The essentials: What should not be missing in any nursery

A lovingly furnished nursery delights parents as well as visitors. For the baby, however, it initially doesn't matter whether the changing dresser is new and bright white or has seen better days. To help the baby learn routines and rituals from the start, the basic equipment should already be in place. This includes:

Crib: In many families the baby sleeps in the parents' bedroom at first. But after some time, and also during the day, having a separate crib in the nursery is important. Height-adjustable and convertible cribs "grow with" the child and can therefore still be used in toddlerhood.

Changing dresser: If you change and dress your baby on the changing dresser from the start, a fixed ritual develops over time. The baby knows what comes next. That gives them security. In addition, with a dedicated changing spot you always have all important changing items within reach. Here you'll find space for diapers, a washcloth or wet wipes as well as the diaper bin, rompers and bodysuits.

Wardrobe/Shelves: It's best to keep the most important change of clothes in the drawers of the changing dresser. This way spare clothes are always within reach if something gets soiled. Sweaters, sleeping bags, pants, etc. can be stored in a wardrobe or on shelves.

How to make the nursery cozy and safe

In the first weeks and months your baby is not yet mobile. But after a short time it learns to roll from back to belly, pushes itself forwards or backwards on the carpet and eventually scoots or crawls around the nursery. And attention also steadily increases: colors, movements and objects become exciting. As soon as your baby starts to become mobile and attentive to its surroundings, you should equip the nursery with additional baby-friendly furnishings. The safety aspect in the nursery — as in the rest of the home — must also be taken into account.

Furniture: Besides the basics, additional furniture in the nursery often makes sense. A cozy armchair or rocking chair is ideal when your baby wakes at night, is hungry, or wants to cuddle. Later it is a comfortable seat for reading books. Books and toys can be stored on shelves. It's sensible for furniture corners to be rounded. That way it won't hurt if your baby bumps into them while crawling or learning to walk.

Lighting: In the first months it is useful for the nursery lighting to be dimmable. That way you don't have to turn on full lighting when changing at night. A small bedside lamp or a little light at the crib can help with falling asleep and create a cozy atmosphere.

Flooring: When crawling and playing on the floor a carpet is the coziest for your baby. However, it must be vacuumed regularly and is difficult to clean if heavily soiled. A wood or laminate floor can be cleaned more easily and can be made cosier with small rugs or a runner.

Wall decoration: Tolle Motive oder eine schöne Farbe an der Wand gehören beim Babyzimmer einrichten ebenfalls dazu. Hier entscheidet dein Geschmack, ob ihr euch für einen Wandteppich, Tapetensticker oder ein selbstgemaltes Bild entscheidet. Achtet jedoch darauf, dass nicht zu viele grelle Farben verwendet werden und dass die verwendeten Farben schadstofffrei sind. Vor allem in Kombination mit einer bunten Lichterkette und farbenfrohen Möbeln sorgt das sonst für Unruhe und kann dazu führen, dass euer Baby zu vielen Reizen ausgesetzt ist.

Safety: Even if it only becomes relevant when your baby becomes mobile: it's best to secure electrical outlets from the start. Child safety covers for outlets come in different designs. Shelves and other furniture must be firmly attached to the wall so that nothing can fall over when your baby later pulls up on them. Framed pictures should also be securely mounted on the wall.

Leave open space: When designing the nursery don't forget to leave enough space and empty areas. This is often forgotten given the many decoration possibilities. But space is very important for playing, crawling and walking.

Checklist – What must not be missing when setting up the nursery

Furniture:

• Crib

• Changing table

• Dresser

• Wardrobe

• A cozy armchair or rocking chair

Wall decoration:

• Non-toxic wall paints

• Wall stickers

• Pictures of the family or child-friendly motifs

Flooring:

• Carpet, laminate or parquet, possibly complemented with small rugs

Lighting:

• A large, dimmable ceiling light

• A small night light

Decoration:

• Toys & books

• A string of lights

• A cozy corner with cushions for relaxing and resting