Mark Rogers
Yes the best things in life are free- and your baby will be one of them! However, there are many things you will need for your new arrival- and they tend not to be free. You don't have to buy everything brand new of course, and sometimes it is nice to inherit a family heirloom. But for most of us, there are a few key items we will have to purchase. Your baby's bedroom needs to be a comfortable, warm and cosy place so what will you need to achieve this?
Babies sleep a lot. Even when you don't want them to. Obviously a baby can usually sleep anywhere - in a car seat or a pushchair or pram, but most of their more restful slumbers will be at home, in their cot. New cots all conform to British Safety Standards so be rest assured that a new purchase will be safe and secure. It is then really just a matter of personal preference. For many this is the first large item as prospective parents that they consider, and they often look at matching up the cot with a wardrobe and changing table.
You will be amazed at how many clothes your baby will have. Even if you intend not to go and buy mountains of cute outfits, between yourself and your friends and family, clothes will just amass. Baby may not yet be trying things on in the wardrobe mirror, but she will need a wardrobe for those clothes. It is also a useful place to store bedding and sleep suits. It helps if the wardrobe is made of a good solid material, and has no chance of moving or wobbling.
By this I mean an area to change your baby's nappies. This is a routine task that you will soon get used to, and nappy changing is a lovely opportunity to bond with your baby as they kick about with no clothes to restrict them. You don't really need anything for this but space. However, if you want some added comfort, a table that holds the changing mat at your waist level is a good choice - provided it is sturdy and baby is never left unattended on it.
This one is for you. Many parents invest in a comfortable chair for their baby's room. You may want to feed from it, or just sit near baby while she falls asleep. But the chair needs to be comfortable for you because you just might end up falling asleep on it!
One thing you will want to establish in your little one's room is a peaceful ambience. It will help them settle calmly and enjoy their naps. Having nice décor and something from which to play music are really useful additions, but most importantly is the need for flexible lighting. The harsh emissions of a standard ceiling light can be jarring and cause discomfort, so many parents opt for lamps, either plain ones, or ones aimed at children, which create colours and shadows as they rotate.
