Nesting Much? Our 2023 Nursery Essentials

Nesting Much? Our Nursery Essentials

Let’s get real: there are tons of to-dos when prepping to bring a new baby home, and planning a nursery is not least among them. Shopping for cute décor is fun, but you’ll also need furniture and accessories that make infant care easier (and safer, to boot). These practical essentials simplify the transition into baby-centered home life without sacrificing style.

Why is it Important to Create the Perfect Nursery for a Child?

Creating a perfect nursery for a baby is important for safety, comfort, stimulation, bonding, and routine. By creating a safe, comfortable, and stimulating environment, parents can help to promote their baby’s development and establish a strong bond with them. As you design your baby’s nursery, consider the following:

  1. Safety: A nursery needs to be a safe and secure environment for a baby. Creating a perfect nursery involves ensuring that all the furniture, accessories, and equipment are safe and free from hazards. This includes things like ensuring that the crib meets safety standards, securing the window cords, and making sure that there are no loose rugs or cords on the floor.
  2. Comfort: A perfect nursery should also be comfortable for the baby. This includes choosing soft and cozy bedding, comfortable furniture, and a soothing color scheme. The nursery should also be kept at a comfortable temperature and have good ventilation to ensure that the baby can sleep comfortably.
  3. Stimulation: A perfect nursery should also provide stimulation for the baby’s senses. This can include hanging colorful mobiles, having interesting toys and books, and creating a visually appealing space with bright colors and patterns. This can help to promote the baby’s cognitive and motor development.
  4. Bonding: A perfect nursery can also be a great place for parents to bond with their baby. Spending time in the nursery can create a calm and relaxing environment for both the parents and the baby. It can also provide a space for parents to read to their baby, play with them, and establish a strong bond.
  5. Routine: A perfect nursery can also help to establish a routine for the baby. By having a consistent and familiar environment, babies can feel more secure and comfortable, which can help to establish a healthy sleep routine. This can also help parents to establish a routine for feeding, changing, and other activities.

Our Favorite Nursery Items

Check out these great products from some of our favorite baby companies:

dadada Soho 5-Drawer Dresser

dadada Soho 3-in-1 Convertible Crib & dadada Soho 5 Drawer Dresser

If you’re into crisp clean lines, dadada’s Soho crib is the modern crib for you. Made in Italy and GREENGUARD Gold Certified, it has three mattress positions and converts to a toddler bed in a few simple steps (with purchase of a Toddler Bed Rail). The matching Soho dresser has extra deep soft-close drawers that will accommodate big kid and teen sized clothing. Add an optional removable changing tray for easy organization during the diapering years.

Bundle of Dreams Flagship Crib Mattress

Bundle of Dreams Flagship Crib Mattress

The Bundle of Dreams 2-stage infant and toddler crib mattress has an organic cotton water-repellent mattress cover and is 100% breathable. Made with zero toxin Bundle Fiber, this GREENGUARD Gold Certified mattress helps regulate your baby’s temperature by allowing air flow through the entire mattress body.  A two inch extra-firm edge guard runs the perimeter of the mattress, providing added support once your baby learns to pull themselves into a standing position.

Bundle of Dreams Organic Cotton Fitted Crib Mattress Cover

Bundle of Dreams Organic Cotton Fitted Mattress Cover

Overnight diaper leaks are a new parent reality, and that’s why we love Bundle of Dream’s mattress cover: it’s water-repellent for up to twelve hours, and can be machine washed and dried. Unlike most waterproof mattress covers, this one is 100% breathable and made from organic cotton.

Little Unicorn Cotton Muslin Fitted Crib Sheet

Little Unicorn Cotton Muslin Fitted Crib Sheet

Little Unicorn sheets feature their signature patterns and sweet prints and are super breathable. They also soften with every wash—great news, because spit up and diaper mishaps mean you’ll be washing them a lot. Go ahead and stock up so that you always have a fresh clean sheet available.

Leander Matty Changing Pad

Leander Matty Changing Pad

While the Leander Matty changing pad is on the pricier side, it’s also durable, easy to clean, and doesn’t require any covers that you’ll need to wash. Made from soft PUR foam, the mat mimics the feeling of skin and adapts to room temperature quickly. It’s seamless and has no cracks where dirt and bacteria can hide, so the surface stays hygienic (it also can be disinfected).

Ubbi Diaper Pail

Ubbi Diaper Pail

This sleek steel diaper pail is an odor-concealing champ, and looks good, too. Unlike plastic diaper pails, odors won’t seep into or be absorbed by the steel shell. It’s easy to clean and load, and best of all, you can use a regular kitchen trash bag on the interior and not have to fuss with an additional purchase.

Monte Design Luca Glider and Ottoman

Monte Design Luca Glider & Monte Design Luca Ottoman

We believe that a glider (or rocker) and ottoman are worthwhile investments—not only will you appreciate having a comfy place to feed your baby, they’re also a great spot for cuddling and story time once you’ve outgrown the baby stage.

Monte’s Luca glider and ottoman are one of our faves. The transitional design is well-suited to both modern and traditional nursery décor, and you can customize your look with a variety of finishes and fabrics. The arms are a perfect height for cradling your baby while you nurse, and the high back allows you to rest your head (and maybe sneak in some shut-eye).

Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor with Wall Mount Kit

Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor

Miku’s SensorFusion technology tracks and analyzes your baby’s sleep and breathing patterns completely contact-free (no wires or wearables). An 8-core processor delivers 1080p HD video, sleep and breathing summaries, real-time alerts, and nursery conditions (including temperature and humidity) straight to your smart device.

Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen Night Light / Sound Machine with Battery

Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen Night Light & Sound Machine with Battery

The Hatch Rest+ is an all-in-one sleep and soothing system: a night light, sound machine, and gentle time-to-rise device that’s fully customizable and programmable. An 8 hour back-up battery keeps your kiddo’s sleep on track even if you lose power, and the exclusive wind-down bedtime content helps create and reinforce consistent sleep routines.

What is GREENGUARD Gold Certification?

GREENGUARD Gold Certification is a third-party certification program that verifies that products meet some of the world’s most rigorous and comprehensive standards for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air.

Volatile organic compounds are chemicals found in many household products, such as paints, cleaning supplies, furniture, and building materials. When these products are used indoors, they can emit harmful chemicals into the air, contributing to indoor air pollution and potentially causing health problems such as respiratory issues, headaches, and allergic reactions.

GREENGUARD Gold Certification requires products to meet strict emissions limits for more than 360 VOCs and other chemical emissions. The certification program is designed to ensure that products are safe for use in environments such as schools and healthcare facilities, where the health and well-being of occupants are particularly important.

To achieve GREENGUARD Gold Certification, products must undergo rigorous testing and evaluation by an independent third-party laboratory. The certification process includes testing for emissions in environmental chambers, as well as ongoing monitoring and auditing to ensure ongoing compliance.

Products that are GREENGUARD Gold Certified are recognized as having low emissions of VOCs and other harmful chemicals, making them a safer choice for indoor environments. GREENGUARD Gold Certified products can include furniture, building materials, electronics, and other products that are commonly used indoors.

Finding What’s Right for You

Albee Baby is the oldest family-owned specialty baby shop in the US, and we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best assortment of baby products anywhere, at fair prices, always. We’re committed to being an inclusive resource for parents, and hope you’re feeling empowered to find the right baby gear for your family. Still have questions? Feel free to contact our baby gear experts at 877.692.5233 or by email at [email protected].