- Julie Georgiadis, Marketing Director iL Tutto
Traditional slatted cots can be lowered as your baby grows and are suitable up to around age two, but you can buy a cot bed that converts to a toddler bed which will last longer. If you’re short on space, look for a cot with storage underneath.
4. Cot sheets
While it can be tempting to buy a fancy bedding set, all you really need for your baby’s cot is a sheet for the mattress, and blankets or a baby sleeping bag to keep your baby warm.
Classic cot sheets are made from 100% cotton, which is breathable to help keep your baby cool during the summer and warm during the winter months. While you can use a flat sheet, a fitted sheet is better as it will stay in place if your baby is wriggling about at night. Good quality sheets should also wash well without bobbling or losing their shape, which is important if your baby is sick or has a leaky nappy at night. For this reason, make sure you always have at least one spare sheet clean.
5. Night light
If you don’t want to be fumbling around in the dark during a night-time feed or nappy change, a night light will come in very handy during the first few months or years of your baby’s life.
Instead of having to turn on a bright lamp, a night light gives off a soft warm glow and can also help soothe your baby (or toddler) at bedtime if they don’t like a totally dark room. You can get simple plug-ins, lamps, character night lights and designs that also play music or project stars onto the wall.
If you want to be able to move the night light around, look for one that’s battery-operated.
6. Sound machine
Helping your baby get to sleep can be one of the hardest parts about being a parent. Many swear by white noise to soothe tired babies and help them sleep longer as it blocks out any distracting background noises.
There are white noise apps, cuddly comforters and sound machine boxes that emit white noise to help your baby get to sleep. Some can double up as a night light and can play other sounds such as nursery rhymes, lullabies and nature sounds. Look out for sound machines with multiple volume settings so you can choose how loud you want it.
7. Changing mat
There’s one thing you’ll be doing a lot of when your baby arrives and that’s changing nappies. A changing mat - a padded, wipeable surface with raised edges – provides a comfortable place for your baby to lie.
Emergency nappy changes can strike at any time – both day and night - so keeping a mat (as well as nappies, baby wipes and creams) in your nursery means you have everything to hand when needed.
To save your back and prevent you from being hunched over on the floor, it may be worth investing in a changing table which can sit on top of a chest of drawers or shelves to double up as extra storage for all your baby’s adorable new clothes.
8. Bodysuits
Another must-have for your baby’s wardrobe is a bodysuit - a versatile piece of baby clothing that can be worn as a vest under clothes, as a T-shirt with bottoms or for bed on warmer nights.
Available with long or short sleeves, it’s good to have a range of these in different styles, colours and prints. The poppers will ensure you can easily change a nappy and bodysuits with an envelope neck make undressing a wriggly baby a whole lot easier – especially when a leaky nappy strikes.
9. Pyjamas
If you want to add a bit of variety to your baby’s nightwear, you could opt for a cosy two-piece pyjama set. As with bodysuits, look for pyjama tops with envelope or popper openings on the shoulders to make undressing younger babies easier.
Most sets don’t have feet so these may be better suited for warmer months or when your baby becomes more mobile.
10. Hooded towel
Most babies love splashing about at bath time and, as a parent, we love those post-bath cuddles when they’re wrapped up in a towel. As babies only start to regulate their temperature from about 18 months, a hooded towel covers their head to ensure they stay warm when it’s time to get out of the bath.
Look for towels that are soft and absorbent for drying your baby’s delicate skin. You can find a range of hooded towels in a variety of styles, such as with cute animal ears, colours and patterns.
Read next: The best nappy bins to buy, as recommended by parents
When should I start preparing my nursery?
This is totally up to you. Some parents like to be organised and get everything ready well before their baby’s due date, while others prefer to wait until nearer the time. A good time to start thinking about preparing the nursery is after your 20-week scan, when you may know the sex of your baby and can start thinking about how you want to decorate.
In your second trimester, you should also feel more energised and you’ll still have plenty of time to shop around for the best products and wait for things to arrive – furniture can take weeks to be delivered. You may want to get all the essentials in place by 36 weeks just in case your baby decides to make an early appearance.
About the author
Gemma Wilcock is a freelance writer and copywriter. She grew up in the North-East of England but has lived in and around London for almost 20 years now. At Mumsnet, she creates content providing useful parenting advice, information and top products to make life easier – as a mother of two children herself, Gemma knows how important it is to get the right advice.