10 must-haves for your nursery

One of the most puzzling questions facing every mother-to-be is, "What is a layette?" Our mothers might have known, but I was clueless as I went off to shop for my layette during my sixth month of pregnancy. I thought it had something to do with cribs. A lengthy process of trial-and-error and many shower gifts later, turns out a layette is a complete outfit of clothing and equipment for your newborn infant – basically everything that goes into the nursery you’re preparing for him/her.

We won’t deal with the clothing here, but here’s a how-to guide on furnishing the most baby- and mom-friendly nursery:

1) Crib. You can start your baby off in a bassinet, but be advised that after the first year, once she starts moving around, you’ll have to switch to a crib for safety’s sake, so you might as well start with the best crib you can buy. Your crib will need a bumper pad that goes all around the sides. It can be plastic or wood, plain or painted (just make sure the paint is lead-free), but the slats should be less than two-and-three-eighths inches apart. The mattress must be soft but firm and fit snugly so there’s no chance of your baby getting trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib. Ideally, the mattress should also have a waterproof or moisture-repellent covering, but if not you can always buy a plastic cover separately.

Other essentials are childproof side-locking mechanisms, no sharp edges, and a height of at least 26 inches from the top of the rail to the mattress set at its lowest level. It’s tough to find the perfect crib, but once you do, it will be worth what you paid for it, serving you for many years and generations of children.

2) Wardrobe or closet. Another mantra you’ll be adopting as a mom-to-be is "Storage is good." And the more attractive storage space you have, the better. If you already have a theme for your baby’s room, try to work your closets into the motif. For example, I wanted a "Chronicles of Narnia" (by C.S. Lewis) scheme for my daughter, so her wardrobe had to evoke the one in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It’s vast, with enough height to accommodate two bars for hanging her dresses. (Make sure one bar is low enough for her to reach when she’s of dressing-herself age.) Don’t forget a drawer or shelves for shoes, and extra storage for the clothes she’s outgrown but that you’re saving for a future child, or stuff you can’t bear to give away.

3) Toy closet. Our forebears may have been able to survive with toy chests, but today’s infants, by the time they’re preschoolers, will have accumulated enough toys to entertain an army and enough stuffed animals to populate a zoo. Buy – or better yet, have a closet made – with enough shelves and compartments inside to store every rattle and teacup you don’t want to trip over. Low, open shelves or bins are good for easy access, but you’ll have to train your little one early to "pack away." His future teachers and wife will love you for it.

4) Changing table. Prefab changing tables with pads, safety straps and drawers are convenient but oh-so-expensive, and not readily convertible into useful furniture later on. Make do like I did with available beds, sofas and a low table softened with blankets and enough surface area for diapers, baby wipes, cotton buds, etc., within easy reach. (Since most tables don’t come with sides to confine an infant, you’ll need to be very vigilant with babies who can roll over or limit your changing at this stage to a big bed.) Later, you can convert your low table into a side- or night-table for your child’s baby monitor, lamp, night light, or other small appliances.

5) Armchair. A must for breastfeeding moms. If you’re not a fan of overstuffed chintz, go for a plush chair with armrests and an ottoman for the ultimate comfort. Later you can convert it into a chair for reading with your toddler. Pair it with a stylish floor lamp behind to provide the proper illumination.

6) Refrigerator and air purifier. Face it: we live in a hot, polluted city and your baby’s health is paramount. Store her breast milk, water and juice properly in her own little fridge to avoid confusion/contamination with other family foods. You’ll be thankful you won’t have to keep running to the kitchen in the wee hours of the morning, either.

For the latter, invest in an ionic purifier and make sure to clean it regularly. You’ll be amazed and dismayed at the black gunk it picks up from the air we breathe.

7) Baby tub with backrest. For the first few months of your baby’s life, it’s best to bathe him in a tub, either on a low table or on top of a bathroom counter. Find a plastic tub with a removable backrest, or buy a little foam "mattress" for him to lie on, which you can squeeze out and air-dry later. These foam pads are available at most baby stores, and come in fun shapes like teddy bears.

8) Play table with low stools. Now for the fun stuff. You won’t need this for a newborn, but once the first birthday looms it becomes an essential. Key words in children’s furniture are "low" and "colorful." Tables with storage beneath are also great. If you want to cultivate a little artist, get him an angled drawing table that lifts up to stow all his art supplies. Get him tiny chairs or easy-to-maneuver stools as well, to match his room motif or shaped/painted like his favorite cartoon characters.

9) Decorative toys. Though she won’t learn to ride it till she’s almost one, a rocking horse is the ultimate baby accessory, and will make any nursery look warm and inviting. If you’re a classicist at heart go for wood, though there are many plastic models available with metal frames that are lightweight and safe. Another developmental toy that looks great on display is the activity gym with little dangling toys, available in hard plastic or soft-cloth versions for your baby to have fun with while learning.

10) Imaginative wall treatment or mural. If you or your husband paint, with a little acrylic and a lot of time, your baby will have the coolest nursery around. My husband, who’s always been artistically inclined, painted one wall of our daughter’s room with a Narnia-themed mural that she’s fascinated by to this day. Going to sleep isn’t such a chore when your child is comforted and enchanted by her room. If there are no aspiring artists in your family, grab a roller and paint your nursery in bright yet soothing colors (think beyond your typical blue and pink), or pick out charming wallpaper in your designated theme. When your child is older, you can take down the babyish wallpaper and paint her room in a color she deems cool enough to live with.

Extras that will help turn your nursery into a wonderland are musical mobiles to hang from the crib or chimes to hang by the window; framed family photographs; an art line to hang your child’s drawings from; a blackboard to scribble on or a cork bulletin board on which to tack her favorite pictures; and a CD player to play bedtime lullabies.

What’s important is not the number of things you provide but the care and creativity you put into your nursery. That will ensure that both you and your child will end up loving the legendary layette.