Congrats Mama! You just found out you’re expecting! Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been down this beautiful road before, it can be daunting trying to narrow down what you need or want for your little one’s nursery. The baby market is so saturated with products, how does one know what is necessary or considered “extra?” Here are some nursery essentials to help you get started!

1. Crib

The first thing that comes to anyone’s mind is a crib. If you plan on room sharing a bassinet is wonderful too, I love having our bedside Halo bassinet, so convenient. There are so many brands out there, so just figure out what will work for you the best. I found our crib on Facebook Marketplace with a brand new mattress and some sheets, and a relative gifted our bassinet secondhand. You don’t have to break the bank! 

2. Dresser/Changing Table

You need somewhere to put those sweet little baby clothes! I wanted a changing table/dresser hybrid personally to save room. A lot of moms found that they did not need a changing table, which can be true. You really can change a diaper anywhere! But I do use mine all the time for changing clothes and especially those poop explosion diapers where you go straight to the bath. No poop on the couch is wonderful. I found mine on Wayfair and got the changing pad on Amazon. 

3. Rocking Chair/Glider

Can be so helpful to help calm a fussy baby or rock them to sleep. There’s nothing like bonding with your sleeping baby in a comfy glider. I found ours at Target and it reclines too. Heaven. 

4. Monitor

Baby monitors give you peace of mind whether you watch during nap time, change from a bedside bassinet to the crib in their nursery, or date night while grandma watches baby. There are so many different kinds. We opted for a Wifi one, Lumi by Pampers. Has a lot of great features I love! 

5. Blackout Curtains

Helps keep unwanted light out during naptimes. Some are even noise blocking! 

6. Sound Machine

Great for sleeping! White noise is my favorite, and some even are night lights too. We were gifted the Hatch sound machine and it’s so nice, has an app where you can control everything, even choose what color night light it produces. 

7. Toy Basket/Bookshelf

It’s inevitable, toys and books are either going to be gifted or bought by you.  Might as well be organized! 

8. Laundry Basket

You will want somewhere to keep dirty clothes, you’ll probably go through a lot! If not regular clothes, burp cloths. You’ll go through a lot of burp cloths. 

9. Lamp/Small Table

I found having a small table and light next to the glider to be really helpful, either to put a bottle, your phone, breast pump, anything! 

10. Trash Can/Diaper Genie

A lot of people say you don’t need one in the nursery, and then a lot of people say you do. Just like with most of this list, feel free to do whatever you want Mama! I personally did not just because our nursery is on the small side and the kitchen trash works just fine, but some days I sure wish I had one for those poopy diapers. 

Did I miss anything? Let me know your nursery essentials in the comments!