What to put on a nursery registry

A nursery has three jobs. Keep the baby safe, get the baby to sleep, and let you find a clean nappy at 3am without turning on the big light. If your registry covers those three, you can ignore most of what the shops want to sell you.

Baby-proof the room before the baby can move

Socket covers and cupboard locks feel silly on a list for a newborn who cannot roll over yet. Put them on anyway. You will fit them in an afternoon now; in eight months you will be too tired to find the screwdriver. Add corner guards for the sharp edge of the changing table and wall anchors for the bookcase and the tall dresser. Anchors are the one item on this list people skip and then regret.

A video monitor lets the baby sleep in their own room while you keep an eye on them from the sofa. A stair gate for the nursery doorway can wait a few months, but it is cheap enough to ask for now. Swap corded blinds for cordless ones, or ask for window guards. Cords are one of the genuine hazards in a child's bedroom.

A room thermometer belongs on the list too. Newborns sleep best at 20 to 22°C, which is colder than most parents expect. A humidifier helps in winter, when the heating dries the air and everyone in the house wakes up with a sore throat.

Lighting for night feeds and daytime naps

A dimmable ceiling light means you can change a nappy in the day without blasting the room at full brightness at night. Blackout curtains keep naps going and stop a 5am sunrise from ending the night early. We had a summer baby and the blackout blind was the single best thing on our list.

For the night itself, ask for a nightlight with a red or warm orange glow. White and blue light wake both of you up; red barely registers. A small lamp with a low-wattage bulb next to the chair makes a reading corner for later, and a string of fairy lights gives a soft background glow without needing its own switch.

What actually helps a baby sleep

Start with a firm cot mattress that fits the cot with no gap at the edges and meets current safety standards. Cotton or bamboo sheets get softer with every wash and are kind to new skin. You will want at least three sets, because one will be in the wash and one will be wet.

A white noise machine covers the sound of the dishwasher, the neighbours and the older sibling. Some babies settle to rain, some to plain white or pink noise, so ask for one with a few options rather than a single hum.

Swaddles and sleep sacks are safer than loose blankets and help a newborn feel held. Register for two sizes; the first one fits for a matter of weeks. And ask for a proper nursing chair or glider with real back support. You will spend more hours in that chair in the first three months than in any other seat in the house.

Storage that keeps up with the amount of stuff

A changing table with drawers, or a dresser with a changing pad on top, keeps nappies, wipes and cream within arm's reach. Baskets and bins for toys, clothes and blankets should be soft-sided or rounded and easy to wipe. A low bookshelf lets a toddler pull out their own books later on.

A nappy bin with a proper seal handles the smell. A normal bin with a tight lid does the same job for a fraction of the price.

The smaller items that add up

A cot mobile gives the baby something to look at during awake time. Wall stickers add some personality without repainting. A side table next to the nursing chair holds water, a snack and your phone during the long feeds. A soft rug makes tummy time and, later, crawling more comfortable for everyone.

An air purifier is worth asking for if someone in the house has allergies or you have a cat. Pick one that runs quietly, or it defeats the purpose.

Once you have the list in your head, create a baby registry and share it with the family. The grandparents will want to buy the chair; let them.