Shopping Tips for Your Baby's Nursery

Expecting the arrival of a newborn can be hectic enough with doctors visits and the effects of carrying a child. To add to the mayhem, parents to be also have to consider which room the new arrival will come home to and how to get it ready for the big day. Careful thought and planning have to be taken into consideration when designing your newborns nursery and, depending on your budget, where you'll shop for the furniture and clothing that you'll need.

You're first task at hand is deciding which room of the home is best and then transforming that room with the baby in mind. Safety is the biggest concern when choosing which room you'll use. The room needs to be easily accessible and large enough for the baby furniture. You'll also want to keep in mind the location in relation to the master bedroom. Midnight feedings are a whole lot easier when the nursery is located closer to whomever will be doing the midnight feeding. And, for safety's sake, you'll want timely access to the nursery in case of fire or other emergency.

Next, you'll probably want to apply a coat of paint to the walls of the room for a baby atmosphere. Take a trip to your local do it yourself store and head to the paint department. There will be a rack of paint sample cards with hundreds of colors to choose from. Simply take the sample card to the associate at the paint counter and he or she will mix your paint to the chosen color. While your paint is being mixed, browse the aisles to look for more decorations for your nursery such as wall paper border, baby themed outlet covers or stencils you can easily use to add designs to your painting job. Of course, this will mean you have to go back and choose more colors of paint but mixing the paint isn't very time consuming at all.

Now that you have the room painted and decorated, it's time to shop for the furniture the nursery will need. Before you leave for the store to choose these items, sit down and decide on a budget for the purchases. Knowing beforehand how much you can spend will dictate which stores you can spend it at. Nursery furniture can be as expensive or inexpensive as your budget allows.

First of all, you'll need a crib. With safety in mind, once again, choose a crib that is sturdy and well built. The slats should be no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart and the sliding rail should move easily using one hand. Cribs come in a multitude of colors and designs so choose one that compliments the way you painted the nursery.

Next, you'll need a mattress for the crib. Make sure that the mattress fits tightly inside. Spaces between the mattress and the sides of the crib will allow the babies arms and legs to get trapped in the opening. You'll also want to choose a bumper pad that will totally encircle the inside of the crib. The bumper pad will protect the baby from hitting his or her head against the wooden sides and prevent injury. Be selective and choose one that will stay firmly in place.

Now, compare the different changing tables there are to choose from. You want one that is sturdy and is equipped with a rail around the top. It should also have a restraining belt to keep the baby from rolling should you need to turn your head to retrieve a fresh diaper or baby wipes. A changing table will save your back over a period of time as it puts the baby at a comfortable height for diaper changes without bending over.

As far as baby clothes go, if you're having a baby shower, you may want to wait to see what gifts the new baby receives before spending too much money. After the shower, you can purchase the items the baby will require.

Most of all, have fun while you're designing and outfitting your new nursery. Take the time to plan it correctly and use your own creativity to personalize it the way you would like it to look. When you're finished, you can sit back and envision the fast approaching day you'll be bringing your newborn home.

*Shopping List For The Baby, MamasHealth.com