Nursery Questions (from those more experienced)

[Danani]

Hello!

I will be a first time mum in the summer, and I'm just starting to do a little bit of research into what we will need, with the idea of having a list together over the next couple of months, and then doing the actual shopping in the last couple of months.

I have a couple of questions, which I hope someone more experienced than me will be able to help out with:

1. The nursery (currently our home office) has a nice light carpet - it isn't new, but it doesn't look bad and it's actually in a good shape.

My question is: would it make sense to re-carpet with something brand new/softer/fluffier now before baby arrives, or keep as is, get it professionally deep cleaned, (planning to also use a cute rug on top anyways) and change it once the baby is a bit older...? I guess I'm thinking that babies wee, poo, vom...so am I better off changing it up once that initial explosive phase has subsided a little bit?

1. I want to get a nursing/reading chair - something comfy but stylish which we can then use in our living room, or can grow with the baby. Does it make more sense/is it more functional to get a rocking chair, or a nice armchair with a little leg rest? Or does anyone have any good recommendations for a convertible rocking chair (if that's a thing) - something i can pop into the rocking bits, or remove and use as a normal chair?

Congratulations.

I would leave carpet for now, our nursery was essentially a dumping ground until baby was about nine months, then I started to sort it. I set up a changing station, nappies, spare clothes etc in sitting room for day time and our room for nights.

The chair I suddenly loved my big armchair which reclines. My sister did give me a padded nursing chair but I never got on with it.

I would leave the carpet - baby won't mind if it's not super fluffy & new, and I can promise that you'll care more if you get a new carpet which may be promptly sicked/pooped on. You can add a fluffy rug if you want. But I'd wait until your child is a little older and then replace.

As for the chair - I have one of those ikea chairs that bounces / rocks. Not expensive / modern looking / extra space in living room and add a foot stall and you're set. X

I would wait to replace carpet until your child has potty trained. You won't be putting baby straight on carpet.

Chair - I would suggest functionality over looks. If you plan to BF you'll likely spend many hours in the chair so it needs to be comfy. I found the IKEA Poang too deep to BF my newborns (got a proper nursing chair) but fine once babies older and bigger.

My second is a few months old and his room is full of random stuff- clothes in smaller and bigger sizes. I need to do a lot of sorting before he moves in at 6 months!

I would definitely leave the carpet, and probably get it cleaned pre baby.
We put vinyl flooring down in DD's nursery which has come in handy on the exorcist vomiting occasions and there's a rug in the middle of the room (that so far has avoided all explosions!)

We got the mamas & papas rocking chair and footstool for her room, but it is a colour that will also go in our lounge or playroom if we want it to. But I quite like the idea of her having the chair in her room for when she gets a little older as somewhere to get cosy and read, or somewhere we can sit and read bedtime stories from.

www.mamasandpapas.com/products/hilston-nursing-chair-stool-sand-sensoa500

Thanks so much ladies! I knew I’ve come to the right place! Glad we are all in agreement on the carpet situation! Definitely makes life easier (and cheaper) to leave it as is for now but getting it properly cleaned pre-baby!

I’ll look into the nursing chair situation.
Is there anything in particular one should pay attention to (i.e. specific back support or leg rest or rocking or something else entirely)?
I have been eyeing two armchair from Loaf , (if anyone wants to google they’re called the Layabout and the Squishbag) - really loving the style, not so much the eye-watering price tag!! 😭 Insane price aside, do these look appropriate for a nursing chair? 👀

I spent ages just now looking for a nursing chair. I found many of them (all the ikea ones) too low. I couldn't get out of them without using my hands to help. Some were too deep so I needed to shuffle forward before being able to lift myself up. I personally didn't want a rocking chair as again I don't know how I would have got myself up with a baby in my arms.

The other thing to factor in is low arm rests so they don't get in the way too much.

I found the nursing chairs ugly so didn't do that. Of course many of them are online only and I was determined to sit and try it first. I did eventually find one in a boutique type shop in the January sale. I think I will be able to use it in my living room after the baby doesn't need it any more so it's a good investment

I would have found those loaf chairs too soft. I've pretty much just finished breastfeeding and found even the ikea poang too low & deep. I found to be most comfortable, i needed a straight backed chair. Ive just been looking at this one: www.next.co.uk/style/es477434/284040?gclid=CjwKCAiAgbiQBhAHEiwAuQ6Bktn2fd8OkUQIUcIbwXjOs4Vf07sQj-lynXE5PvEqG41sBDo6_qZ3rBoCEcIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#284040 but ideally would try it in store first!!

Leave the carpet, get it cleaned if you fancy but unless you are exceptionally dirty you don’t really need too, especially as baby won’t be really in the nursery until they’re at least 6 months.

For nursing I had a glider type chair and footstool. I enjoyed rocking baby in it while feeding and the arms were just high enough to support my elbows to stop my arms aching wiggle feeding.

I don’t know what brand mine was as it was second hand but it looked a bit similar to this.

Whilst feeding, not wiggle!

If you have carpet, buy a vax so you can clean off the vom and wee :-/

I used an ikea strandmon chair as a nursing chair and it worked really well. Nice and upright, quite firm and supportive, high backrest/wings for resting your head against when you’re tired, arm rests low enough to put your elbow over (I needed a little extra cushion under my arm on top of it but I’m tall), easy to wipe milk/sick off.

Thank you lovelies!
I...did not think about wipe-ability. Oops.
Would a cream/light color be (very) impractical then?
I guess going and trying chairs on in a store is the way to go, but if anyone has any other recommendations - please send them my way! :)