From the moment those two little lines appear, visions of tiny baby clothes, stuffed animal besties, and darling nurseries abound. A quintessential component of “nesting,” the nursery really prepares you for the coming arrival of your newest family member. While it may be easy to get wrapped up in the overall theme of the nursery, it’s important to remember the pieces that will make it actually work for baby and you through infancy, early childhood, and beyond.

Nursery Design Must Haves

Once baby is born, you’ll be spending a lot of time in the nursery. Certain key items will help keep you and baby comfortable during those long days (and nights) and will also make the transition to early childhood easier.

Every nursery must have:

• A convertible crib - Convertible cribs make it possible to house your growing child for many years instead of a traditional crib only designed for infancy and early toddlerhood.

• Comfortable seating - You’ll thank yourself over and over for including a comfortable glider or rocking recliner in the nursery. The endless feedings, sleep setbacks, teething, and sicknesses are all made easier if you have a comfortable spot to sink into as baby finds peace in your arms.

• Dresser with a changing table topper - A stand alone changing table might be perfect for a nursery but your little one will quickly outgrow it. Add a changing table topper to a classic dresser so you can keep the dresser for years to come.

• Soft lighting - Include soft lighting in the nursery to help baby and you relax at bedtime, or to help find a lost binkie in the middle of the night.

• Rugs - The soft feel of a rug underfoot adds to your comfort during cold nights and also during daytime floor play sessions. What’s more, rugs help protect your carpet from food, liquids, and spit-up so when messes become less regular, you can remove the rug and have stain-free flooring underneath.

Convertible crib

Convertible cribs are a dream come true for parents. Convertible cribs come with adjustable mattress heights so the mattress can be positioned high up during the newborn stage so you don’t need to bend over so far to place an infant in the crib but is lowered as baby gains mobility and requires taller railings for safety. Once your little one is ready for their first big kid bed, side railings are removable to turn the crib into a toddler bed. Better yet- select a 4 in 1 convertible crib that takes the transitions one step further with options to turn the crib into a toddler bed and then into a daybed or twin bed, with the appropriate conversion kits, sold separately. Just be sure to use crib rail covers so teething marks on the rails don’t haunt your child as a teen!

Comfortable seating

Comfortable seating in the nursery is an absolute must for everyone. Parents exhausted from the day can relax while soothing baby to sleep without being tortured in uncomfortable seating options. Gliders or recliners are a great option for any nursery and come in a wide variety of sizes, styles, and features. Look for one with:

• Back and neck support

• Rocking ability

• A foot rest

• Room to grow (baby won’t stay small for long)

• Easy-to-clean upholstery

Dresser

Dressers are handy for storing clothes and other items, no matter your age. Start your baby’s life out with a classic piece that will grow with them, but for now, add a changing table topper so you have somewhere easily accessible for all those diaper changes. Bonus- the top drawers of a dresser are great for storing extra diapers, wipes, creams, and pacifiers, plus you’ll have extra sets of clothes nearby if a diaper change doesn’t go exactly according to plan. Let’s be honest, it happens to all of us so it’s best to be prepared!

Soft Lighting

Infants come with their own schedule and while baby might be ready to party all hours of the day, you might be less inclined to do so. Having a soft lighting option can help baby settle down at the end of the day, minimize the jarring effect of turning lights on at night, and help provide relaxation for everyone in the nursery.

Rugs

A rug might not be the first thing that comes to mind for a nursery but it’s a great way to provide extra comfort while also protecting flooring underneath. Babies (and toddlers and preschoolers) are messy so adding a rug over existing flooring means you won’t have to replace all the flooring in the room if unsightly stains appear. Plus, rugs add an element of warmth to any room both in terms of ambience and creature comfort. Playing on the ground, pacing the floor as you soothe your child, and nighttime visits are all easier with a soft, warm rug underfoot.

Color and Decor

Last, but not least, decorate the nursery in any way that pleases you! Gone are the days of classic blue and pink nurseries, or even gender neutral green and yellows. Today’s nurseries keep a parent’s likes and dislikes in mind. Afterall, you’ll be in there nearly as much as your child! However, you may find it useful to start with a base of neutral colors and then add your own pizzazz from there. Neutral greys, grieges, and beiges on walls and throughout major pieces of furniture make it easy to change out decor as baby grows. Neutral walls play well with nearly any theme and you’ve got a plethora to choose from. Popular themes include regions (seaside, forest, safari, jungle, and others), farmyards, animals, adventure, night sky (stars and moons), dinosaurs, and on and on. Most importantly- make it yours! You’ll be spending a lot of time in the nursery so make it something special to you.

Designing the perfect nursery is an exciting moment for any expectant parent and you’ll be on the right track with these tips!