Ah, the baby sleep setup. It’s a project that starts as a simple we’ll just need a crib, and ends with you debating thread counts, white noise frequencies, and comparing your options on Pinterest. Planning your baby’s sleep space is part nesting instinct, part interior design Olympics, and it’s also part survival strategy for the impending nights of minimal sleep.
Before you decide to get lost in the Pinterest abyss of rattan bassinet and hand stitch mobiles, let’s tackle the question that sparks endless debate among parents: full size versus mini crib. We will get to that briefly, but first let’s zoom out a little. Because building the best sleep space for your baby isn’t just about what they sleep in, it’s about the setup itself. Not only do you need something that makes sure that you stay sane, you need your baby to be comfortable, cosy and safe.
1. The first step is safety.
We all have a good Pinterest nursery setup. Macrame wall hangings, plush pillows and an army of adorable stuffed animals arranged like a tiny judgmental audience gets us all salivating. But when it comes to baby sleep, the American Academy of Paediatrics is very clear. Less is more. You also need to have two sleep spaces. You need one in your bedroom for the first six months, and you need the nursery for when you decide to transition them out of your room. The safest sleep environment for your baby includes a firm, flat mattress, a fitted sheet, and that’s it. No pillows, no bumpers, no blankets, no sloths. No matter how irresistible they are, no.
2. Location, location location is the next step.
Before your baby moves into their room full time, they will be sleeping in your room for the first few months, which we’ve already said. It’s convenient, safer and honestly you’re going to feel better being able to check every site and sneeze at 3:00 in the morning. Ideally, you need to have the crib close enough that you don’t have to do Olympic level floor manoeuvres in the dark, but far enough that you don’t feel like you’re sleeping in the crib itself. There are plenty of cribs that attach to the side of the bed which are helpful in those early days when you are trying to get through midnight feeds and cuddles with your eyes open.
3. Step 3 is to think about the size.
OK, so let’s tackle that crib conundrum. The great full size versus mini crib debate boils down to one question: How much space do you actually have? Full size cribs are the buy at once, use it forever option and they live in the nursery until the baby can transition. If you have a nice big bedroom, you can have a baby in a full size crib if you’d want them to be in one because they’re sturdy, roomy and convertible to toddler beds. However, many cribs tend to be the best option if you’re in a very small space. They’re easy to move, they’re easy to handle, and they are ideal if you’re not ready to commit to a nursery set up just yet.
4. Step 4 is the climate.
Babies are basically tiny, temperature sensitive Divas. Too hot and they fuss, too cold and they fuss. The goal is Goldilocks level comfort, which is somewhere between toasty and brrr. Keep the nursery around 68 to 72 Fahrenheit and dress your baby in a sleep sack or wearable blanket instead of using loose bedding. Invest in a reliable thermometer for the room so you’re not playing the ‘Does this room feel warm or is it just me?’ game at 2:00 in the morning. And while we’re on the subject, if your partner insists the house feels fine, hand them the baby monitor and let them be the human thermostat for the night. Perspective changes things quickly.
5. Step 5 is about the mood.
Lighting is the unsung hero of good sleep. During the day, you want the room bright to help your baby learn the difference between naps and night time. At night, keep dim lighting or a red hued night light that won’t mess with melatonin production because babies have that too. Avoid harsh overhead lighting after the bedtime routines because you don’t want to turn on fluorescent lights at the bar at closing times. No one needs that kind of energy when they’re trying to sleep. If you are feeling fancy, get blackout curtains. They’ll make a world of difference when daylight savings rolls round. Consider the fact that white noise is a modern miracle. You want to mimic those whooshing sounds that your baby heard in the womb. A small white noise machine with continuous sound is worth every penny.
6. Step 6 is function over flashy.
Sleek designer cribs look great on social media, but can you assemble them without tears? And will you still love them when you’re trying to lower the mattress height while balancing a teething baby? When choosing furniture, think practical, adjustable, and easy to clean.
7. The last step is about you.
When you’re setting up your space for your baby, whether that’s in your bedroom and then subsequently the nursery or not, you need to think about what makes you comfortable. You need to make sure that you keep a glider or rocking chair close by to the crib so you have somewhere to sit for feeds where you’re not going to fall asleep. You need to have pillows that you can rest your elbows on and the baby on when you’re feeding at night where the bottles or breastfeeding. If you are planning to bottle feed, having a bottle warmer close by is very helpful for those night feeds because you could also leave a flask of boiling water there so that you can keep the formula sterile. There are so many things that you need to do for your baby, but don’t forget about yourself in this whole setup. You need to be comfortable and you need things to be easy.
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