The Smackdown on Nursery Must Haves… For Mamas with 2+ Babies
During my first pregnancy I remember feeling overwhelmed about the thought of creating my baby registry. The department store provided me with this extensive list that included everything but the kitchen sink. I received zero indication of what was needed. Pretty certain I had a blank stare for a solid five minutes while inhaling deep breaths and contemplating if I should head to Starbucks. Do I really need matching crib sets? Is a mobile necessary? Which type of laundry basket or diaper pail should I buy? The questions I had were endless and I wish I had someone to tell me the bare necessities. With having two children 15 months apart, I required not one but TWO nurseries. When most families transition their toddler into a “big room” I found myself having to slap together two nurseries in under a year. With that, I now consider myself a pro and thought I should share must have items for your nursery! Okay I may not be a pro, however I tailored my must have list specifically to mothers planning on having two or more children relatively close in age. I hope this list provides even the slightest bit of guidance, gives some clarification and points you in the right direction when creating your baby registry.
1) Baby Monitor with Double Camera
A monitor is something previous generations did without and may be seen as unnecessary. But trust me, a monitor will ease your mind, save constant trips running up and down the stairs, and will even help determine awake windows! If you have two young children or plan on having two, seek out a monitor that can support two cameras. This will save you from carrying around two separate monitors when both children are sleeping. It is cheaper in the long run to purchase one monitor with two cameras rather than purchasing two separate monitors. The second camera attachment only needs to be purchased when baby number two is on the way.
2) 5 Pairs of Fitted Crib Sheets
Remember, this list is for mamas with multiple babies, so likely you will have two cribs and trust me when I say you will need 5 crib sheets.
You heard me right, five! If you have one child I would recommend minimum three sheets as one is usually in the wash, one is on the crib, and you absolutely need backups. You will thank me if your child ever encounters gastro.
As mentioned, you do not need to purchase expensive crib sets. These are the ones that come with matching sheets, a bed skirt, bumper and a matching change pad cover. It will be extremely RARE you have the matching crib sheet on at the same time as the diaper pad cover. One will be in constant laundry rotation so please do not get fixated on the matching sets. Currently, my daughters crib has the star sheets meant for my son’s room and you know what, it looks just as adorable as her floral ones. Also, bumper pads and crib skirts are unnecessary. Do I own them? Yes. Could I do without? Absolutely!
3) Sound Machines
Do yourself a favor and grab each child a sound machine, they work wonders! Especially having two children close in age, nothing is worse than risking one child waking the other. If you find yourself tiptoeing past your child's room, please include this to your registry. It will allow everyone, including mommy, to get more sleep. These have a variety of price ranges. I have one inexpensive one and one higher priced one. I’ll tell you, they both work the SAME. Sure one I can turn on from an app and it doubles as a nightlight. But I definitely do not need these fancy features and I truthfully prefer my cheaper one. Below I have placed my affiliate links to both sound machines I own.
My Baby Sound Machine
Hatch Baby Sound Machine
4) Black Out Blinds
Now let me be clear, you are not obligated to purchase blinds... but it is necessary for your babies room to be pitch black. I am indifferent if you stick garbage bags on the window or purchase blackout blinds, but you must ensure your nursery is DARK. Those sheer decorative curtains are not going to cut it.
The Gro Company makes a wonderful portable blackout blind which is excellent for travelling or it can be used under existing curtains. If you already own blackout blinds but require a set for travel, I highly recommend purchasing these and have included my amazon affiliate link here.
5) Glider or Rocking Chair with Ottoman
A rocking chair with ottoman is something you only require one of, even if you have multiples or children close in age. What I have done is I only have one chair which rocks and the second chair is fixed. I do have two ottomans to compliment each chair as I find ottomans extremely helpful, however the second set is a luxury and not necessary. There are a few reasons why I recommend either purchasing a chair with a matching ottoman or find a separate complimentary one. The main reason is for breastfeeding or pumping as the positioning is much more enjoyable with a foot rest and it quickly became a necessity. Another reason is for general comfort. If baby is sick you may find yourself dozing off in this chair, so having extra leg room is key. Finally, when your toddler becomes mobile they will enjoy using the ottoman for climbing. You may even find yourself placing a variety of toys on it to encourage standing.
6) Night Light / Dimmer / Lamp
There will be many occasions where you want to sneak into baby’s room and not be blinded by that beautiful light fixture you have installed. Whether it’s for night feedings or checking in on baby, having a second source of light is imperative. I will leave the choice up to you on which way you go about this. Nightlights are great as they are easily portable, however it will be most convenient if you can install a dimmer directly onto the light switch.
7) Diaper Pails - One for Each Child in Diapers
Initially I figured we would be able to survive off one diaper pail. It didn't occur to me to purchase two until a week before Stella's arrival. I am incredibly grateful we did. We will have both children in diapers for approximately 1-1.5 years together. Even if this time span was shorter I still recommend having two. It is necessary to have a diaper pail close to your changing station and you do not want to be changing the bag multiple times a day. If your children are close in age and both still in diapers, do yourself a favor and get two diaper pails! I have shared this tip with several other mothers and they all have agreed having two diaper pails is beyond wonderful.
I absolutely love the Diaper Genie. I have purchased two of these and have been so happy with them.
8) Washable Laundry Basket
There are hundreds of adorable laundry baskets on the market, some may fit your nursery theme oh so perfectly that you are convinced it's a must. Please do not make the same mistake I did. If you cannot wash it easily than you should not purchase this. Children's clothes become incredibly filthy, from vomit to poop, yup I said it, these will be thrown in the basket quickly. There are many fantastic laundry baskets that are made from a material that can be easily cleaned with disinfectant or have a lining that can be thrown into your laundry machine. Whichever you decide, ensure your laundry basket is WASHABLE!
BONUS:
9) Double Stroller
Okay, this may not pertain to a nursery, however I could not resist sharing this tip. If you plan on having two children close in age please invest in a double stroller from the start. I am by no means saying go ahead and purchase all parts for the double stroller upfront. What I am recommending is that you invest in a stroller which has the possibility of converting into a double stroller at a later time. There is nothing worse than being on a walk with a tired toddler and a baby needing a seat. Or worse, having to carry one child while pushing the other.
I have spoken to many mothers who bought a single stroller only to turn around a year later and sell it once baby number two came along. Save yourself the hassle and purchase a double stroller if you plan on having more than one child.
The stroller we use daily is the Uppababy Vista. I could honestly write an entire blog post about how wonderful this double stroller is. With a few extra attachments, it can easily be transformed into a double. It is portable and light in comparison to others we tested. I also love the massive basket at the bottom, which I have zero problem filling up. I should mention we have easily brought this on international flights with zero hesitation. Here is my affiliate link if you would like to check it out.
Overall, having babies close in age may have doubled certain necessities. Sure I had to set up two nurseries, purchase two cribs, organize two changing stations. But it is also double the kisses, double the laughs and double the LOVE.
