Don’t stress, babies barely use their rooms in the beginning. Don’t put shelving over the dresser, eventually babies can get up and pull down on things/try to climb. Put a fun, securely hung picture over the dresser for the baby to look at while being changed. Make sure that dresser is attached to the wall, little kids commonly pull out drawers to use as ladders. I can assure you, babies will not want to play alone in their rooms if no one is in there. You will probably end up feeding baby everywhere, babies nurse every 2ish hours around the clock sometimes more.

Unless you plan on sitting in there while the baby plays on the floor there is no need for real space for play. Most people put the activity gyms in the room the family uses the most. I agree tethering dressers is a big deal for sure. As for the rest I like the space as is , keep in mind that dresser for diaper changing will only work for a couple of months then you will need to have something wider for sure.

Decorating a nursery is such fun! I'd put the crib where the dresser is now and then put the dresser on the wall that is currently blank. Keep the chair in the same general area, although maybe pushed a bit away from the door and more toward the dresser.

That room is sort of laid out how my ODD's room was. I had the dresser on the wall with the door, the crib against wall across from closet, and a chair in what would be between the window and closet.

All the gray can be nice and calming, but babies love contrasting colors so I'd encourage you to have some color in there, maybe get some curtains with a pattern. Babies love looking at that kind of thing.

I never understood the need for a "nursing station" but that cart could be used for anything as they grow so may as well try it out.

I still use the top of the dresser to change my 2.5 yo and keep diaper supplies in the top drawer. It won't take long before you need more space on top of that dresser so I'd clear it off except for wipes and a toy (although even the toy won't be needed for a couple months). Like Where will you pile the clothes with spit up and poop all on them while you try to put new ones on? Or where will you lay the dirty diaper as you try to hold their legs and keep them from kicking and smearing poop everywhere while you try to wipe them. Babies can be messy! You need room haha

I agree that babies don't need much floor space for quite a while, but it was still nice to have room on the floor to lay my baby down and sit in there with them. My oldest would sit and play in her room with toys forever beginning around 5-6 mos, but my youngest had to be corralled at 3-4 mos bc she wall over the place and into everything.

So have a plan, but be ready to change it lol Enjoy the newborn phase bc it goes quick. And ask for help if you're not!

Yeah, that’s true, some kids are very content to stay in one place, mine was not like that at all lol. Before he could crawl my son was rolling, right across the living room, I would turn my head and he’d be gone lol. Before he was walking he’d do stuff like crawl under my desk and pull out the plugs, work from home? NOT. lol. My friends son was a ninja climber, before he was even really walking, like a baby racoon.

I was just thinking, that cart might become a hazard for a baby, it looks tippy and it’s on wheels. Always expect the unexpected.

I’d never heard of a nursing station, so I googled it and got this:

https://www.thespruce.com/creating-a-stress-free-breastfeeding-station-2504851

Stress free? How is putting a timer on while nursing stress free? Please don’t do this to yourself lol.

You will want to be able to see the crib very easily from the door. not sure if you can with the current set up. it's hard to tell from the pics. You will be using the rocker so much, make sure it's in a pleasant spot, near the window if you can. Good luck!

I agree with much of what is said. The baby could care less about a well-organized space and playthings of all sorts (jumpers, mats, climbers) will be all over your house where you can keep an eye on him/her. :) The one thing I wanted to point out is the crib does NOT need to have the long side along a wall. It's okay to put the short side against the wall and leave space on either side for easy access. Might give you some additional layout options...

haha J Williams! That is exactly how my 2nd was. I'd put her down and turn to get a toy and look back and she'd be gone. Even as an infant, she was always moving those arms and legs and would just scoot on her way. I was NOT prepared for that lol after my 1st who was sitting up at 5 months but never rolled until like 10-11 mos and would just stay in one spot and play forever. I learned all about baby proofing with the 2nd.

Yes, please don't time yourself breastfeeding. whoever heard. You may check the time occasionally bc the pediatrician will ask how often they feed and for how long. But as long as your baby is growing it's really okay to guesstimate. Some people like strict schedules with babies and some don't.

I fed my babies wherever I felt like being at the time. Many times that was on the couch watching tv while learning to eat cold dinner with my non-dominant hand. :-) oh good times!

I agree that cart may become a hazard, but you'll figure it out. You may have things you never use or use as intended and you may need things you never considered.

My only suggestion is to not worry bc nobody else knows wtf they are doing either lol.

very good point mnmamax3!

Some misinformed doctors will try to stress moms out with things they actually know nothing about (scheduling and measuring feeding? as if), went through that with my son in the NICU. As a mom you learn to be tougher lol. Yeah remember trying to grab a bite to eat between pumping around the clock and all day visits to the NICU, I think sometimes my hubby was hand feeding me like a parrot. Fun Fun times. It def. got better as he got older, could nurse while standing or while on the computer (I’m a one finger typist anyways).

haha yes, I also did the whole sticking my mouth out like a baby bird while my husband fed me. Babies always want to feed right when your hot food is ready.

OP, Enjoy your last hot meals for the next 10 years LOL

If space is tight, eliminate that large plant. If it is real, it could be poisonous, and crawling babies love to get their hands in dirt. If it is artificial, it will tend to be a dust catcher and the baby could pull it over into himself/herself. I agree about adding some bright colors roo!

congratulations and good luck.!

I read somewhere that that is a survival instinct to ensure they get fed, but what about moms getting food?

Place the crib where you can see it if you peek in the door. The cart will be helpful to hold your glass of water for nursing but it will need to come out when the baby get mobile since it is not sturdy enough for a pulling up baby.

Agree that the supplies need to move as the baby gets longer: diapers in a drawer, wipes on top. trash can to the right of the dresser/changing pad as it is now set up, assuming you are right handed. Clear the way to the crib so you dont have to go around the ottoman in the dark. Try navigating with your eyes barely open.

My darling daughter in law is a person who likes to be well prepared. When she recently had her second child, she had everything set up well ahead of time because she knew what she would need.

Of course, this little one is completely different from her older sibling, and many things were returned, unopened, back to the stores they were purchased from. They never needed nipple cream, disposable breastfeeding pads, or formula of any kind. With this child she never used the rocking chair at all.

Be prepared to go with the flow.

Is that a cell phone thing? I was shocked to discover my tiny tiny newborn SNORED like a bear. I was so worried he would just quietly die on me (he was a preemie) but there was no way you could not hear him while asleep. I also used a basket a lot until he got too big for it, that way he could sleep anywhere, living room, bathroom, kitchen.

Video monitors may be a regional thing. We have lots of new babies in our extended family and not one video monitor.

Like this, with this being the view from the door.

Heights Bohemian Nursery · More Info