Kids Room

Nursery Plans and Favorite Baby Products

Margot just hit the two-month mark and has started sleeping mostly through the night (bless that sweet angel!), which means it’s really time to get going on a nursery! Cribs have come SO far since my last baby. Really, there was only the Ouef wren crib that was cool and modern back then, and it…

Margot just hit the two-month mark and has started sleeping mostly through the night (bless that sweet angel!), which means it’s really time to get going on a nursery! Cribs have come SO far since my last baby. Really, there was only the Ouef wren crib that was cool and modern back then, and it was stratospherically out of my grad school budget! I went with a $20 Jenny Lind crib from Craigslist instead and give it a fresh coat of mint green paint. I still love the classic Jenny Lind style, but it’s fun that there are so many different crib designs available now! Some are still very pricey, but there are a lot of mid-range options that are total show-stoppers.

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We’ve been having Margot sleep in our room next to our bed – sometimes in that cute bassinet I posted about, but honestly, it’s usually in this little Rock N Play seat thing. It’s not the cutest baby product in the world, but it has about a million five-star reviews on Amazon, so I had to try it for myself. And, WOW, it is like the holy grail of baby swings/bouncers/bassinets. It plugs into the wall and rocks itself for up to six hours. And it has a built-in white noise player! The seat hugs her little body and keeps Margot feeling tucked in and secure. And the angle of the back is perfect for babies that spit up – a new and not so fun experience for us!

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It folds up easily for travel and just for moving it around the house. I bring it upstairs to the studio often so Margot can sleep nearby while I’m working. It’s awesome for naps, but I think she’ll be happier to have a crib soon and a quiet, dark space to sleep in at nights.
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The playroom is going to be Margot’s room since its next to our bedroom. There’s a closet in there that is big enough for a crib and a small dresser. 
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We’re thinking of turning it into her (tiny!) nursery and that way we don’t have to do much rearranging in the playroom.
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We started taking down the (old and cheap) shelving, which has opened up the space so much already.

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I’d love to do some sort of fun wall treatment in here, but I need to find something that would work with the bird wallpaper I have in the playroom on the ceiling.


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Maybe some cool ikat upholstered walls like my friend did here?
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And if I can find a lighter, neutral ikat, I’d love to paint my Draper dresser a fun color and throw a cute stripey changing pad on top.
I’m thinking the white Dwell Studio Mid-century crib would be fabulous in this small space. I love that it feels like a beautiful piece of furniture instead of a giant prison crate. :)
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But it’s also nice that there are a ton of other crib options that aren’t as much of an investment. I really like all of these.

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I’m sort of leaning toward this one though, crate similarities and all. It’s a new line from Fisher-Price (who actually also makes that Rock N Play that I’m so in love with??) and it’s less than $250! I love the simple, clean lines. And I really like the warm gray color. So many of the gray cribs seem really blue.

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I’d love recommendations on other cribs too, if you have a good one! We had to completely start from scratch with baby gear and I’ve been out of the baby mindset for so long now that I’ve had to rely on friends’ suggestions for practically all of our purchases.

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We splurged on some things (like a pretty car seat and stroller) and have tried to save other places – like in the clothes department. I’ve finally learned my lesson there and stopped buying a million outfits. Baby clothes are crazy expensive and really, babies are happiest in soft sleepers for the first few months anyway, right? I’ve found a few reliable lines that I know I’ll keep coming back to as Margot is growing. They look cute, we only need a few of them to have in rotation, and I know she is comfortable.

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Also, this line of super-soft head wraps is adorable and makes me feel just a tiny bit less lazy for dressing my baby in mostly pajamas. :)
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And just for kicks, here are a couple more of my favorite baby products, some newer to me and some tried-and-true. What am I missing here that you love?

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 Organic unbleached ivory muslin swaddle blankets that are more beautiful with every wash  //  Make your baby smell like a French baby  //  The only socks that actually fit a newborn’s feet  //  Wipes warmer (SO WORTH IT)  //  Adorable fox burp cloths that will get a million compliments every time you are out  //  Great and affordable baby monitor that doubles as a walkie-talkie (!)  //  The cutest kitty lovey around  //  If it’s possible for a pacifier to be pretty, this natural rubber one is it! Also totally recommend this tutorial for a DIY paci holder.
Join the Conversation

39 thoughts on “Nursery Plans and Favorite Baby Products

  1. I loved the rock and play too! Just be careful how much time she spends in it. Check out Amazon reviews – it has caused some pretty serious head malformations in babies :( So awesome that she is sleeping. Hope it lasts! Also, I just redid our powder room in olive and pale blue, inspired by your post about olive green… which is my current obsession! Thanks for the inspiration!

  2. We loved the rock n play too with my second but also had to stop bc of the head situation. We avoided the helmet but several of my friends had to do a helmet bc of the rock n play. It's a lifesaver though so it's so hard!

  3. The nose freida is a MUST!!! It is 100 times better than those stupid nose bulbs! Also I love woombies, they are like a comfortable straight jacket so little arms and legs can't escape from a swaddle. And one more is Tommy tippy bottles,, they are my favorite! Love all the nursery ideas, just had my 4th and final baby so now I am looking at ideas for my sister. :)

  4. The nose freida is a MUST!!! It is 100 times better than those stupid nose bulbs! Also I love woombies, they are like a comfortable straight jacket so little arms and legs can't escape from a swaddle. And one more is Tommy tippy bottles,, they are my favorite! Love all the nursery ideas, just had my 4th and final baby so now I am looking at ideas for my sister. :)

  5. I think you can only blame the head thing on back sleeping. It's amazing how no one had flat spots requiring helmets when babies slept on their tummies. I'm a tummy sleeping mommy. No apologies. And I'm 4 for 4 on spit up babies. No fun. But all have grown out of it by 10-11 months. I often think what it would be like to start over. My sister in law had no idea drop side cribs were illegal now. I had to explain to her they are just lower now. It makes sense.

  6. My daughter was a major spit up baby. She outgrew it by 10 mos or so but man did I have so many methods burping her after feedings. I landed on the Baby Mod Olivia crib from Walmart, of all places, after researching endless options and reviews b/c it was similar in feel to the super expensive modern options. The fixed side was a must and the low profile was easy on my back. LOVED it and ended up gifting it to my best friend when my daughter was done with it. Easy to assemble as well and very solid. Not usually a fan of the convertible nursery stuff but this crib/toddler bed was a huge winner for us.

    http://www.walmart.com/ip/Baby-Mod-Olivia-3-in-1-Baby-Crib-Amber-and-White/8810319

  7. I love those cribs! Can't wait to see what you come up with. And I love that she will have her own little happy space off the playroom!

  8. Kids resale shops are a total Godsend, so if there's a good one near you, definitely check it out. I get almost all of my littles clothes there and I save a fortune while also finding really high quality pieces. Then you don't feel so bad if baby only wears something twice, since you paid just $2!

  9. Ah! Thank you! I found out 2 days ago I'm expecting babe #4 with a 4-year gap–we shed our baby stuff with our own cross-country move and now I'm a new mom again!! Thank you!!!

  10. We have the Babyletto Hudson you pictured and I LOVE it. We got it on sale from AllModern. We have the espresso wood with the white rails. Don't forget some sort of teething pad for the rails though! I wish I had thought ahead on that one. :/ It also comes with a toddler rail. Favs: Honest diapers, exersaucer, lifefactory teething rings, Zipadeezips for swaddle transition, and the Chicco Nextfit for a convertible carseat (extended rear facing!). So much great stuff out there.

  11. Glad to hear the little one is sleeping…hopefully you are too! When my kids were babies I loved the clothing line zutano. Super soft and fun colorful patterns. I also bought almost all of the baby clothes on eBay….at that stage most clothing is barely worn before the baby grows out of it so it was still practically new and I could pick up boutique items at low prices.

  12. My 10.5 month baby has been sleeping in the Babyletto Hudson crib since he was 2 months old and I still love it! It is very sturdy, easy to put together, and looks great in his modern nursery. One product that we can't live without are the Zutano booties. Unlike socks, they stay on his feet all day! Enjoy your precious baby!

  13. Your first post back and you nailed it! Pinning this for future reference. ;)

    Good luck with the nursery! I'm sure it will be great. I love where it's headed, and that crib is actually pretty great — especially for the price.

  14. Congratulations! She is adorable! I am new to your blog but adore your home. I wish I lived in the area and could be your intern for now with your little baby. We have some favorite baby items that I thought I would share – baby bjorn bouncer with the toy attachment (for when she outgrows her rocker). Also, I have LOVED our mini crib – have you heard of them? They easily accommodate baby's up to two years old and are such a nice size. Ours is a simple mid century style that will turn into a twin size bed for later in life. Another life saver is the Ergo baby carrier. I have used it so much from when my little ones were infants, especially during fussy times when they wanted to be close but I still needed the use of my hands. :)
    Thanks for all the house inspiration! I am in the process of making my own side table thanks to you! Best of luck with your little one!

  15. Going to love watching you build this nursery! We have the Da Vinci Highland 4-in-1 Convertible Crib and I absolutely love it. I was looking for a mid-century style crib in a natural finish and this one fit the bill without being crazy expensive.

    My favorite baby product is the Magic Merlin Sleep Suit. We transitioned my daughter out of the Rock N'Play/swaddle around 3 months and this helped tremendously. At almost 9 months she still sleeps in it and happily associates it with sleep. It's a dream. Also second the Zutano booties!

  16. I love seeing your super cute baby! Also, that persian rug in the first nursery picture?! Seriously beautiful. Any ideas on specific search terms for something like that on ebay? I'm trying to decorate my first place with the fiance and am looking for something exactly like that.

  17. I can't get past the fact that the bouncy seat plugs into the wall!! How many trips would I have saved to get D batteries!!! Baby stuff has come SO far…

  18. Thank you for this! I'm having a baby soon and struggling to find a rocker that will be nursing friendly and not hideously ugly. Any suggestions??

  19. I highly recommend you look into mini cribs. The size is more space friendly and will give you more layout options in a small space. Plus they are not really that small – babies can use them up to 2years old.
    Other favorites are born bouncer with toy attachment, ergo sport carrier, and eBay for clothes. Congrats on your little one!

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