[ NOTE: POST ORIGINALLY FROM CORPORATE – BUT I HAD TO SHARE IT WITH YOU! ] 

The nesting phase is here and it is time to start planning your little one’s nursery. Whether it is your first baby or your third, there is still preparation that needs to take place before your little one arrives home from the hospital. It can be an overwhelming time in your life and to make it a little easier, here are five must-have nursery needs.

The crib is an important piece of furniture that needs to be in your baby’s room. Babies spend a majority of their first year sleeping so it is crucial to find the perfect crib that will meet all your baby’s needs. A great tip for designing your baby’s room is having multiple colors all around the room. This will help them to develop faster as the various shades of different colors help to stimulate brain development. Also, having a mobile above the baby’s crib can help with their eye-coordination and calm them when it is bedtime.

A rocking chair in your baby’s room might not seem like a must-have, but it truly is. A rocking chair can help both the baby and parents. The soothing motion of the chair provides social and emotional development for the child and it will help them stop crying which can be a lifesaver in the middle of the night. A rocking chair can also create a stronger bond with both parents and baby because it allows for one-on-one time together. When your arms are extremely tired from holding that tiny but heavier-by-the-minute baby, a rocking chair provides support.

A rug is a great addition to your child’s room. Not only will it help with color-coordination of the room, but it can add some decorating flare. It’s a way to add a pop of color and character to your baby’s room without being overwhelming. A rug also helps to keep your feet warm when you are getting up in the middle of the night for a feeding or a changing. It absorbs sound and protects bottles, toys or anything else that drops to the floor. Lastly, it is great when your child is ready for belly time or crawling, it gives them a safe place to learn and be comfortable.

Motorized window coverings are a MUST when it comes to your baby’s room because of safety concerns. Keeping your child safe is the number one goal when it comes to parenting. Motorized window coverings will ensure that your child is safe and sound when they are in their room. Every year there are injuries to babies and small children caused by dangling cords, so it’s important to have cordless window coverings in every room of your home. Motorized window coverings not only help with safety, but will block harmful UV rays, protecting your baby and the room’s furnishings. Also, motorized window coverings come in a variety of options from roller shades to custom drapery to match any nursery décor and they are super quiet which comes in handy when the baby is sleeping.

The changing table is an item that gets over looked all the time when it comes to the baby’s room. The main excuse for not getting one is “we want more room for a bigger crib.” But a changing table is an item that is mandatory for the baby’s room because it benefits the baby but, even more, the parents. On average, parents change over 2,400 diapers by a child’s first birthday. WOW, that’s a lot of diapers! A changing table will help keep you organized by having everything you need for a successful changing right at your fingertips, diapers, powder, wipes and ointment. It’s good for after bath time too, when a fresh diaper goes on. Having a changing table can prevent major messes on your couch or carpet which is a plus because you don’t want to clean more than you have to.

Now, what are you waiting for? Go decorate!