Baby furniture needs

Pregnancy is your ticket to the dizzying stalls of your local baby supermarket. There are so many adorable things to buy for a child's room. But what do you need to get now, and what can wait later?

Quiet! baby sleeping

Many new parents invest in their baby's crib first. But you may not need it. Research shows that newborns and young children are most protected from sudden infant death syndrome if they sleep in the same room as their parents, so you may want to consider putting a crib in your room.

Right away: Bassinet, Cradle, or Sidecar. Keeping your baby close to you in a bassinet, cradle, or sidecar co-sleeper also makes it easier to feed during the first few months of sleep deprivation!

Later: Cradle and Mattress. When purchasing a crib, make sure it meets safety standards. Keep in mind that often the mattress has to be purchased separately.

Twins are comfortable with their belly partner by their side when they sleep. So for the first few months, you can probably put them in the same bed. As they grow up, your twins will of course want and need their own space, which means having two cribs.

Many mothers of twins report that they learn to sleep on the same schedule - or at least sleep when each other wakes up - if kept in the same room.

It's time to change the kids

You will have to change your baby's diapers from the start. So this is the area you need to prepare for.

Right away: Change zone. You have several options for installing a changing table.

Buy a specially designed changing table, which usually has 5cm guardrails on all sides for extra security. They are also designed to be just the right height for baby swaddling.
Reuse almost any mid-height chest of drawers by attaching a soft contoured changing pad with concave mid and high sides. Make sure there are seat belts on the changing pad and always fasten them when changing your baby's diapers. Babies can fall off the table in the blink of an eye.
Simply change your baby on the floor: get a foldable portable changing pad or two with zippered pockets for diapers, wipes and cream.

Right away: A bucket for diapers. Place it next to the changing table. There are dozens of options, from simple buckets with lids to flip-and-forget models. Some require their own custom liners, while others can use any kitchen trash bag. Just make sure your bucket can be sealed tightly for hygiene and safety.

Time for parent-baby bonding

Whether you're breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or both, you'll need a place to sit while you feed your baby. You will also need a place to rock the baby or just get to know him better.

Later: rocking chair. You can control any chair if you need to. But a soft glider or rocker can make feeding time more comfortable.

Later: chair. You can wait, but you may wonder why you did it when you have it. The footrest lifts the knees, making breastfeeding easier and straightening the back.

Other baby products that can wait

There are many other things you can buy for your nursery to make your child's first room more comfortable and fun. But having them is usually not urgent.