Safe Nursery Guide
Start Your Safe Nursery Here
Congratulations on your newborn! We understand that you may feel overwhelmed trying to find the right products and sorting through all the brands and options available. But don’t worry—we’re here to help. In this guide, we walk you through the essential baby gear you need and what to look out for.
You’re welcome to explore the products we recommend. We carefully research all brands and products to make sure they are safe and non-toxic to babies before offering them to our customers.
Car Seats
The car seat is one of the essential items to transport your newborn. It’s smart to get the car seat before your baby is born, ideally during the third trimester, so you have time to research, install it correctly, and have it checked if needed. Car seats also have expiration dates, usually based on the date of manufacture rather than the date of purchase, because materials wear over time and safety standards, testing, and vehicle compatibility can change; the exact lifespan varies by brand and model, so parents should check the label and manual for the expiration date or calculate it from the manufacture date.
When installing car seat, make sure the seat is installed tightly in the back seat using either the seat belt or the LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It is a built-in vehicle safety system designed to secure child car seats without using the standard seat belt), never both. Babies should remain rear-facing as long as possible, the harness should sit snugly at or below shoulder level with the chest clip at armpit height, and bulky clothing should be avoided because it can interfere with a secure fit.
Strollers
A stroller is another must-have, and for many families, one good everyday stroller is enough at first, with some parents later adding a second compact stroller for travel or quick errands. When shopping, look for the type that matches your lifestyle: standard strollers are sturdy everyday options, lightweight strollers are easier to fold and carry, convertible strollers grow with your child, double strollers work well for twins or two kids close in age, and wagon strollers are useful for families who want extra space and flexibility.
When choosing a stroller, prioritize a secure five-point harness, reliable brakes, a stable frame, a comfortable recline for newborn use, good wheel quality for your terrain, enough storage, and a fold that fits your car and routine. Here is a detailed stroller buying guide you can read to learn all the features you might want to consider when shopping. If you want to use it from birth, make sure it lies flat or accepts an infant car seat or bassinet, since newborns need proper head and body support.
Nursery Furniture
We highly recommend you to choose a Greenguard Gold Certified Crib for your baby. For great price point, we recommend Soho Baby and Oxford Baby & Kids. If you are looking for more stylish and aesthetic cribs, you can check out Milk Street Baby. They are made in US.
Then match your crib with a changing dresser. Depending on your space size, you can choose a 6 drawer dresser or a 3 drawer dresser. Many parents now go with a changing dresser because of its convertibility. You can use it as a changing station by adding a matching changing topper, and then remove the changing topper when your baby outgrows it to use it as a regular dresser.
For nursery chair, also choose a GREENGUARD Gold certified glider or recliner. A comfortable nursery chair will save you from back pain or any sort of discomfort caused by breastfeeding. Many might ask why a nursery chair is essential? It is because a comfortable nursery chair is more than a place to sit. It provides all the comfort you need for breastfeeding, resting, or even napping during pregnancy.
Need more storage? Consider to add a chest drawers, chiferobe, nightstand, or nursery hutch. Other convenient storage solutions are wall shelf, baskets, diaper caddy, or crib organizer.
Decor
Nursery Decor should bring warmth, personality, and a sense of calm to your nursery. The Milk Street Baby Abstract Phases Modern Wall Art is a great wood decor to hang on the wall above crib. It is a six-piece set made from acacia wood and New Zealand pine, and can be arranged to suit your nursery’s unique style.
Another great Scandinavian-inspired piece I would like to mention is Rocking Sheep by Natures Collection. It is a timeless statement piece that blends play and design, handcrafted with natural sheepskin and a pinewood frame. It can also be used as a rocking sheep toy for your little one.
Bedding
When choosing baby bedding, begin with the safest essentials: a firm, properly fitted crib mattress, a snug fitted sheet made for that exact mattress size, and—if needed—a thin, securely fitted mattress protector. Measure the mattress’s length, width, and depth before shopping; most standard crib mattresses are about 52 by 28 inches, but a sheet should lie smooth and tight with no loose corners or bunching. Choose breathable materials such as cotton, organic cotton, linen, or bamboo viscose, and look for third-party textile certifications such as GOTS for organic fibers and responsible processing or GREENGUARD GOLD and OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 for testing for harmful substances.
For a complete setup, I’d go with the Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Dream 2-Stage Crib Mattress and Sealy Baby crib mattress pad, then add soft, fitted options like Saranoni Minky Stretch Luxe Sheets for crib, or Venice Child Bamboo Viscose Sheets for bassinet.
If you’d like to add a blanket, the Saranoni Minky Receiving Blankets are great option. For those who love to buy by set, the Oxford Baby nursery bedding sets will be your best choice. Just remember to keep the blankets and decorative pieces only for supervised cuddles and nursery style – not inside an infant’s sleep space, where the safest setup is a bare crib with only a mattress and fitted sheet.
Baby Gear
Safety is always the priority when comes to baby gear. All of our gear are fire retardant free. And we highly recommend you to choose at least OEKO-TEX certified or ideally GOTS/GOLS certified.
Changing Pad
This Nattou Diaper Changing Pad Softy is a great choice for portable changing pad. It is very light (3.64 lb) so very easy to move around. It is made with BPA-free PU foam and has skin-like feel. It has cocoon shape that makes changing time comfortable for your baby.
Baby Carrier
Baby carriers come in several styles: baby wrap, hipseat carrier, structured carrier, ring sling carrier. A baby wrap is a highly adjustable fit; it is great for newborn snuggles, but takes some practices to put on. A hipseat carrier is best for quick, frquent up-and-down carries with an older baby or toddler. A structured carrier distributes weight across both shoulders and hips and may support front, hip, or back carrying as baby grows. A ring sling carrier offers a lightweight, fast option for short carries and quick adjustments, though its one-shoulder design may be less comfortable for longer outings. When you choose the baby carrier, make sure it fit the wearer comfortably and hold baby upright, close, and well supported; follow the T.I.C.K.S. guideline: tight, in view, close enough to kiss, chin off chest, and supported back.
Diaper Bag
Stay organized during outings with this JuJuBe Classic Diaper Backpack. It comes in multiple colors: black, espresso, taupe, and paisley floral. What we love most about it is easy-access wipe pocket and adjustable shoulder straps. It makes on-the-go a breeze!
Bouncer
Baby bouncer is not on baby essential list but it is a good helper when you need relax a bit. We recommend this baby bouncer from VEVOR to you. It is plug-free and has 2 reclining angles. Plus the price point is great.
Step Stool
A step stool turns an adult-sized world into an accessible space, helping children build daily life skills and confidence! If you are looking for grow-with-me type, we recommend Little Partners 3-in-1 Growing Step Stool. It is GREENGUARD Gold certified and 3-position adjustable height to grow with child.
Baby Walker
We do not recommend traditional baby walkers due to their safety issues exposed to babies. But there are alternatives you can use like activity walkers, and push walkers. For more details on baby walkers, you can reach this blog we put together.
Nursing Essentials
AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommend exclusive breast milk for the first six months of life. After six months, you add solid foods, but you can keep breastfeeding for two years or longer as long as you and your baby want. Read this article from AAP to learn more about breast feeding.
We also want to discuss some essential nursing tools moms need. First is a manual breast pump – we recommend Haakaa Gen 3 Silicone Breast Pump (this is their most updated model). It is made with food grade silicone and very compact for travel. If you like something more convenient, you can go with Haakaa E-Ladybut Wearable Electric Breast Pump. It can easily fit inside your bra so you can pump hands-free while continuing with your day.
If you and your baby are experiencing feeding issues (like latching or supply concerns), this Haakaa Supplemental Feeding Tube & Pouch Set is your solution. It is a great way to provide extra supplemental milk. It is made with non-toxic 100% food grade silicone.
If you need to feed during traveling, use this Haakaa Express & Collect Travel Pack or Haakaa On-the-go Save and Stash Pack. Either set can help you collect breast milk leakage during the day and safely store it away.
Feeding Essentials
This part is the stuff for baby.
The first one is bottles. We recommend Haakaa Gen 3 glass baby bottles (available in 10 oz, 6 oz, and 3 oz). Their 100% food grade silicone nipple mimics the feel and flex of a mother’s breast. You can also adjust the flow rate as your baby grows.
If you use formula, this Primo Passi Portable Formula Mixer is a great tool to bring for travel. It is battery powered and works with all major formula brands like Earth’s Best, Baby’s Only, Similac, Gerber, Enfamil, Enfagrow and more.
Babies make mess during eating, that’s why you need to prepare bibs and burp cloths to prevent spit-up. We recommend to have at least 5 for both. For bibs, you can check out this Haakaa Silicone Baby Bib. It is made of 100% food-grade silicone, with a large pocket at the front to catch any falling bits of food.
You have to wash baby bottles after every single feeding to prevent harmful bacteria from growing. Use a brush that specifically designed to clean baby feeding essentials. This Haakaa Silicone Cleaning Brush Kit comes with three different brushes to help you efficiently scrub all your feeding essentials, leaving them safe and hygienic.
Once your little one reaches about 6 months old (when they begin eating solid foods and can sit upright with minimal or no support), they can start sitting in a high chair. You want to choose one that is safe, ergonomic, and easy clean. Children of Design 6 in 1 Deluxe High Chair is a great option – It is sturdy, stylish, and super easy to clean. It can be use from 6 month to 6 years old!
Bath Time
For first 1 to 3 weeks, use gentle sponge baths to clean their face, neck, hands, and diaper area with warm water. After the cord falls off, you can start using a small infant tab or insert to bath your baby. If you got space, we recommend you to use a bath tub like Shnuggle bathtime essentials bundle. It includes a baby bath, rinse jug, a toy scoop, and a changing pad for diaper change. Or you can get a sink bather like Plum+Sparrow Infant Sink Bather to save space.
Other baby bath time essentials are thermometer to check water temperature (ideal from 98.6°F to 100.4°F). A non-slip mat to prevent your baby slipping. Parent comfort aids to protect your joints while leaning over the tub. Gentle body wash & shampoo (look for tear-free, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free formulas), and diaper cream for moisturize. Cotton hooded towels, washcloths to use after baby out of the water.
Potty Training
Most babies are ready to start potty training between 18 and 36 months of age. If you need more instructions on how to do it step by step, here is a detail guideline we drafted. To get ready to potty train your baby, a few items you should prepare: a potty chair, a step stool, and plenty of washable underwear.
Play Time
What toys to get for the first few months? Do not overthink it – in the first few months, babies do not need a room full of complex gadgets. At this stage, newborns are primarily developing their vision, discovering their own hands, and building neck strength. You need ones that are safe, simple and inspire exploration and open-ended play.
Between 0-2 months, your baby will start holding their head up and noticing things in their surroundings. A play gym is the perfect spot for them to work on neck, core and arm strength. We recommend this Hape Snuggle Bear Activity Gym. It is a complete play set for newborns: the soft mirror and visual cards to support early self-discovery. The bear tummy pillow helps build neck and core strength. The hanging toys add sounds, music, and hands-on discovery. And the crinkly bear paws encourage movement and sensory play.
Around 2-4 months, your baby will start to explore things with their hands. Black and white or high-contract images help develop baby’s vision. Engaging, easily graspable toys will motivate them to use those little arms and hands.