For someone so small, a newborn baby certainly comes with a whole load of accessories. What with seemingly constant outfit changes and growth spurts, baby’s wardrobe soon begins to rival mum’s, not to mention the nappies, wet wipes, dummies, rattles and other toys the little boy or girl can’t possibly leave home without.
Things can pile up just after the birth, when baby needs changing and feeding at all times of the day and night, so it’s vital that a nursery is well organised. It might all seem like a chaotic round of wet nappies and midnight feeds, but a tidy nursery, where everything has its place and can be found and put away easily, can create a much-needed sense of order to the new routine.
There are a variety of ways to organise a nursery for a newborn that are both efficient and pleasant to look at; from walk-in closets, with double rows of hanging space for smaller outfits, to canvas bags that can be tied to the end of the baby’s cot. Furnishing a nursery is an ever-growing market and there is so much to choose from that is not only cute and adorable, but also soft and eco-friendly, that it can be overwhelming. Frequently, new parents get caught up in all the excitement and buy far more than they need or have room for.
There are three essentials for any new nursery, the cot, the changing table and shelves or wardrobe space for storage. As a simple way of saving money, why not buy everything in one go and claim free delivery on a larger order?
Custom changing tables can be expensive, but actually any deep, full-size dresser can be used, just as long as there is room to place a soft changing mat on top of and the height is right. Repaint it in a bright yet soothing shade of pale blue, pink or yellow and it won’t look out of place. Changing essentials, such as wipes, lotions and of course nappies, should be stored within easy reach of the mat, either in the drawer below, shelf above or even in a canvas organiser that can be attached to the side of the dresser or cot.
Invest in some cheap, pre-made shelving units and place the things you don’t want the little ones playing with on the highest shelves. Next, buy a good selection of smaller, bright and colourful drawers that will fit snugly onto the shelves for storing lotion, wipes, dummies and other smaller nursery items that get lost all too easily.
As your child gets older and maybe gets a new brother or sister to add to the flock, the nappies and romper suits will be replaced with piles of toys that always seem to be getting pulled out and played with; putting them away, however, is another matter. Make tidying up fun with colourful, small stacking boxes or wheelie buckets that can be pulled out or put away in seconds.
Once your child is old enough to move out of the cot and into a bed, consider buying one with built-in drawers; they are ideal for storing not only extra bedding but also toys. This storage space can always be replaced with a mattress once your child gets to the sleepover stage.
