do we HAVE to have a nursery? do you have one?

Miranda - posted on 02/05/2010

when i had my first child i lived with my parents and we put up the crib and a dresser for the baby in my room right acros from my bed. in a way it's easier to have them in the room with you when you need to hear them and get up with them, but it may cause problems when you want personal time with your spouse.
we also used a bassinet in the living room when it was day time naps or if i wanted to sleep in the living room or something.

Amy - posted on 02/04/2010

It's not stupid, many parents keep the new babies in there room for the first several months because it's easier to breastfeed then.

Personally I liked having our son in his own room, I slept much better that way. Our son also didn't sleep much, ever, even now at 21 months, so having his own room was nice, there were a few night's where he was awake and screaming for most of it. (We did keep checking on him, but nothing was wrong, just wanted to play). For my husband and I, I guess it was more of a comfort factor. We also don't like our son in our room, he likes to empty out our dresser drawers (granted you don't need to worry about that for a little while).

Jessica - posted on 02/04/2010

No it's not silly. My 1st son was in the room with me until he was 1. And my second is 10months and will also be in my room until he is 1. I had to be able to hear them breathing etc otherwise I wouldn't be able to sleep. Plus it's so much easier when you're breastfeeding. And people actually recommend they sleep in the room with you for a while for the exact reason of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Plus if you don't have the room then it's practical too.

Who cares what others think, it's your baby, do what makes you confortable.

Michelle - posted on 02/02/2010

Not at all . My oldest son slept in his crib right across the room from our bed . We had a small one bedroom appartment . I even used the tiny linen closet with shelves for his stuff .
In all honesty .... They will not remember it when they are older , so no guilt trips about them bunking in your room !

Anelle - posted on 02/02/2010

Hi Samantha
Congrats to you on your pregnancy!
I have a 7 year old and a 3 year old, both girls and they both have their own rooms. Our boy was born 29 Dec and he is still in our bedroom next to my side of the bed in his cot. I have planned for him to move into our wardrobe when he is a little bit older. His chest of drawer is also in our bedroom...It is so much easier having everything at hand, that includes having him next to my bed for night feeds, especially when he wants to feed every 2 to 3 hours - growth spurt! - We plan to move the girl in together at a later stage and he will have the smaller room. I say keep bub close, You will be happier and will certainly save heaps if you don't splash out on nursery furniture, which is mostly about spending dollars anyway. Good luck!

Ashley - posted on 02/01/2010

We had our son in ousr room for the first few months even though he did have his own room. Eventually we started using his room so my BF and I could have privacy. We also didn't decorate the room till our son was older and we knew what we should decorate with. Nothing worse than assuming your child will like cars and he likes dinosaurs :)

Pearglen - posted on 02/01/2010

I'm pregnant with baby 4 and have done both. With my first baby I was determined he would be sleeping in his room as soon as he outgrew his bassinet. My aunt and uncle had had all of their kids in their bedrooms for at least 2 years and the kids seemed to have all had a bad time adjusting to being in their own rooms. So, I was determined not to have a sissy kid. I was young then, what can I say? As it turned it out, I was so freaked out with my baby being all alone that I spent a lot of time in his room at night anyway! Sometimes I fell asleep in the rocking chair! With baby 2 I was in the middle of a divorce and living with my parents. I had one bedroom for me, my toddler, and the baby. When we moved and they got their own room, it was no big deal being away from me. I was right in the next room. Fast forward 11 years to a new marriage, and a new baby. We were in a one bedroom house with a big living room. YAY recession! When my 3 son was born there was no choice but to have him in our room. We have moved a couple of times in the 14 months since, but still always had to have him in our room because of lack of space. Now that baby 4 is on the way, we will have to move him out, somehow, probably with his big brother. But I have enjoyed having him with us. I had a lot of anxiety and depression after he was born and having him right next to me was great. Plus I didn't have to try to get up and around a lot at feeding time. Now that he is older, I would like to decorate a room for him and at some point I hope we get a big enough house to do it. Even then he and new baby will probably share a room for a few years. By then though, my oldest will be ready to move out so that should take care of that! LOL!

Maria - posted on 02/01/2010

I'm due in June and looking for a new apartment.... At first I was set on getting a two bedroom but only because I wanted a nursery and thought it would be nice. I do however plan to have the baby sleep in the room with my boyfriend and I. So now I'm looking for 1 or 2br the baby is small enough and doesnt realize they dont have their own room... its all just personal preference

JASMINE - posted on 01/30/2010

no its not stupid cuz im gettin a two bedroom apartment nd my baby is gonna have its basinett in our room && the babys room is gonna be extra storage for the baby such as the clothes nd t.v with a swing nd when it gets older then well fix that room up nd let it have that room but for now when its little nd gets up every few hours it needs ur care

Larisa - posted on 01/21/2010

Im only 20 yr old, so I still live with my parents, and although they have offered to let me turn our spare bedroom into the nursery, I kinda want the baby to be right there in my own room at the beginning at least. I am going to be 100% breast feeding so it will also be a lot easier to have the baby right there with me, with his crib in my room. I think once he is a little older, I will convert our spare bedroom into his room(if I am still living at home), but for now, he'll be just fine with me :) I dont think its stupid at all of you guys, I'm the same way.

Pam - posted on 01/21/2010

no this is not silly. we were actually planing to have our first little one sleep in her own room but due to our apartment flooding, relatives visiting and our insurance company puting us in a hotel room with a new born our daughter slept in our room for the first 3-4 months. Now that we are expecting our second little one I wouldn't have it any other way and we plan on having our new little one sleep sleep in a basinet in our room.

Rose - posted on 01/19/2010

its not stupid at all. In fact alot of mothers plan to have there babies close to them anyways it is easier when your going through the healing process. Not only that just think would you want to walk in the middle of the night all the way to the next room to get your baby when they cry because they are hungry. I know i may sound lazy but think about it the first couple of weeks months your baby is on their own sleep schedule why not make it easier on your self by putting them in your room that way you only have to take a couple of steps. my daughter slept in our room untill she was 1 or so. She never slept through the night peacefully until a couple of months ago she is almost 2.I think it will be ok.

CherylAnn - posted on 01/19/2010

I had my son by our bed in a basinette for a month at that point he was already sleeping through the night and we had a very sensitive baby monitor(that is a tv screen) and we could see and hear even his little breaths, so he went across the hall into his crib.
We now are expecting again and will do the same with #2 only until we are posted in 2 years they will share a room(our 3rd bedroom is downstairs).

Some people go crazy with a "nursary' per say. My son's room was done in Disney cars. it did not look like a baby room at all except the crib. now he has backyardigans. I dont like the babyish decor.

Just do what you can, and baby will be happy with whatever it is!

Rebecca - posted on 01/18/2010

no worries my son is 15 months and last month we got a 2 bedroom up until then he was in with us. as long as you and your bf are comfortable with it , its fine. now that my son has his own room we are expecting another one who he will have to share with lol

Brenda - posted on 01/18/2010

we have a 3 bedroom house and we are making one room into a nursery if i can ever get around to getting all my craft junk out of it lol... but our baby is going to sleep in our bed at least for the first while, we bought a co-sleeper, we don't have lots of money so we might not have all the furniture for the nursery by the time baby comes anyway....husband got laid off so who knows when he is going back to work... you don't need stuff just cause everyone else has it, i know a young girl who couldn't afford a bigger place or all the fancy things who turned her bottom dresser drawer into a bassinett for baby....i intend on using a laundrey basket seems silly to spend 80+ dollars on a bassinet! do what is right for you guys!!

Shawna - posted on 01/18/2010

I dont think so. When they are newborns they are better off in your room so you can keep an eye on them.

Geralyn - posted on 01/18/2010

When we were expecting, we set up a nursery, and bought a whole set - crib, dresser, chest of drawers, painted the walls with animals, and spent a ridiculous amount on bedding. Its a beautiful room, but my son has never spent one night in there. We co-slept from the first day that he came home from the hospital. To this day, he thinks his crib is a place to play with the stuffed animals that are in there...

When I was pregnant, I wasn't even thinking about whether I would co-sleep or not. But when the time came, it just seemed like the natural thing to do. It has been a wonderful bonding experience for my son and I, and for us as a family. We love sleeping together. He is now 21 months. At some point, he will show interest in a big boy bed, but we will probably start out having him sleep in it in our room. It will truly be up to him and what he is comfortable with. And some day, my husband and I will have our bed back, and I will miss cuddling with my son at night, but I will look back on it with warm memories....

Babies do not care whether you live in one room or you have a huge house, they do not care about any of that. They just want to be close to their moms - whether you decide to co-sleep or have a crib next to the bed, just do what feels right for you. There is information out there for safely co-sleeping to ensure the safety of your baby.

We are expecting another baby now, and I will NOT be buying a crib for that one.... it was a waste of money. The baby will most likely have a nursery at some point, but she will be with us in our bedroom... We will continue to sleep as a family.

Amanda - posted on 01/18/2010

You don't really need a nursery. Many couples who choose to, even some single to be moms, do so just for the excitement of decorating the room. But really, how many moms have you met that put the baby to sleep in the nursery while they are sleeping in their own rooms? I think you should consider it before the baby turns 2 years as you and your boyfriend will need some privacy and there are some things you shouldn't do with a two year old around (if you know what I mean). And anyway, it's awesome to lay there and just stare at your sleeping baby. It's not stupid and as a first time mom and dad, you will enjoy having the baby close by.

Kristy - posted on 01/18/2010

yeah... you def don't HAVE to have a nursery! my boyfriend and I are living with my parents right now (yay economy!) and my little girl will not have her own room... and I honestly dont know how we'll fit her stuff in this house (my family is a bunch of pack rats haha) I think the idea of a nursery is just having the baby have it's OWN room. And for people like me who are compulsive organizers and decorators and WANT to fuss over a baby nursery! I'm VERY sad my little Brooklyn wont be able to have her own room... but like everyone else is saying.. maybe it'll be alright since she'll need my attention during the night a lot during the first few months... I still wanted to decorate and organize the nursery =[

Lauren - posted on 01/18/2010

the reason my mom wants my baby to have its own room is because she said that with everyone up and around and going in and out of rooms the baby can wake up easy and it should be in its own room quite, also for all its things to be all together and not mixed in with mine.........but baby is sleeping in my room anyway

Schollin - posted on 01/18/2010

I had a 2 bedroom apartment when I had my son and he slept in the bassinet next to our bed, its a lot more convienent and I constantly was waking up to check on him anyway.I'm positive I was able to get a lot more sleep by being able to just peek over the edge and know he was okay

Stephanie - posted on 01/18/2010

My son sleeps in a crib in my bedroom, and it's actually more convenient to me. When he wakes up at night fussing, I can just slip out of bed, walk about 4 feet to the crib, pick him up, and sit back on the bed while I rock him. If you're really tired from the baby not sleeping well (aka: keeping you up with a lot of fussing), it's nice to not have to walk to a whole other room to comfort him/her. When he's older, he'll have his own room. But as an infant, there's nothing wrong with having your baby room with you.

Alex - posted on 01/18/2010

I'm sharing a room with my lil one. one side is set up with a crib and changing table the other side has my bed. lol.... but no, you don't have to have a nursery. As long as the baby has what it needs then it's fine.

Sheron - posted on 01/17/2010

I have a 2bd apartment. 1 room is mine & my hubbys and the other room is for my 2 boys to share. We're crowded enough and now are expecting a baby. The baby is going to share a room with us. We're not even gonna have a crib for the baby. The baby doesnt need all the fancy things you put in a nursery. All he/she needs is love, food, support, love, warmth, love, safety, and LOVE!!! ;) As long as your baby is healthy and safe it doesn't matter if you have a nursery or not. Congrats on the baby btw :D

Medic - posted on 01/17/2010

i guess you dont have to have one but i did and loved it....during the day my son slept in his room and at night for the first 3 months he had a bassinet in my room...and its the same with our girl we are expecting....our bedroom is huge so i guess it wouldnt matter but i want my kids to have their own space even though my son has a fold out sofa in my room for when he feels the need to sleep with us

Linea - posted on 01/17/2010

You don't have to have one, yea it is nice to have some extra space, but not a must. Normally, the baby will sleep in y'alls room for a while before the baby is old enough/you are comfortable with the baby having its own room, so you will have some time before you are feeling the urge to put the baby in its own room. I know we are going to have a nursery mostly for extra storage until we are comfortable with the baby sleeping in its own room.

Stacie - posted on 01/16/2010

hi there
ive never had a nursery with my two boys as they sleeped in my room with their cots and im preg again and this baby will sleep in my room til it is 7months then go in to its on room or with its younger brother.
i have a three bedroom house that im going to move my youngest out of his room in to his brother and me and the baby going to have his room and my room going to be the play room through winter as my room the coldest in the house

Ieasha - posted on 01/16/2010

Girl plz!! My boyfriend & are in the same situation. We are both college students & can only afford a one bedroom. Because our him will be a year & a half by the time we can move into a 2bdrm, we felt it'll be smart & needed to keep him in the room with us. U don't need a nursery. Truth be told, the baby will sleep in your room more for the first year than in his own. It's a waste of money for now. Even my mom says they won't need they're own room till after a year old. Good luck!!

Stacy - posted on 01/16/2010

I have a nursery ready to go, but the cradle is in our bedroom for him until he grows out of it. I want our son to have his own room so he has his space - his own dresser, toy boxes (yes there are two) and his bookcase complete with library. Does he need this things when he's born? Of course not. But I do want him to nap once in a while in his room when he's a month old or so. I definitely want a spot to store all his stuff - clothes, hamper, diapers, etc...



You will want your privacy at some point, but for the immediate future you should be fine.

Kimberly - posted on 01/16/2010

I never had a nursery. My kids always slept in the same room as I until they were 1 1/2-2 years.

Stephanie - posted on 01/16/2010

My boyfriend and I live with my parents, and are keeping the baby in our room until we can get an addition. The baby has its own side of the room with his crib and all. Our room isn't big at all, so we're downsizing from two to one dresser. I think it will be benficial for us to bond with the baby better. The baby would have slept in our room for the first few months anyways even if we did have a nursery.

Kyla - posted on 01/16/2010

I'm a first time mom, so I'm not 100%, but I don't think you HAVE to have a nursery. Eventually, though, you will probably need, if not WANT, your privacy as well as giving your child a little more independence by giving them their own room at some point.



I have a nursery for my baby who's expected in March, but that is only because time was on our side. We had to move into a new house, so we decided to look for two bedrooms to save us the hassle of having to move again once our daughter was big enough and needed her own room.

But, she will be sleeping in our room for at least the first few months in a bassinet. I think that's how most parents do it?

Samantha - posted on 01/15/2010

thanks so much guys! it really feels great even if its just a few other moms/moms-to-be feel the same way! what is the main reason for a nursery? because of all the stuff? i mean i know the baby is going to have a lot of things, but nothing that cant be in shelving units, or cute stacking boxes right? i just feel it would be so inconvienent to go back and forth from another room anyways.

Lauren - posted on 01/15/2010

my husband is in iraq so im living with my mom, she wanted me and my sister to share rooms again and have the baby get its own room but i said absolutly not and she thinks im nuts for having it in my room...her reasons are good, but i cant help but like the idea of the baby in my room close by...my two close friends have their babies in their rooms and they are 1.5 and almost 2,........no big deal

Louise - posted on 01/15/2010

Hi there! I don't think your stupid at all!

My boyfriend and I are expecting our first baby and we have a two bedroom apartment and haven't done anything to the other room at all! I don't see the point. Like you, I want the baby in the same room as me so that if anything happens, I'll be right there! I don't fancy the idea of getting up every few hours to go into the other room across the hall to feed or change him.

We have his crib set up next to my side of the bed, so he's in reaching distance. I have a table in the corner of the room that used to be my "beauty parlour" set up as a changing station, now armed with nappies, wipes, rash cream, baby powder etc. and a peddle bin for dirty nappies. Not a tube of lipstick in sight! hahaha!

We do however use the extra wardrobe space in the other room for his clothes and blankets as I am a fashion victim and need lots of wardrobe space!!!

I would rather wait a while and then decorate the room for him after a year or so. Looking through all the magazines and websites makes you feel like you SHOULD have a nursery for the baby, and they always look so beautiful too, but for us, we just don't find it practical at the moment!

Congratulations and when are you due? Our little Fábio is due on 25th Jan (9 days) and so excited!

Christina - posted on 01/15/2010

It's not stupid of you at all. A lot of us plan to (or have) put our babies in bassinets in our bedrooms for the first several months. Will my child move into his own room once he outgrows his bassinet...yes. But until then, and until the nightly feedings taper a bit, I like the idea of having my son close at hand.



Do I recommend that you start thinking about finding a 2 bedroom place for once your child gets to be a year or so old...well, yea. But that's just my opinion. You're going to need the extra space eventually, and might as well start pre-planning for it (saving $$, etc.).