January 5, 2020

For an expecting mother, the holidays can bring offers from friends and family members who want to help furnish the baby’s nursery. In this post, we’ll review some nursery essentials that would make great additions to any expecting mom’s Christmas list.

Crib or Bassinet

Baby’s bed is one of the most important items in a new nursery. From an elaborate crib that converts to a toddler bed, to a simple bassinet, the baby’s bed will be the focal point of the room.

Cribs and bassinets are available in a variety of styles, and their prices can vary greatly. Whatever your budget, just be sure to purchase a baby bed that is made of quality materials. If you’re thinking of shopping secondhand, avoid purchasing a drop-side crib. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission updated its safety standards for cribs in 2011 to include a ban on the manufacture or sale of traditional drop-side cribs.¹ The updated regulation also prohibits resale of these cribs; however, many consumers may not be aware of this. Therefore, be a selective shopper if you’re going to garage sales or browsing Craigslist.

Bedding

Baby’s bedding is not only for comfort; it can be a great way to add some flair to your nursery’s décor. Neutrals, plaids and botanical designs are all hot nursery trends this year, but don’t feel the need to stick with what mom magazines are featuring.² If you’re buying for you own nursery, choose something that reflects your own style as a mom. If you’re buying for the expecting mother in your life, ask her what colors or themes she plans to incorporate in her nursery.

Rocking Chair or Glider

A comfortable chair that gently rocks or glides will become one of mom’s favorite spots. An ideal spot for breastfeeding, comforting a fussy baby or easing a newborn to sleep, a rocking chair or glider is sure to be used and appreciated.

Changing Table

This is another piece of nursery furniture that is sure to get a lot of use. Did you know the average baby goes through between roughly 2,000 and 3,000 diapers in the first year?³ Most parents will become experts at changing their baby on the fly after the first dozen diapers, but it’s still a good idea to have a sturdy, stationary changing table in the nursery. Most changing tables come equipped with shelves, drawers and nooks that are perfect for storing essentials such as wipes and diaper-rash ointment. These tables are usually topped with a soft pad to lay baby on.

Baby Monitor

Used to keep an ear (or eye) on baby when mom’s not in the room, today’s baby monitors range from simple to ultra-high-tech. A lot of moms and dads feel satisfied with traditional audio-only monitors, while the more tech-savvy parents may prefer monitors that offer audio and visual connection. Monitors that can be synced with a smartphone or other electronic device are also popular.

Storage Boxes and Baskets

You may have the big-ticket nursery items all taken care of, but don’t forget all the little things that need to be tucked away. Stylish boxes, bins and baskets can make a nursery look great while providing much-needed storage for blankets, toys, socks, pacifiers and so on.

Journals, Notebooks and Pens

For the sleep-deprived parent who can’t remember how many bottles baby has had or the time of his or her last poop, taking notes can help. Simple, no-frills journals and notebooks will do the trick, but where’s the fun in that? There are some great baby-themed journals out there that are perfect for keeping track of daily rituals, as well as providing space for mom or dad to record their thoughts and observations as baby grows. For  example, Baby’s Eat, Sleep & Poop Journal by Sandra Kosak can be ordered from Amazon for around $14. This makes it a very useful, yet affordable, gift for the mom-to-be.

Prenate^® Vitamin Family of Prenatal Vitamins

At Prenate^®, we believe in empowering and educating new mothers and moms-to-be while providing a complete line of prenatal vitamins to support pregnancy health. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor today about the benefits of adding a prescription prenatal vitamin to your daily routine.

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