How to Create The Perfect Small Space Nursery

It is time to start prepping your nursery! There are so many options and it is easy to get all of the things – but realistically, you don’t need it all. You can use this guide to help you decide what you need for your nursery, especially if you are in a smaller space. You will be able to create the perfect nursery for your child to grow with.

Convertible Crib

The AAP recommends that your baby is in your room for the first 6 months of life. It is preferred if you can make it to a year. With both of my kids, we used a bassinet (my favorite is the Halo Bassinest) until they hit their weight limit and we moved them to their crib. We had the crib in our room for a year.
When we moved the crib into the nursery, it was the perfect addition. You will want to have a convertible crib that supports different mattress heights and converts into a toddler bed (and full-size bed if you want to keep the furniture that long). My daughter switched to her toddler bed about 6 months before she turned 2.

Crib Mattress

A good crib mattress is essential for you nursery and for your precious child. There are a few key points you will want to look for when purchasing a mattress. You want to make sure that the mattress will fit the crib perfectly, meaning that there are no gaps around the edges. You also want to make sure that you get a firm mattress as soft mattresses increase the risk of suffocation and even SIDS (Sudden Infant Deaths Syndrome). I made sure that the mattresses I got for my children were Greenguard Gold Certified which means that they meet standards for low chemical emissions. Do your research, check out different mattresses at the store, and be sure to buy new!

Crib Sheets

One of the first thing that I learned about sheets is that they are not all created equal. There are tons of options out there and I wanted to make sure that I found a sheet that would help moderate my baby’s temperature, wouldn’t shrink or fade in the wash and would match the room. I have gone through countless cotton sheets due to shrinking, fading, and even holes! The one sheet that I found and LOVED was Posh Peanut’s Crib Sheet. It is bamboo viscose making super soft, super stretchy, and perfect for your baby. There is a little investment when you get these but they are well worth it, seeing that they are durable and you will not have to be purchasing sheets time and time again. My kids love their Posh Peanut sheets – especially my toddler. She is obsessed with the butter-soft fabric and she doesn’t leave body oil stains all over them from sweat.

Check out Posh Peanut’s Bamboo Viscose Sheets

Dresser

I was working with small rooms when I was creating my nurseries. I decided that a dresser would be the perfect addition to the nursery and it would be used as a multipurpose item. The dresser would hold clothes and blankets. The top would serve as a changing table! I made sure to pick a dresser that wasn’t high and hit about waist high on me. I simply put a changing pad on top of the dresser and did all of the changing in the designated area.

3 Tier Cart

One of my favorite hacks was my 3 Tier Cart. Again, since I am limited on space, I had to make the most of my area. I turned the cart into a diaper cart. In the tiers, I would store diapers, wipes, diaper cream, the Nose Freida, etc. It was all organized, all in one place, and I was able to keep from having these items strewn all over the room. When my daughter potty trained, I transitioned the cart into a craft cart, where we store her coloring books and colors, puzzles, and her library books.

Floating Shelves

The floating shelves were a godsend, again, since I was working with a small space. It allowed for me to have books in the nursery without taking up any floor space. As my daughter got older, it also allowed for us to display some of her favorite artwork.

Wrapping It Up

There are a couple of other additions that I added in the nursery over time, like wall art, a changing table, and a trash can for the diapers. This list was the basics that were a must-have for me. When the kid’s cribs were in my room, we used the nursery as a play area and transitioned it to a bedroom when we moved the crib in.
I would love to hear what you think of my list and if there is anything that you think I missed!