Nursery Must Haves and Can Live Withouts

A few months into this fatherhood thing, and already we have noticed a number of things that just work…and a number of things that just did not work.  Let’s focus on items in the nursery:

Must Haves:

1. Glider and Ottoman: This one is a no-brainer.  Kids like to be rocked, do yourself a favor and get the one with an ottoman…you might as well be comfortable too.
2. White Noise Maker: It’s noisy up in momma’s guts.  Babies are used to the patterned rhythmic sounds of their mother’s heartbeat, amniotic fluid circulating and whatever else goes on in there.  Apparently it sounds like a bathroom fan or a waterfall inside of my wife, because the little one sleeps very soundly when we fire up those sounds.  We have this one and highly recommend it: Conair Infant Sound Machine – SU7
3. MIRRORS: Yes mirrors.  Sometimes when the glider/ottoman combo fails to put him out and you’ll have to resort to pacing.  There’s nothing worse then pacing the floor for 30 minutes, thinking junior is down, only to have to pick him up again and repeat the process.  If you strategically place mirrors on each wall, you can spy on him to make sure his eyes are closed and you can catch a glimpse of your rockin ‘stache.
4. Mobile/Magic Hypnotizing Box: Let’s face it, babies aren’t that smart.  I mean, really…as advanced as you think your 3 month old kid might be, she’s still distracted by shiny objects and will wake herself up because she pooped her pants.  Need a few minutes to make a grilled cheese sandwich or want to put her to bed without the rocking/pacing routine.  Get a mobile or voodoo powered magic hypnosis box.  Seems cruel, but they like staring at the things and most of the times it’ll put them to sleep.  But what is the voodoo magic box thing you’re talking about?  THIS: Fisher-Price Rainforest Peek-A-Boo Waterfall Soother.  It has a monkey, a toucan and a fish…WITH BUBBLES!  I’m thinking about getting one for my bed.  The little rascal loves the thing, it’s magic, it truly truly is.
5. Nightlight: You would think that coming from a pitch black womb that a baby wouldn’t want the lights on.  Maybe we screwed up somewhere…or maybe our $400 a month electricity bill generating tanning booth of a house has made our child fear the dark, but she likes it when there is a little light in her room.  We initially resorted to leaving her door cracked and the hallway light on, but after catching a dog or two sniffing around in her room, decided to pick up a run of the mill night light.

Probably Could Have Done Without:

1. 1080p Flatscreen and Media Streaming Box: Made sense pre-baby.  What would be better than rocking the little one to sleep and catching up on Weeds or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia?  Yeah, not so much.  Kids like things to be quiet when they go to sleep…I guess they ARE people after all!  I have to say though, the flatscreen is now a very welcomed addition to mom and dad’s room.
2. Changing Table: AFter about 15 minutes of being a parent, you will change your kid’s diaper anywhere and everywhere.  In the cargo area of a Jeep Commander in a crowded parking lot for example.  On the kitchen counter…sure why not.  A changing table is great for the added storage, but throwing a small dresser in a  closet will do a better job and you can save some space in the room.
3. 6000 Stuffed Animals: We went monkey crazy with out little one.  Many of the gifts that she received were of the stuffed animal variety as well.  Cute, cuddly and really make the room look like a baby’s room, but really pointless right now.  I hope she likes them in a few years, because she has enough to start an evil army of stuffed monkeys.

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