Let's talk Nurseries- Practicality

[Kiyentai]

Its about that time! We recently received a bedroom set for our upcoming new addition; a crib, changing table, and a dresser. We also have a bedside bassinet that will be in our bedroom.

I really haven't gotten into the decorating phase yet as I have no clue what to add as I am generally very practical in nature. I've been reading that some babies usually don't make the transition to a crib from a bassinet until about 3 months old. So my thought it, should we have the changing table in our bedroom while the baby is in the bassinet for those late night feedings/changings or am I putting too much thought into it?

I understand that baby planning doesn't always go as planned but for those who have kids already what are your nursery hacks? Also we do have a rocker/recliner but with the furniture I'm not sure if it will fit in our little nursery room.. do you think its practical to have it in there? Its currently in our living room.

Thanks!

If you were planning (and like you say planning in advance can be a challenge) on always breast feeding from the rocker I'd have it downstairs if you don't have a comfortable chair / sofa you could feed from. The hours of cluster feeding at the beginning when you are upstairs and out of circulation could be quite isolating (you want to be in front of the telly with everyone bringing you tea and cake, not hidden away where you can't whistle up another cuppa)

Baby should sleep in the same room as you until they are 6 months, longer if you choose.

With my first I had the changing table in the nursery and for the first few weeks went in there. Once I got the hang of things I just changed her really quickly in my bed.

With my second I put the changing table in our room to avoid having to leave the room in case we woke the toddler, I'm glad as he's been a prolific night pooer! 🤣

Both arrangements worked fine for me, I think you just work with whatever you've got.

I have been wondering the same about chairs, I would like to have a nursing type chair but the only place that really has room is the living area so it would mean sneaking in there if wanted to use it for night feeds. It’s not a long way, just a few steps so I am hoping it might be ok if I leave a little night light on. I guess the same would apply to changing table but I really don’t know...interested to see what people with experience think.

My baby is 10 weeks now. Her changing station is in the nursery but I’ve never changed her in there, I just change her on the bed through the night or on the mat in the living room downstairs.
We don’t have a rocking chair, I just feed her in bed

Baby should sleep in the same room as you for first 6 months it reduces the chances of SIDS.

We had a next to me snuzpod until this time and changing table/chest of drawers in our bedroom until DS was 6 months. He then went into a cot bed (cot which then transitions to a toddler bed) in his room and we moved the chest of drawers/change table (it's a chest of drawers with change table adaption ontop).

As for chair we found it easier to have a pull out bed in our sons bedroom so we have a rocking chair downstairs.

If you don't have a C-section it's worth not having the changing table, and learning to change your baby on the bed, the floor and your knees from the start.

Reason being as once they start wiggling, which can start within 2 months, you will find it hard to use one. Also if you go out and about you will be able to change your baby quicker if you are use to using the floor and/or your knees.

It's also worth having more than one changing mat and putting them in different rooms however small your home is.

Just get a couple of baskets/bags to put the nappies, wipes etc in, and make sure one is upstairs and one downstairs.

We don’t use a changing table - we just do it downstairs / on a mat. Our chest of drawers in the nursery could double as a changing mat but never used it.

I feed in bed at night (baby will be in next to me crib until 6 months) and downstairs during the day - the nursery is just being used for clothes storage and a bit of tummy time right now!

If you don't have a C-section it's worth not having the changing table, and learning to change your baby on the bed, the floor and your knees from the start.

Reason being as once they start wiggling, which can start within 2 months, you will find it hard to use one. Also if you go out and about you will be able to change your baby quicker if you are use to using the floor and/or your knees.

This scares me, I can’t really kneel due to knee damage! I guess I will have to find a way to adapt.

@Inkpaperstars we still use a change table with our nearly 2 year old!
Yes babies wriggle but you find ways to stop them such as distract them with a toy a book or hey duggee!

@Inkpaperstars don't worry I've never knelt either. I still use my changing table with a 20m old. I agree with pp I just use toys for distraction. I obviously never leave him unattended or even turn around,I'm always standing right there.

Yep, sometimes still use changing table with my 2 year old too. It's nonsense that you can't, though I agree there are times it's easier to just do it wherever you are.

Thanks @Scottishskifun @Russell19 and @Cakeandslippers, you’ve made me feel better!

I think changing tables just take up a lot of unnecessary space. A changing mat is much more versatile and you can get ones that unfold with space for nappies and wipes to go in.

@SnowFields if your changing table is on the top of a set of drawers i think it uses space well that wouldn't normally be used.

[quote Russell19]@SnowFields if your changing table is on the top of a set of drawers i think it uses space well that wouldn't normally be used.[/quote]
But you either run the risk of the baby rolling off or having unsightly straps to tie them on. Usually the weight limit on the top of drawers is low, so it quickly is wasted space.

@Inkpaperstars

If you don't have a C-section it's worth not having the changing table, and learning to change your baby on the bed, the floor and your knees from the start.

Reason being as once they start wiggling, which can start within 2 months, you will find it hard to use one. Also if you go out and about you will be able to change your baby quicker if you are use to using the floor and/or your knees.

This scares me, I can’t really kneel due to knee damage! I guess I will have to find a way to adapt.

@Inkpaperstars Don't worry!

I came on here specifically to comment regarding this and offer an alternative view... whilst I can change nappies on the bed or floor, I much prefer changing nappies on a changing table and will always go for this option if i have a choice. I actually find wriggly babies/toddlers easier to deal with on a changing table!

There's also no need to worry about baby rolling off or needing straps as long as you have everything you need within reach (I find a nappy organiser/caddy very useful).

Are you hoping to breastfeed? If so, you don’t really need to get out of bed at all overnight. I found feeding in bed so much easier, the nursing chair has only been used for some naps where she slept on me, and now for stories before bed.

I don’t have a changing table I just have a mat upstairs and downstairs. When she was very little and I was doing nappies in the night to be honest I just put her mat on the bed! No reason you can’t use a changing table but if you can do it on the bed then I’d keep a mat by the bed rather than try and get up each time. If you can do that you could put the changing table downstairs so you can change the baby downstairs without needing to kneel.

Also if you’re breastfeeding it’s worth keeping a big bottle of water and some snacks like cereal bars by the bed. Really helpful in those first few weeks. Good luck!

For the first 6 months LO was in our room and so was fed in bed. When he moved into his own room I found a nursing chair in his room invaluable for nighttime feeds. (Obviously when I was pregnant I was sure he wouldn't still be night feeding by then - but he had different ideas!) I don't think I've ever changed a nappy overnight 🤷🏻‍♀️ but when he was little we had a mat on the chest of drawers. When we switched to cloth we found a mat on the bathroom floor easier.

So I've had three kids and my accumulated wisdom is this:

Yes you want a changing station upstairs, on a table or a mat on the floor doesn't matter but you want the kit handy for when you are dressing and bathing them. With dd3 we had drawers for her clothes in the bathroom and the mat in there.

You need a mini changing kit in your room for middle of the night changes including a spare babygro and vest. Just an old towel or folding mat, nappy and small wipes in a plastic box will do.

You need a bigger version of this for downstairs so you aren't continually going upstairs to change them. I had a sort of a4 size really useful box for this.

Changing baby balanced on your knees will result in damp clothing and sofas.

You can pin a baby down with your elbow.

Hth

Don’t think of it as a “nursery”, think of orcas what it will be....your baby’s bedroom.

It not orcas (bloody orcas!!)

Orcas would be an interesting addition to a nursery!

I just slobbed on the sofa to feed. It was much more comfortable. It was handy to have a chair in the nursery for somewhere to sit while upstairs, as we had no other chairs.

Also if a night time change was needed, I just did it on the bed. Same for feeding. I’d I didn’t HAVE to get out of bed I didn’t. The best way is to keep everything as quick and low key as possible if you want to go back to sleep.

I've nannied for 13 years and never had a child roll off of a change table so if you want to use one that's fine as long as you don't leave them unattended etc. Make sure you set up everything in easy reach at all times.
I'm only 14 weeks but when I set everything up, I'll have a change box/caddy downstairs and in my bedroom. Middle of the night I'm planning on doing everything from my bed lol. During the day I'll change nappies and clothes downstairs as much as I can. I'll also have my feeding chair downstairs in the living room xx

Oh and we didn’t have a separate changing unit, we had a cot top changer.