. A wise move is to purchase a compatible armoire for the nursery. It may not seen practical during the first months, but as baby grows, storage space will be minimal.