Having reached the 2-year milestone, I thought about how our house has stood up to the challenge of a baby and what advice I would give clients who are looking to start a family in the next few years. Here are my helpful tips, arranged by room.
You can skip to each room here:
Nursery
I thought I’d start here as it’s probably the thing you’re most excited/ nervous about!
Key things you’ll need:
Changing table- get one at a comfortable height that is ideally always accessible. Newborns need changing around 12 times a day, bending over a bed or getting up and down from the floor is not ideal! (It’s probably worth setting up a changing station on each floor of your house too!) Ideally the changing table has storage for nappies/ wipes etc underneath. Also make space for a nappy bin- this can be in the hallway (sometimes it’s best- they still smell however much they claim to 'contain smells'…)
Bed- your baby will almost certainly be sleeping in a bedside crib for the first few months so get a big crib/ bed with a side which can be removed for future use.
Add a moving mobile over the crib- this might provide entertainment long enough for you to shower!
Window covering- get one which is blackout! You’ll need it when the sun (and your baby) rises at 4am in the summer!! If you can- get something automatic which you can open and close QUIETLY and with one button. Not a necessity but LOVELY to have!
Feeding chair- we didn’t have enough space in our nursery and I agonised over it. Yes I would have loved one and would have squeezed one in if I could- but my lesson here is actually to not worry so much. You will make it work or you will make necessary changes as issues arise. You don’t HAVE to have everything perfect in advance.
Night light- you’ll need something so you can see what you’re doing for nappy changes etc but ideally not something too bright which wakes baby (or you) up. Opt for warm white dimmable or better yet red light. We have a low-cost star light (like this) which projects different colour stars on the walls at night- it works well and it can travel with us when necessary.
Monitor- consider where you’ll place this when laying out the room and what it’ll need to be plugged into (power supply/ data cable?). Whilst they tend to have good view range- you often have to angle them awkwardly from shelves or other areas and children WILL pull on any dangling wires they can reach. If possible fit it out of reach but where necessary put wires into plastic channels attached to the wall to stop this. Check the monitor has good/ reliable range to all parts of your house (and possibly garden).
Your bedroom
Bedside crib- get what you are most comfortable with. I agonised over the expensive one which gently rocks your child to sleep. Yes it probably is great but actually we did fine with a £25 second hand one and a new mattress (given various accidents with milk and other fluids, I found not feeling I had to worry about keeping the crib pristine was better for my mental wellbeing than having the best kit!) The bedside crib is only for the first 6 or so months as your baby will very quickly grow out of it. You can also always buy your bedside crib a Rockit!
Top tip- get a slimmer temporary bedside table- you don’t want the bedside crib half way down the bed so your existing bedside table fits there, but you will still need space for phone/ tea/ etc by the bed. Get a slim temporary table and move your usual one elsewhere for the time-being. Don’t opt for a shelf above the crib- what if something fell IN TO the crib (shudder).
Changing station/ space for ‘stuff’! For the first few months you will practically LIVE in your bedroom with your baby for a large portion of the day. If you have space- let yourself sprawl. It’s not forever and no one (nice) will judge.
Hallway
Pram space- this will depend on your pram/ the space available and your preferences for use. We got a pram which could fold and be stored by the front door. Luckily the hallway is just big enough to set up the pram inside but if your hallway isn’t- clear a space as close as possible (i.e. in the kitchen/ lounge) for easy set up/ take down. For the first 6 months you’ll need a crib add on for the pram- these generally don’t fold well so we opted to add a stand in the lounge which meant the crib doubled up as a GF bed for daytime naps (and got a pram colour which matched the lounge- I KNOW)
Car seat- you’ll probably need somewhere to store the car seat for first 6-9 months too as it’s generally easier to get the baby in and out inside when they’re tiny.
Bikes/ toy pushchairs/ scooters- before you know it, you’ll need space for all this and probably still the pram. Prioritise space for only what you most need in this area and where possible have things in cupboards/ closed off so your children aren’t reminded to bring equipment you’d rather they didn’t! But have space to store key items you need to remember out (keys/ nappy bag/ coats/ shoes/ helmets!)- to help you remember them.
Stairs- if you have stairs get a gate. You’ll probably need one at the bottom and top. Get something you can operate easily with only 1 hand- as that’s all you’re likely to have free anyway and make sure it’s fitted properly. (remember to show visitors how to use the gate when they come- it’s surprisingly stressful to get past child proofing you’re unfamiliar with as an adult!)
Kitchen
Small appliances- chances are you’ll need an array of new small appliances over the next year. These will need to be accessible and easy to clean (aka close to the sink!) most of the time. Make sure you have plenty of sockets to plug into, clear worktop space where possible and clear a drawer space for Tupperware/ baby paraphernalia.
In case you’re wondering, typical small appliances include- bottle steriliser, bottle warmer/ maker, food steamer/ processer, and an array of gadgets and toys which need charging (Rockit, noise machines, toys etc).
Speaking of easy access appliances- for the first few weeks when people will want to visit- make it easy for them to help themselves/ make you drinks/ tea/ food. Label things or leave them out so they can be found/ used easily.
Safe play space- your child will want to be with you all the time, and when they’re young you’ll want to keep an eye on them! Consider play space or a good spot for a highchair so your tot can hang out without getting into trouble, while you cook/ make tea etc.
Add child safety clips to cupboards/ oven etc.
Add covers to soil on large pot plants.
Add corner protection to tables/ worktops/ sharp edges.
Learning tower/ stool- your toddler will want to see what you’re doing and will often need to wash their hands in the sink. We initially used a chair until our wriggly toddler slipped off resulting in a trip to A&E (fortunately he was fine!). If you’re limited on space opt for a folding one and consider other features/ uses (desk/ chalk board etc)- IMO learning towers are worth it.
Lounge
Toy/ book storage- you’ll need lots of it. Where storage is limited get furniture with storage space (e.g. ottoman with storage) or buy pretty baskets/ boxes which can attractively store toys. This ikea small bookshelf is a low-cost great solution for keeping a small selection of books accessible- paint it to match the interiors.
Soft edges/ surfaces. Once your baby starts moving you are likely to become a Health and Safety expert. There are sharp corners, hard floors and hazards everywhere. Eliminate what hazards you can by removing them or adding corner/ edge protection/ stair gates/ socket covers etc and always keep a watchful eye. Some things your child will need to learn not to interfere with- don’t make it a big deal and remember that sometimes distraction works better than ‘no’!
Keep pretty things out of reach. (most kids can’t throw well before the age of 2, but consider an early ban on balls in the lounge (or TV room) before it’s too late…!)
Bathroom
Storage space for wet things- first it’ll be a baby bath, then it’ll be a bath seat, then it’ll be bath toys. You will use these daily and they’ll need to be left out to dry. You can either leave these in the bath to dry then move into a cupboard once they are… but let’s be realistic! We store things on the floor underneath our wall hung vanity keep toys tidily in net bags hung on hooks- so they can dry.
Other
Last but not least - make sure you have an efficient, good quality and reliable washing machine!
Hope that helps! As I wrap up, please remember this is in no way a definitive list but rather based on my personal preferences and experiences over the last 2 years. If you are expecting a baby or would like to discuss nursery plans, the APM team would love to help! I’ll be back in a few years with my tips and learnings from life with a toddler in the house…