As your baby grows and develops, they’ll be hitting new milestones all the time. And in the first year, it doesn’t come much bigger than the move from your bedroom to their own nursery. This is a huge step in both their life and your new life as a parent, so you’ll want to make sure you do it right.
If you feel like you’re nearly at that stage, here are a few essential pointers and answers to some key questions to help the transition run as smoothly as possible.
What are the most important items for a baby’s nursery?
When it comes to getting your baby’s bedroom ready, there are a few essential items you’ll need. They include:
- Your baby’s cot – one that can transition from a high sleeping position to a lower sleeping position and then to a child’s bed is ideal.
- A good quality mattress – make sure it firmly fits the cot with no gaps. A waterproof mattress cover is also a good idea too.
- Sheets, duvets and blankets – remember you don’t need a pillow until your baby is at least one.
- Changing mat or table – you’ll get plenty of use out of this!
- Storage / nursery set – a chest of drawers that doubles up as a changing table is always a good investment. As is a good quality wardrobe if you have the space.
- A nursery or feeding chair – opt for something comfy that properly supports your back when feeding.
- A baby monitor – you can choose just an audio monitor or a video monitor where you can see your baby and even speak to them if they need soothing. Some monitors show the temperature of the room which can be a great help and means you don`t need to disturb your baby when checking.
Can babies sleep in their own room from birth?
You’ll no doubt have got your baby’s nursery ready well before you give birth, but in reality they won’t be sleeping in there straightaway. Your baby should sleep in your room initially for at least six months, whether in a Moses’ basket or a next-to-me crib as this reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and also makes it easier to feed and settle your baby in the night.
When to put a baby in their own room?
The NHS advises that you shouldn’t move a baby into their own room until they are at least six months of age to reduce the risk of SIDS. Some parents will do it slightly earlier and others will wait closer to a year.
In reality, the decision is completely up to you and will depend on a variety of factors including how well your little one is sleeping, whether they still fit in their Moses basket and how often they are feeding in the night. You’ll also want to consider how you and your partner are sleeping too. Remember that moving them into their own room doesn’t immediately guarantee that blissful feeling of an uninterrupted night’s sleep – this could be a few months or even years away!
Do babies sleep better in their own room?
Recent research has shown that babies tend to sleep longer in their own rooms after four months of age. While this research isn’t necessarily conclusive, it offers a good indicator of when you should think about moving your baby to their own room. You’ll probably find that you sleep much better too – once you’ve got over those first few nights of worrying about every noise you hear on the baby monitor out of the way.
What temperature should a baby’s room be?
Keeping your baby’s room at a good temperature can actually reduce the risk of SIDS. Baby bedrooms shouldn’t be too hot, but equally you don’t want them to be too cold either.
An optimum temperature is between 16 and 20°C, coupled with light bedding or a lightweight, well-fitted baby sleeping bag for your little one. Overnight heating often isn’t needed in a baby’s room, unless the temperature has really dropped in the middle of winter for example.
How should you keep a baby’s room at an optimum temperature?
A room thermometer is always a great piece of baby kit to make sure you know the exact temperature of their room. As the seasons change, temperatures can obviously fluctuate so there are a few things you can do to keep the temp just right.
If it’s super-hot in the middle of summer, you’ll want to do whatever you can to keep the room cool enough for your baby to sleep well. When the sun is shining and the weather is warm, keep your windows closed during the day as this will stop the heat coming into your home. You can then open the windows ajar at night to let the cooler night air in.
A fan will also keep the room cool, but where to put a fan in a baby’s room? You should opt for a standing fan that can oscillate freely, but ensure it’s pointed away from the baby and not in the immediate area of their cot. This will avoid it being knocked over and reduce the chance of it harming your baby.
During winter when the temperatures drop dramatically at night, you can keep the heating on low to ensure you maintain an optimum temperature in their room. If the temperature does drop below this at night you can dress your baby in a couple more thin layers that are easy to remove if you need to in the night. Swaddling is also a good idea during winter.
It’s time to make the change
When you feel both you and your baby are ready to make the move, it’s time to get them in their own room. It’s a huge milestone but one that’s important for their development. We know you’ve got this!
If you’re after more baby advice, simply head to our blog or check out our StrollerCoaster podcast.