Setting Up Your Baby Nursery

The nursery is often the first visible sign in many homes of a baby on the way. Especially in the first year postpartum, it holds the space and stuff that parents need 24/7. Because of its significance, setting up a nursery can be exciting and overwhelming for many expecting parents as they bounce between prenatal visits and baby stores.    

Early Considerations: “Will I use it, or will it sit there?”

It is tempting to seek out the latest trend in the world of baby gear. We all want the best for our babies! However, before you hit “buy” on a crib or a changing table, we encourage you to take a pause. Look around your home with the following questions in mind to help you plan for your space and needs. 

• What are my values and priorities for taking care of my baby? Do you, for example, think babies should sleep in cribs or are you leaning towards attachment parenting and co-sleeping with your baby? Are you using cloth or disposable diapers?    
• What do I need that can make daily tasks easier? Would a quality monitor over the crib help you go about your day hands- and worry-free? Do you have an older child or pet and need a safe sleep surface for your baby in the living space that will keep curious hands and paws away?
• What do I need that can make my family and I more comfortable in the nursery? Would a rocker be sufficient or would a small couch be more useful during family playtime and bedtime with your baby? 

These questions can help expectant families identify items that best fit their needs and price points. At the same time, birth and babies are unpredictable! If a couch seemed like a cuddly idea when pregnant, a cesarean birth or a gassy baby might make a rocker more appealing postpartum. Flexibility — space and budget permitting — can make the transition to life with a newborn a little easier.    

Nursery Basics

Postpartum doulas, who work in many homes (each of them unique!), recommend this list of basics for nurseries.

• Safe sleep surface for baby (a crib or bassinet), with a flat, firm mattress and fitted sheet. (Keep an extra fitted sheet nearby for middle of the night accidents and spills.)
• Comfortable seating for parents (a couch or glider) with a surface (such as nightstand or table) within arm’s reach.
• Entertainment (music, laptop, e-reader) and snacks for parents, with an electrical outlet nearby for charging gadgets. 
• Nursing supports and other pillows within arm’s reach of seating for easy access and supporting changing positions.
• Flat changing station, at an appropriate height, stocked with diapers, wipes, butt creams, non-toxic cleaning wipes, hand sanitizers, etc.
• Low lighting option near changing station for overnight diaper changes.
• Receptacle close to changing station for soiled diapers and wipes. (Pro tip: locate the bin near the foot of the changing table, with clean supplies by the baby’s head.)
• Storage for clothes within arm’s reach of changing station.
• Extra storage (drawers, caddies, bins, shelves, etc.).
• White noise machine, blackout curtains, and humidifiers if preferred and needed.

You know your home and your family best. You may find some of these essentials are optional for setting up your baby’s nursery. We support you creating the space that works best for you.

Tips from Our Doula Team 

Postpartum doulas know that every family is different and comfort is paramount in the space where you spend many hours. Our team offers these considerations to help create a nursery that will feel right for your baby … and you.  

• Scale up. Add supplies and tools as needs emerge, instead of gearing up for every contingency before your baby is born. For example, try room temperature milk/formula before investing in a bottle warmer. Similarly, reach for the wipe warmer if colder wipes upset your baby (especially overnight). A big baby bathtub is helpful only if the bathroom or kitchen sinks are not viable, but it can be heavy to move and lift when full after a cesarean birth; and a nursing pillow is great if the closest throw pillow is not enough support.   
• Scale down. Experiment with singles over packs. For example, try a few different types of bottles and, once your baby expresses a preference, stock up on more of the same. 
• Be safe. Consider a changing station with storage, ideally drawers. Organize immediate-need items (diapers, wipes, clothing, socks, burp clothes, etc,) in the top drawer, so your baby is never left unattended during a change.   
• Organize. Use a caddy for bath supplies that need to be carried to and from the bathing area. Store the caddy out of reach from older babies and siblings. Designate a space, such as the nursery’s closet, for overstock and duplicates of frequently used items like diapers and wipes.
• Don’t compromise. Choose a few items that are most important to you and that your baby will truly require. Invest in seating that supports a healing body and feeding baby or a choose soiled diaper receptacle that minimizes odors.
• Prioritize comfort. Have a tablet on the nightstand for those long feeds and a grabber leaning against it for items that might roll underneath and out of reach.    

Consider an In-Home Newborn Care Class

Metropolitan Doulas offers a workshop taught by our experienced doulas in your own home or virtually. Preparing for Baby and Feeding is a great first step to getting ready for life with your new baby and caring for a newborn. Over 2.5 hours, we cover what to expect during birth recovery; newborn development and behavior; feeding (lactation and bottle/pump use); and parent and infant sleep. The course is tailored to your unique family needs and a great way to learn about, and from, postpartum doulas. And because we are in your home, in person or online, we can look at your space and offer tips for setting up your nursery.

In the beginning months, the emotional, mental and physical comfort of the parents is important and a nursery that provides comfort can be helpful as postpartum parents spend endless hours feeding, soothing, and bonding with their baby. Metropolitan Doulas hope that this post will serve as a guide, to help parents prepare and plan for a nursery that works best for them and their family. 

_{Last edited: June 16, 2026}