Planning a Nursery - The Daisy Baby Experience

Planning a nursery can be extremely overwhelming! What do you need? What is safe? How long does it take to get what you want? And in the smaller homes in the DC area... where will everything fit!? There are some great articles out there on planning a nursery (this one from Pottery Barn comes to mind) but they tend to be about basic considerations of safety and logical placement. Which is really useful, of course! But it doesn't tell you what you'll really need for your situation, and when you'll need to get it. Daisy Baby and Kids wants to make planning your nursery easy and fun for you - we're here to help! So, read on for a basic Daisy Baby Timeline... what to do, and when!

 Remember that most pregnancies last about 41 weeks... but anything after 37 weeks is considered within the realm of normal and full-term. So you probably want your nursery ready by 36-37 weeks, just in case. That's how this guide is set - so your nursery is ready at 35 weeks. If you're running late, no worries! Just come on in and we'll see what we can work out for you!

The shop - friendly and bright! Come visit!

Week 21 - Set up an appointment to look at furniture. Bring the measurements of your room, color swatches of anything already in it, and ideas! **Note: this is a good time to decide on and register for your childbirth class as well. Sometimes they fill up fast, and classes like Bradley can take 12 weeks to complete! Also, this is a good time to find a doula - she can help you through the following weeks! (Birth Options Alliance is a really good tool here!)

Newport Cottages cribs are made in the US - if it's not modern, give it some time to be built!

Week 23 - Finalize the furniture order. If you want something custom, or something from a company that hand-makes their furniture, it will take 8-10 weeks. Start looking at bedding! (Of course, you can start this earlier, but this is a good point - you'll know what style you're leaning toward by the furniture you've chosen.) **Note: This is a good time to make sure your room is set up safely, and to paint it in your chosen color!

Bright modern bedding - pick your colors and patterns, we'll make sure it's just what you want!

Week 25 - Finalize your bedding order - again, custom orders can take up to 8-10 weeks.**Note: if you haven't already, make sure you have sorted out your childcare for postpartum, and definitely make sure you've found your pediatrician!

Week 27 - Set up your registry. Most baby showers are between 30-35 weeks, so this is a good time to have that set! We'll help you decide what you need for your situation, so come on in and let's talk about it. We can make recommendations and help you sort through all the baby items to decide which really are "must haves"! Remember that we can put some of your furniture or bedding on the registry, even if it's a custom order. **Note: check out infant and child CPR and First Aid classes - this is a good time to learn those skills!

Want an awesome stroller? Put it on your registry!

Week 35 - relax! Receive all your fantastic baby items, and bask in them... you'll be using them soon! **Note: You may want to cook and freeze meals for after delivery at this point, or look into something like Momme Meals. This is also a good time to look into a postpartum doula, make sure you know a good IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Counselor), or check out The Breastfeeding Center!

After the baby is born - come on in if you need anything or have any questions. We'll be happy to help you sort out how to use your sling, your stroller, your belly bandit. Be sure to bring your little bundle because we love babies. That's in italics because we really, really do. So show off that cute button nose! Hang out in our comfy chair, nurse the babe, let us know how it's going - and just how much you love your nursery!

Even the Baby K'Tan has a learning curve - if you're struggling, we'll help!