Setting up the Nursery - Layout

I'm struggling to decide how to layout the nursery. I have a cot, wodden changetable with two shelves underneath, a chest of drawers, and a nappy bin. My problem is there is a ducted aircon vent in the roof so I was thinking I should avoid having the cot under that?

Does anyone have any recommendations as to what you prefer near what. Like what do I really need at close hands reach for changetable and should I be putting the drawers beside the changetable?

I figured that pretty way will probably not be the most practical way, and given that you spend a lot of time there.... So for all your mummy's out there (and any daddy's) what do you prefer? what do you hate?

Ellie, I bought this little caddy that clips onto the side of the change table (from IKEA in the kids section about $15) so that I could put a few things in there for easy reach during nappy changes (eg nappy sacks, hand sanitiser, creams lotions etc) and had nappies and wipes underneath within easy reach. By having this little caddy I didn't need to put the chest of drawers nearby and it really gave me more flexibility with my layout

With the ducted air vents, we have one too - but you should just be able to change the position of the vents so you can choose which way the air flows rather than move the furniture :)

My preference was to have the change table near the window - lots of natural light and things for bub to look at. Be sure not to put your cot where bubs can pull curtains, cords etc later as this is dangerous

HTH

Naomi

Thanks Naomi, I might have to get myself one of those. Are they plastic? I saw one on another website too like that. Unfortunately this place has the fixed square ones so can't adjust the flow :( I'm not sure why, but it just seems like that one blows a bit more than the other rooms.

I think I'll give it a go with the drawers away from change table - can always arrange it again later lol

I was thinking of getting a feeding chair - anyone got any opinions on these?

I'd definitely get a chair for feeding if you have the room. I have one in each of our little ones rooms (DS is 20months and #3 due any time). It was a necessity for me. Both are rocking chairs that I brought second hand.

As for the air vents they can be closed off totally or swapped around so they don't blow directly onto your bubs :)

I think a SIDS (or are they SUDS now?) recommendation is to not have the cot near a window, in case when little one gets bigger and can stand up and grab any curtain cords and get tangled - I'll say no more...This may determine how you set the entire nursery up (it certainly did for me lol).

Next to the cot is where I put the chest of draws so I could put the baby monitor as close as possible to bubs, with a night light etc - and hopefully the power point in the room is nearby ;-)

Other things I prefer is for the change table to be near the location of the baby wipes, nappies, nappy disposable system etc, just so I can minimise the amount of time my eyes aren't directly on bubs (I like everything I need to be in arms reach). We ended up hanging a nappy stacker near off the side of the change table and I bought a removable caddy to also hang off the change table.

If you look at the Huggies website they have an interactive program so you can add furniture, turn it around etc and practice setting up your room - it's heaps of fun! :D

I agree with Willow - a feeding/settling chair is a must, but ours is actually in the lounge, that way I can interact with DH or watch tv in the middle of the night while feeding - I bought a second hand glider one from a friend and this is one of my best purchases, even if I'd spend a fortune on one new I still would have got my moneys worth

The little caddy is plastic - there is actually two parts you can attach to the change table - one is a little bin with a lid, the other is a little caddy - I found them on the ebay site - they are $19.95 now, the good thing is that the clip should clip onto any change table - the IKEA product name is L?TTSAM stor basket - I've PM you with some more info

After reading Leesa's post I realise I am the same - my drawers are next to my cot with monitor, light etc

Here is a link :)

Keep the cot away from the vent.... my MCHN said that babies are more likely to have problems with overheating than they are to getting cold. If you are intending on keeping things like wipes & nappies on the top of the drawers then you need it right next to the changetable. If you are just going to use the shelves underneath it for that sort of thing it doesn't matter where you put the drawers.

I've moved our nursery around a couple of times now. First I went for pretty but functional, then I went for very functional but decided it looked boring - it just didn't gel with me - so we've just moved it back to pretty. Now I'm happy :D

Like you, I thought it waould be more practical to have the chest of drawers next to the change table so I had easy access to singlets, jump suits, etc but I figured it won't be that hard for me to be a little more organised and have that stuff on the change table before I put bubs down. I have a nappy stacker hanging off the side of my change table and I have all the cleaning necessities on the first shelf of my change table (wipes, nappy rash cream, cotton wool balls, etc) and spew rags, towels, face washers etc on the bottom shelf.

The cot and chest of drawers look stunning together so they are the two items you see when you first walk into our nursery. I have my Gro-Egg on the chest of drawers so I will be able to see the temp of the room as soon as I peak through the door. Bubs will have a nice, dull light beside their cot that way too.

I also have a breast feeding chair and footrest on one side of the change table (with easy access to the spew rags, washes, etc) and a bookshelf on the otherside of my change table. It looks gorgeous and I think it will actually be very practical.

Good luck setting your nursery up. It's good fun and you will know when you have everything in the right spot.

i set mine up the "pretty" way then changed it a few months after DS was born. I like having my drawers next to my change table, just in case I get indecisive about what clothes to put him in...or he spits up on them. I didn't find I needed the drawers near the cot. Plus I find it easier to put the things I need on top of the dresser - and DS ended up with eczema, so now the top drawer holds a little pharmacy of moisturisers & ointments... nicer than having them out everywhere.

I have a glider chair with i LOVE, but it's out in the lounge room - for early feeds I loved being able to have the TV on low. We did have a comfy chair in his room but it was too creaky - we now have a dining chair which is easier to just pop down on for a second if we need. (Our room is not that big, so a glider really didn't fit well in there).

GL, it's heaps of fun arranging the room. Do an imaginary "get up & change baby" to see where you walk and what you need at arm's reach - that helped me, plus it was fun :lol:

Its all really so trial and error isnt it!!! My poor DH, I made him re-arrange the nursery three or four times before DS was born, and again once DS was home and I was getting into a routine.

I have a desk next to the changetable so I could have all his creams, hand sanitiser etc in reach. Plus a little basket with bibs and another with socks/booties. And a set of plastic drawers with singlets and the rest of his accessories (hair brush, first aid stuff) Then there is a wardrobe at the foot of his cot with the rest of his clothes in it. I originally wanted a rocking chair for feeding, but didnt find one I liked, which is lucky cos I really dont feed DS in his room, and on the rare times I do there is a dining chair next to his cot.

Granted my set up isnt the prettiest nursery in the world...but its functional for us and I know Im only going to change it again as DS grows and eventually has "big boy" furniture lol

Goodluck with the setting up of yours....have fun with it :)