Stress-free baby prep: when to start setting up your baby's nursery

When to start the nursery is one of the biggest questions during pregnancy. If you start too early, low energy and morning sickness might put a dampener on the experience. Leave it too late, and you'll be rushing and stressed.

But you'll find that things don't have to be as confusing as they feel right now. We’ve rounded up our knowledge on how long it typically takes to get all your nursery essentials ready, the time it takes to put them together, and considered how far along you are in your pregnancy to help you figure when you should start setting up your baby’s room.

In this guide:

Is There an Ideal Time to Start Setting Up the Nursery?
The Essential First Steps to Plan Your Nursery
Don't Wait For Nesting to Take Over
When to Purchase Big Ticket Items Vs Small Ticket Items
Plan Your Painting Carefully
Plan Time For Safety Checks
Get a Head Start on Your Nursery With Snuz

IS THERE AN IDEAL TIME TO START SETTING UP THE NURSERY?

While it's natural for soon-to-be parents to feel eager about setting up their baby's nursery, there's no hard and fast rule about when to start. However, a common recommendation is to begin preparations around the 20th week of pregnancy. This allows ample time to organise, decorate, and equip the room with all necessary items, such as a cot, changing table, and baby essentials.

It’s beneficial to complete the nursery before the 36th week, as the final weeks should ideally be a time of rest and anticipation for the expectant mother. If this isn't possible because of time or financial constraints, having a clear plan of what you want and need for the nursery can help take some of the stress out of the process.

THE ESSENTIAL FIRST STEPS TO PLAN YOUR NURSERY

When it comes to planning your nursery, there are a few essential first steps you need to think about, such as what you need in a nursery.

The Essential First Steps to Planning Your Nursery:

• Imagining your nursery
• Measuring your space
• Choosing essentials
• Considering smart storage solutions
• Planning adequate but appropriate lighting
• Planning for Baby-proofing the nursery

1. IMAGINING YOUR NURSERY

When planning your baby's nursery, the initial stage often involves visualising how you want the space to look. A clear mental picture gives you a roadmap to follow – but you should also be realistic.

Start by considering the room's overall aesthetic. Think colour schemes, interior trends, or any themes you want to showcase.

2. MEASURING THE SPACE

Once your vision is clear, it's time to measure the room for nursery furniture essentials.

Documenting the dimensions of your nursery will guide furniture purchases and help determine the layout. Remember, the nursery should be functional and safe in addition to being visually pleasing.

3. CHOOSING THE ESSENTIALS

The next logical step in the process is selecting the essential furniture pieces for your baby's nursery.

The crib, changing table, and a comfortable chair and nursing pillow for feeding and soothing the baby are must-haves. Choose sturdy, well-made pieces that adhere to safety standards.

We recommend making a complete nursery essentials checklist to make sure you don't forget anything.

4. CONSIDERING STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Storage is a critical aspect of a nursery many new parents overlook or don’t quite fully consider how much baby stuff they’ll need to pack away.

Things your baby will need:

• Bedding
• Blankets
• Clothes
• Socks
• Sleeping bags
• Nappies
• Bottles
• Bibs
• Towels

Investing in smart storage solutions like wall-mounted shelves, baskets, drawers, and units can help organise these items and keep the space clutter-free.

5. PLANNING FOR ADEQUATE LIGHTING

Lighting plays a vital role in creating the right ambience in the nursery.

During the day, natural light is ideal. However, for night-time feedings or diaper changes, consider installing a dimmer switch or having a lamp with a soft glow. This will ensure the room is adequately lit without being too bright to disturb your baby's sleep.

6. BABY-PROOFING THE NURSERY

Last but not least, plan for baby-proofing the nursery. Ensure that you can make sure all electrical outlets are covered, cords are out of reach, and furniture is secured to prevent tipping. Consider the positioning of the crib – it should be away from windows, heaters, lamps, wall decorations, and cords.

Remember, setting up a nursery is not just about creating a beautiful space but also an environment that is safe and comfortable for your baby.

DON'T WAIT FOR NESTING TO TAKE OVER

Nesting instinct = a strong desire to prepare your home for your newborn

While the nesting instinct can serve as a powerful motivator, it's not advisable to rely solely on this instinct to set up your baby's nursery. Nesting instincts typically surge in the later stages of pregnancy, which might coincide with a period when physical discomfort and fatigue intensify.

If you wait for nesting to take over, you might find yourself overwhelmed with the tasks of setting up a nursery amid other physical and emotional changes, which isn't ideal.

Starting early allows you to pace yourself, make mindful selections, and adjust arrangements as needed. It also gives you plenty of time to fund the nursery, which can be another stressor. This approach ensures that your nursery is not only aesthetically pleasing but also fully functional and safe, all set to welcome your little one.

WHEN TO PURCHASE BIG TICKET ITEMS VS SMALL TICKET ITEMS 

There's a strategic approach to when and how to purchase both big and small ticket items for your baby's nursery. The bigger, main baby nursery items, such as the baby crib and changing table, should ideally be purchased between the 20th and 25th week of pregnancy.

This gives you plenty of time to assemble them and deal with any issues or returns. Also, ordering these items early can help avoid potential shipping delays.

On the other hand, smaller items such as baby clothes, blankets, toys, and decorative pieces can be acquired gradually over the course of the pregnancy. They don't require as much preparation or assembly, and adding these touches can be a delightful part of the nesting process.

However, it's recommended to have all the essentials by the 36th week. This will ensure you’re well-prepared for your baby's arrival, and you can spend the final weeks relaxing and focusing on the excitement of meeting your new little one.

BUYING BABY’S FIRST BED

The most handy baby nursery furniture item you need for your nursery is the crib or bassinet. After all, a nursery isn't a nursery without somewhere for your baby to sleep!

At Snüz, we offer a range of different sleep solutions for your little one, depending on your needs as a new parent.

NURSERY FURNITURE & STORAGE

Another important big-ticket item you need is a changing table. The best changing tables double as storage with drawers or shelves built-in.

Our SnüzKot Skandi Changing Unit features three deep drawers for maximum storage space, and the SnüzFino Changing Unit features the same drawers, plus an additional shelf for storing baby's skincare products.

Both of our changing tables have removable changing tops that allow you to turn them into a regular chest of drawers when your baby no longer requires changing facilities.

Our baby nursery furniture sets are excellent for purchasing all your nursery furniture essentials together in a cost-effective bundle. This can be a great way to reduce stress and ensure you have all the necessary big-ticket items for your baby's nursery and that they all look good together.

PLAN YOUR PAINTING CAREFULLY

• Use zero-VOC paints
• Delegate the painting to someone else
• Paint the room as early as possible
• Ventilate the room well
• Place furniture in the room after painting

The main thing you need to consider when thinking about when to start setting up a baby nursery is how you'll feel physically and mentally during the course of your pregnancy.

It's crucial to consider your sensitivities during this period, particularly when it comes to painting the room. The smell of paint can be quite strong and may trigger nausea or discomfort, especially if you're already dealing with common pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness.

If you're susceptible to such smells, plan your painting activities carefully.

Use zero-VOC paints as they have less odour and are much safer for you and baby. Alternatively, you may wish to delegate the task of painting to your partner or hire professionals, ensuring the painting is done in your absence.

Ventilating the room well during and after the painting process can also help to dissipate the smell and fumes more quickly.

PLAN TIME FOR SAFETY CHECKS

Planning time for safety checks when setting up your nursery is a crucial aspect that you shouldn’t overlook.

Whether it's triple or quadruple checking the nursery furniture has been properly built or hiding away any electricals, these checks play a pivotal role in your baby's safety.

Also, you should take the time to secure furniture to the wall to prevent tipping, ensure cords from blinds or curtains are out of reach to avoid strangulation hazards, and check that toys and decorations meet safety standards and do not present choking risks.

If you’re ever unsure on how to construct your Snüz furniture, get in touch with our team – we’re always on hand to help when you need us.

GET A HEAD START ON YOUR NURSERY WITH SNUZ

Setting up a nursery for your baby can be one of the most exciting parts of the pregnancy! Making changes to your home to accommodate your new bundle of joy makes everything feel much more real, but getting the timing right can be crucial to making it an exciting experience rather than a stressful one.

We know what it takes to create a beautiful and functional nursery, and we’ve got everything you need. Check out our range of nursery furniture and the best nursery furniture sets to get a head start on your nursery planning.

If you're looking for more design inspiration, check out our nursery style edits!