Many parents eagerly look forward to setting up the baby’s nursery. Choosing furniture, assembling the future crib, or selecting decorations makes the arrival of your little one feel more real and close. At times, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of baby products available! In this article, we share tips for choosing the furniture, items, and decorations you truly need to set up the baby’s room. You’ll also discover a few precautions to take so your little adventurer’s nest is not only cozy, but also safe.

Which room can be used as a baby bedroom?

Of course, we suggest asking yourself this question only if you can choose between several rooms in your home. ;)

Ideally, choose the room closest to your bedroom. That way, even without a baby monitor, you can easily hear your baby’s cries and reach them quickly. Ideally, your child’s room should be easy to access not only from your bedroom, but also from the main rooms in the house. This way, your little adventurer will always be within reach, whether you’re in the bathroom or the living room.

During the first few weeks, your newborn will sleep between 16 and 18 hours a day. To keep them from being disturbed by surrounding noise—especially from outside—choose a room that doesn’t face a busy street. If possible, the room should have good natural light, helping your child gradually adapt to a day-night rhythm (from the fourth month).

When to prepare the baby's room?

The moment you start setting up your little one’s nest is entirely up to you. Of course, the right timing also depends on how much importance you place on decorating your child’s room. If you prefer to take your time finding each element that will create the perfect cozy nest, it’s best to start early so you don’t feel stressed right before the birth. For many parents, the best time to focus on the setup is around the 22nd week of pregnancy . At this time, expectant mothers are not yet too limited by their pregnancy, making it easier to do small DIY projects. Moreover, you have enough time to choose the mobilier without rushing, and to calmly compare the prices and features of each product. You can also handle delivery times—sometimes long—with complete peace of mind.

Of course, it’s also possible that, at first, your little one won’t have their own room yet. In fact, during the first few weeks, it is recommended that the newborn sleep in the parents’ bedroom. The sounds parents make while sleeping may stimulate the baby’s breathing. Additionally, many parents feel more reassured having their child close by. You can therefore place the cradle near your bed, which gives you more time to finish setting up the room. ;)

Baby furniture: what do you need?

During the first few months, you and your little adventurer will only need a few pieces of furniture and objects. However, you can already plan ahead and invest from the start in some modular furniture . This can save you another setup in a few weeks—and some extra expenses! :) Furniture that grows with your child also adapts to their development. For example, a dresser with a removable changing top can be used for several years, just like a convertible crib that becomes a bed with various extension kits. It’s not only practical, but also more economical and sustainable. You can find all our tips for a sustainable baby room in our article: « 7 tips for an eco-friendly baby nursery ».

You should also ensure the naturalness of the furniture intended for your little one, who in a few weeks will explore their environment with their mouth. Therefore, choose natural wooden furniture, free of toxins and other solvents. As a precaution, you can air out the newly furnished room for a few weeks before the birth.

For the baby's room, you will need:

• Changing table with a changing mat : a changing table or changing dresser is essential for the next three years. You will spend a lot of time changing your little one’s diaper. Discover all our tips for setting it up in our article: « The changing table organization ». Most changing tables include cubbies or drawers, which are very convenient for storing everything you need for diaper changes.

• Diaper bin: the essential accessory to make sure the cozy atmosphere in the
  room isn’t spoiled by bad odors! :D Choose trash cans with a lid or equipped with an odor control system.

• Baby bed : the central piece in your child’s room, you can choose a cradle or buy a child’s bed right away. As mentioned earlier, convertible beds have the advantage of adapting to your little one’s different stages of development, allowing you to keep them for longer. In our article « Baby sleep: 8 answers to your questions », you’ll find several tips for preparing an ultra-cozy bed.

• Baby phone : an essential device for hearing the slightest noise your little one makes. Some baby monitors include a camera, allowing you to keep an eye on your baby from anywhere in the house.

• Meubles de rangement : shelves, cabinets, or other dressers provide valuable storage space for clothes, toys, books, and other treasures that your little one will soon start to accumulate. To keep everything within reach during diaper changes, it may be wise to place a storage unit next to your changing table.

• Fauteuil ou chaise confortable : can be a great investment for your comfort. You can there pour allaiter or give the bottle, cuddle your baby, or simply watch him play. It’s best to try the chair before buying it. Indeed, armrests that are too high or too low can make your position uncomfortable, especially if you are breastfeeding. When your little adventurer is older, you can turn the chair into a reading corner. You’ll be comfortably seated to tell him stories.

• Darkening stores : if your child’s room isn’t equipped with shutters, blackout blinds will create a dim environment during daytime naps.

• Curtains : newborns’ skin is more fragile, sensitive, and delicate than that of adults. You should never expose it directly to sunlight. Since approximately 60% of harmful UVA rays are not filtered by the glass of standard windows, it is recommended to equip your windows with curtains to help limit exposure.

• Lamps : in addition to a ceiling light, a nightlight can also be very useful. At first, with its soft, diffused light, it mainly allows you to move around the baby’s room without turning on all the lights, which is especially practical at night when you’re half asleep. As your baby grows, this gentle light can soothe them and help ease a fear of the dark. You can choose a small lamp that matches the room decor, or a string of lights can also work wonders.

How to ensure baby's safety?

Even if it still feels far away, your baby will soon start exploring their environment. Every object within reach will be touched—and possibly put in their mouth. Keep this in mind from the start when setting up the nursery. Household accidents can happen very quickly. To provide your little explorer with a safe environment, consider the following:

• Price Caches : very useful for preventing little drooly fingers from getting electrocuted. With outlet covers, your child won’t be able to insert their fingers or objects into the outlets. You can also opt for outlets with an integrated safety system.

• Window anti-fall protection : this type of safety device prevents your child from opening the window on their own, helping to avoid falls or thrown objects. ;)

• Protection of drawers, doors, and cabinets : these protections help prevent little fingers from getting pinched and keep your little adventurer from accessing things they shouldn’t.

• Distance between the bed bars : before having a child, you probably never wondered whether the slats of a bed should be spaced a certain way. And yet! Each slat should be spaced 4.5 to 6.5 cm apart. This ensures your little one can’t get stuck between slats that are too narrow or slip an arm or leg between slats that are too wide.

• Fixing furniture to the wall : secure any furniture or objects that could tip over to the wall. Shelves or bookcases, in particular, can easily tip forward if your baby grabs onto them, especially when they’re practicing standing.

• No shelf above the bed : in a baby’s room, it’s generally best to avoid hanging heavy objects, such as a shelf, above the bed. If it were to fall, it could seriously injure your child.

• Furniture in front of the windows : don’t place any furniture or objects in front of windows that your child could try to climb. For many toddlers, it’s very tempting to see what’s happening outside.

• Coins and pointed edges : it’s best to add corner guards and edge protectors to furniture where your child could get hurt.

• Câbles électriques : so your little adventurer can move around safely, it’s important not to leave electrical wires lying around, as they can cause tripping. Protect them with sleeves. The same applies to lamp cords or other devices—place them behind furniture so they’re out of reach.

• Installation of curtains : in children’s bedrooms, short curtains and drapes are generally recommended. This helps reduce the temptation for your child to pull on them.

• Textiles without harmful substances : when purchasing clothing, bed linen, or towels, prioritize healthy textiles that have been tested for toxic substances. This is especially important since young children often explore the objects around them with their mouths. Some labels guarantee the non-toxicity of textiles, such as the "STANDARD 100 by Oeko-Tex" label. A true benchmark, it guarantees that all components of the textile contain no toxic substances. Our LILLYDOO beds have also obtained this very strict label. In general, all textiles should be washed before use, and the same applies to organic fabrics.

• Wall painting: Some wall paints contain solvents and other toxic substances. If you want to repaint the baby’s room, check the composition of the paint; it should be free of solvents and formaldehyde.
  Air out the room for several hours. It’s best not to paint your child’s room right before the birth.

Decoration: what are the elements to consider?

Even though it’s easy to be tempted by the many accessories and decorations available for baby rooms, you should focus first on practicality. Appearance comes second. Because yes, even the most beautiful changing pad will only truly satisfy you if it’s easy to clean and practical to use every day. So, before purchasing, always ask yourself the following questions: Will the item last over time? Is this piece of furniture stable enough, and does it offer enough storage space? Is this object difficult to clean?

Just like our LILLYDOO products, the motto « less is sometimes more » also applies to your little one’s nursery. With minimalism—rather than overstimulation from cluttered decor—your little explorer is less likely to feel overwhelmed. Choose furniture, colors, and decorative objects that don’t draw too much attention, so you create a cozy, calm, and restful environment for your baby. For wall colors, choose light and welcoming shades. If you’re a fan of white, you can easily brighten up the walls with pretty, colorful posters. Another plus: if your tastes change or your child outgrows the motifs, you can simply replace the posters instead of repainting everything.

During the first few months, your baby spends most of their time on their back. Whether to soothe them as they drift off to sleep or to offer a little distraction during wakeful moments, choose an essential accessory: the baby mobile . Opt for a simple mobile with soft, soothing colors. Our advice: avoid hanging the mobile directly above your child’s head, as they may feel overwhelmed.

In summary, comfort, practicality, and safety are your key words for transforming this little cocoon. With these tips and a bit of creativity, you’ll surely work wonders when setting up a cozy nest for your little adventurer. :)