Nursery Essentials Checklist
From bedding to storage, here's everything you'll need to outfit your little one's nursery.
There is no doubt that having a baby can be stressful. Bringing your newborn home to a nursery outfitted with all the baby essentials can help alleviate some of the pressure and help you feel much more prepared. When it comes to furniture, there are a number of nursery must-haves that you will need to invest in. But first: measure the room! It is a good idea to know the space you’re working with so you can get all of these essentials set up and in place before your due date, so that you aren't coming home to unfinished furniture.
It's easy with our editors' complete nursery checklist, featuring furniture, bedding, and accessories must-haves. Read on to learn what (and how many) newborn essentials you'll need and click to shop our full selection.
Skip to find the new baby essentials in these areas:
Crib & Sleeping Essentials
Diaper Changing Essentials
Feeding Essentials
Storage Essentials
Nursery Play Essentials
Nursery Safety Essentials
Nursery Extra Essentials
Crib & Sleeping Checklist
Follow our guidelines to determine how many of each bedding essential you'll need on your nursery list.
Crib: One of the most fundamental nursery essentials is the crib. This is where your newborn will be sleeping as soon as they come home, or once they have transitioned from the bassinet. Either way, a good quality crib is vital, not only because it will be the focal point of the nursery, but also because of the consistent use it will be getting. Make sure this nursery must-have is sturdy and meets the latest safety standards. If you are planning for the future, you may even want to purchase a convertible crib which allows you to alter the setup as your child grows.
Crib Mattress:Just as important as the crib is the crib mattress. Babies sleep around 17 hours a day, which is why you need to choose a mattress that is safe and comfortable. This nursery essential should be firm and fit into the crib with no more than two fingers’ worth of space between the mattress and the crib in order to prevent injury.
Fitted Crib Sheets (2–4): When choosing bedding for your baby's crib, it is best to go as minimalist as possible. You'll need to add at least two crib sheets to your nursery checklist, as there will be times you need to change them multiple times in a day due to diaper leaks and spit-up.
Tip!
Though a crib does require bedding, it is vital to bear in mind that newborns cannot sleep with blankets for their own safety. Be sure to research the best age to introduce blankets into your little one's crib.
Baby Quilts (1–2): Although a newborn cannot immediately sleep with a quilt (see tip above!), having one on your baby nursery checklist definitely adds to the aesthetic of the room. Apart from using a quilt in the crib (when appropriate), they can also be used for snuggling your baby and providing a clean surface for them to lay or play on when away from home. A baby quilt can also be saved for sentimental purposes once your child has outgrown the use of it.
Baby Sleeping Bags & Swaddles: Baby sleeping bags and swaddles are essential for your baby to have a good nap or night’s sleep. These items keep your baby wrapped comfortably and are reminiscent of being in the womb. Your baby will appreciate the comfort and warmth swaddles provide.
Tip!
Having trouble narrowing down our selection? Shop our editors' guide: Top 10 Crib Bedding Sets to see what we're loving on every budget and for every style.
Mattress Protectors & Waterproof Pads (2–4): A mattress pad will help provide an additional layer of quilted comfort to your little one’s crib mattress. Add a waterproof pad on top of this essential nursery gear to give the mattress and mattress pad a little more protection against spills, leaks, and spit-ups. This way, you only need to launder the bedding and not the mattress itself.
Mobile: Baby mobiles have been used in nurseries for years as a way to soothe little ones to sleep and entertain them when they are awake. Having one of these baby essentials around for when you can use it will be a great help.
Bassinet: A bassinet (or cradle), is a much smaller and more mobile version of a crib. Though they can be found on many nursery checklists, it is possible to do without one. Many people choose to place a bassinet next to their bed due to the frequent attention a newborn requires (as a baby shouldn't sleep in the bed with you). Bassinets however, are usually only usable for the first 3 to 6 months of a baby's life before they outgrow it and have to transition to a crib.
Changing diapers (multiple times a day) is an inevitable part of having a baby. You will go through a lot of diapers and need the right place to make diapering easy for you and baby. Here are the items that you will need.
Changing Table: Babies require frequent diaper changes, which is why a high-quality changing table should be on your nursery checklist. An organized table with drawers to hold extra diaper-changing essentials will make life a lot easier. There are many types of changing tables that come with a changing pad to keep your newborn comfortable.
Changing Table Pad (1) & Covers (4): Changing table pads are one of the most overlooked baby essentials. They provide a soft place for your baby to lie while you change their diaper. Changing pad covers look like little sheets and help to protect the pad itself from any messes or accidents. They are designed to be laundered frequently, so you will want at least four to ensure that your changing pad is always protected.
Tip!
A changing table is the perfect place to put your storage baskets to good use housing your diapers!
Feeding Essentials
You will do a lot of nursing/bottle feeding your baby during the first year. Whether you’re feeding during the night or day, here are nursery feeding essentials your baby nursery checklist needs.
Glider/Recliner: A nursery must-have is either a glider or a recliner. When you are feeding your baby, you will want to do so in as comfortable a position as possible, especially during nighttime feedings. The soothing rocking motion of this seating can also have a soporific effect that helps lull your little one to sleep.
Nursing Pillow: Your baby will need to nurse/feed constantly during the early days of their life, which means you need to stay comfortable during these sessions. A nursery pillow is one of the many new baby essentials for you and baby to enjoy while nursing/feeding. These pillows wrap around your stomach to provide a soft surface for your baby to lay while you nurse/feed them to save your arms from becoming sore after holding your baby for an extended period of time.
Side Table: While you’re nursing/feeding or trying to rock your baby to sleep, a side table can come in handy for extra room to place extra items such as a drink you’d like to have in the room, your phone, a bottle when you’re done feeding, or anything else you need to have close by.
Babies have a lot of items to store, from their clothes to diapers, toys, and more. Most baby items are small and can easily get lost, so having a storage system in place will come in handy. Here are the storage nursery essentials to keep everything your baby needs in place.
Dresser/Chest: If you have the space for it, a dresser in the nursery is the perfect place to store all of your baby essentials. Little ones often go through several changes of clothing a day, which is why having a dresser to keep all of their bibs, clothing, and other small items can help make your life all that much easier. If you are tight on floor space but have a closet, consider a hanging organizer to store all your newborn essentials in.
Closet System:Your baby will have a lot of clothes to organize (especially by size as they grow!). A closet system can keep your baby’s clothing organized with its many shelves and rods to hang the items until you need them. You can also use the closet organizer for more than clothes. These items work great for organizing stuffed animals or other essentials like diapers, wipes, and more.
Baby Hangers: For baby clothes you want hung up, make sure to add baby hangers to your nursery list. Baby hangers are the appropriate size for fitting the tiny clothes to keep them from stretching out before usage.
Storage Baskets & Bins: It’s easy to misplace your baby items since they can be small, so storage baskets and bins are essential nursery gear. You can fit storage baskets in bins inside the clothes, on bookcases, shelves, and your changing table to always have your necessities organized. Plus, some nursery storage baskets have designs and patterns on them to act as extra nursery decor.
Nursery Armoire: A nursery armoire is a small dresser you can use as a closet in the room for extra baby clothes or items. Armoires are pieces of nursery furniture your baby can use as they grow so it’s not furniture you will have to get rid of anytime soon.
Bookcase: To keep your baby books, picture frames, or decor elements organized, add a bookcase to your newborn’s must-have list. A bookcase is an essential furniture piece for nurseries that can also stay in your baby’s room as they grow. Bookcases provide extra storage space you can use for other items, and not just books, in case you’re limited on closet space or room space.
Watching your baby start to play and change can be so exciting, but also overwhelming at the same time because of all the baby toys you’ll need! Add these play essentials to your nursery checklist to save you a headache later on when trying to organize your nursery playroom.
Toy Organizers: Even though babies in the early days before they can roll won’t be doing much playing, odds are you will have a lot of toys to store until baby can use them. Including a toy organizer, box, and bench on your nursery checklist is very beneficial. Toy organizers include multiple bins for you to organize and store toys. Toy boxes and benches feature one big area for you to house your baby toys. You can always use storage baskets and bins inside these toy boxes and benches for more organization!
Baby Gyms & Playmats: There will come a time when your baby will start to lay on the floor to play, which means they will need a baby gym or a playmat to lay on instead of the ground. These items will keep your baby cushioned as they play, while also keeping them from any debris or dust that may be on the floor. Baby gyms also come with dangling toys that can make sound effects, vibrate, or light up to keep them occupied while they play.
Baby safety is crucial for making sure your little one is protected from certain objects around the house. Here are some baby must-haves to keep your little one safe and secure.
Baby Gate: Baby gates are important nursery essentials for every new mom to have. Baby gates are put up in specific areas of your home to keep your baby from venturing either down the stairs or into a specific room once they begin to crawl and walk.
Tip!
Find the perfect baby gate to block stairs here in our guide: The Best Baby Gates for Stairs
Conversion Rails: When your baby starts to transition from being in a crib to a bigger bed, they will still need the protection of a conversion rail. Conversion rails keep your baby from falling off their new bed as they start to learn to sleep without rails on each side of the bed. These rails do not block off the whole side of the bed, so your child can still get off the bed if they need to.
Once you have all the furniture and bedding down, you can complete your nursery checklist and add the finishing touches with some accessories.
Humidifier: A humidifier is a newborn essential that helps to keep your baby's breathing easy during both cool and dry weather. They add moisture to the air, help to prevent mucus buildup in your baby's nose, and can also give a little white noise to help your little one fall asleep easier.
Hamper: Be sure to add a hamper to your nursery checklist so you have a place to keep all of your baby's dirty clothing. Having a hamper for baby clothing will simplify laundry days and give you one less thing to worry about. The best part is you can choose from a range of sizes and colors to perfectly match your newborn baby nursery design.
Storage: Babies require a lot of little knick-knacks that you will want both within easy reach and out of the way. Strategically placed storage bins and baskets will not only keep the nursery looking clean and organized, but also help itemize baby essentials such as pacifiers, diapers, and even toys, so you always know where to find them.
Wall Art: A nursery checklist would be incomplete without decor. Whether you choose growth charts, cute hangings, or fun artwork, adding a little color to your baby's nursery can help create a positive space for you and your child. Choose art your little one can grow into, as they will likely be spending many years in this room.
Tip!
Read our guide: 4 Stylish Nursery Palettes to jump-start your nursery design.
Lighting: The nursery will require lighting, and adding a small bedside lamp will help when lulling your baby to sleep or even reading them a book. A night light is a nursery essential worth investing in for all of those late-night feedings and diaper changes. The soft glow will be enough to see by, but not so harsh it will be uncomfortable to deal with in the middle of the night.
Blackout Curtains: Babies need to sleep, and you will want no distractions to prevent them from doing so. Blackout curtains are a nursery must-have that will block out the sun during afternoon naps and early morning sleep. Some blackout curtains even offer noise-reducing qualities, making sleep time all that much easier.
Area Rug: Add an area rug to your nursery checklist as it can provide a soft and easy-to-clean space where your little one can crawl and play. Not only can a plush rug add a little cushioning for your baby as they roll around, but it can also work to tie the look of the nursery together, giving you a magazine-worthy room.
With this complete nursery checklist, you won't forget any baby essentials before the big day.
