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Medically reviewed by [Name, credentials] on [date].
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different, so talk with your own doctor or midwife about your situation. If you think you or your baby need urgent care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Read our medical disclaimer.
It is easy to spend a fortune on a nursery. Baby stores and social media make it look as if you need a themed room, a changing table, a glider, a wipe warmer and a dozen gadgets before the baby comes home.
You don’t. A newborn needs a safe place to sleep, a place to be changed, clothes, and a lot of love. For the first six months, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that your baby sleep in your room anyway. Many families find the nursery is used more for diaper changes and storage than for sleep until the baby is older.
So start with safety, add what makes daily life easier, and add beauty last. This guide splits everything into three groups: essentials, helpful, and nice-to-have.
First: the safe sleep rules
Before you buy anything, learn the AAP’s safe sleep guidance. These rules shape every sleep purchase.
- Alone. Baby sleeps in their own space: a crib, bassinet or play yard. The AAP advises against sharing a bed.
- On the back, for every sleep, nap and night, until the first birthday.
- In a bare crib. A firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet and nothing else: no bumpers, pillows, blankets, positioners or soft toys.
- In your room, ideally for at least the first six months.
- Flat, not inclined. Federal law now bans inclined sleepers and crib bumpers. Don’t let a baby sleep in a swing, bouncer, car seat (outside the car) or lounger.
A wearable blanket or sleep sack keeps the baby warm without loose bedding.
Essentials
These are the things you really need before the birth.
Sleep
- A bassinet or play yard for your room, for the first months
- A crib that meets current federal safety standards (all cribs sold new in the US since 2011 must)
- A firm, flat crib mattress that fits snugly, with no more than two fingers’ gap at the sides
- Two or three fitted crib sheets
- Two or three sleep sacks or swaddles
Changing and dressing
- A changing pad on a dresser or other sturdy surface (a separate changing table is optional)
- Diapers, wipes and diaper cream
- 6 to 8 sleepers or bodysuits in newborn and 0–3 month sizes
- A dresser anchored to the wall
Getting around
- An infant car seat, installed before the birth
Anchor every dresser and bookshelf. Tip-overs injure thousands of children every year. A federal law (the STURDY Act) now sets stability standards for new clothing storage furniture, but you should still anchor every piece to the wall, including older furniture and anything you inherit.
Buying used? A secondhand crib is fine if it was made after June 2011, has all its original parts, has no drop side, and has slats no more than 2⅜ inches apart. Never use a secondhand car seat unless you know its full history.
Helpful, but optional
These make life easier, especially in the first year, but you can live without them or add them later.
- A comfortable chair for feeding at night. A glider or rocker is lovely; a good armchair works too.
- A white noise machine, which many parents swear by.
- A video or audio baby monitor, once the baby moves to their own room.
- Blackout curtains for naps.
- A nursing pillow, used only while you are awake and feeding, never for sleep.
- A diaper pail.
- A small lamp with a dim, warm bulb for night feeds.
Nice-to-haves
These are pure extras. Wait and see if you need them.
- Wipe warmers, bottle warmers and sterilizers
- A separate changing table
- Decorative bedding sets (you can’t use the quilt and bumper in the crib anyway)
- A large collection of toys (babies want faces more than toys for the first months)
Make room for prayer
Here is one item we consider essential, and it costs very little: a small prayer corner in the nursery.
It can be as simple as an icon or crucifix on the wall above the crib or rocking chair, a small shelf for a children’s Bible and prayer book, and a battery candle for night feeds. In many Orthodox homes this is the “beautiful corner.” In Catholic and Anglican homes it might be a crucifix and an image of Our Lady or the child’s patron saint.
When you rock your baby at 3 a.m., you will be glad to have something holy to look at. And as your child grows, this little corner becomes the place where they learn to pray.
In your tradition: a nursery blessing
CatholicAsk your priest to bless the nursery when he blesses your home, or use the household blessings in the Book of Blessings. Many families hang a blessed crucifix and keep a holy water font by the door.
OrthodoxAn icon of the Theotokos, the child’s patron saint, or the Guardian Angel is traditional over the crib. Your priest can bless the room with holy water during the annual Theophany house blessing.
AnglicanPrayer books include forms for blessing a home, and many priests will bless a nursery on request. A cross over the crib and a children’s prayer book on the shelf are a simple start.
Our picks
We are testing products for full reviews. Here is what to look for in the one big purchase most couples make.
What to look for
A convertible crib
A crib that converts to a toddler bed and later a full-size bed can last from birth to the teenage years, which makes a solid wood frame worth the extra cost.
What we like
- Converts to toddler and full bed
- Solid wood frame
- Low-emission finish (look for GREENGUARD Gold certification)
Keep in mind
- Conversion rails are often sold separately
- Heavy to move once assembled
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| Item | Essential? | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bassinet or play yard | Yes | $60–$250 | For your room, first 4–6 months |
| Crib and mattress | Yes | $250–$800 | Look for solid wood and a firm mattress |
| Sleep sacks | Yes | $20–$40 each | Two or three in rotation |
| Dresser and changing pad | Yes | $150–$600 | Anchor to the wall |
| Glider or rocker | Helpful | $200–$900 | An armchair works too |
| Baby monitor | Helpful | $50–$300 | Once baby moves rooms |
| Wipe warmer | Nice-to-have | $25 | Skip it |
Start simple
Set up the sleep space first, ideally by 34 to 36 weeks, along with the car seat and your hospital bag. Everything else can be added as you discover what your family actually uses. A peaceful nursery is less about what you buy and more about what happens there: feeding, rocking, singing and praying with your child.
For what to expect once you are home, see the first forty days.
