Shopping for new babies can be an exciting but confusing time, particularly when it comes to the nursery. Our round-up aims to cut the confusion by bringing you what we think are the best and most genuinely useful products this year for sleeping arrangements, daytime play and downtime, as well as storage. This is from one of several furniture collections from Silver Cross, all of which include a cot bed, dresser and wardrobe. We love the soft antique white of this range, along with the striking pewter effect handles, and excellent build quality. The dresser starts life as a changing station, but you can simply remove the top to transform it to a chest of drawers. 2. Stacking Toy Box: £27, gltc.co.uk Here’s a way to keep their things neat, while injecting some colour into a room. Available in seven gorgeous colours, which are designed to mix and match, the stackable storing boxes are ideal for anything from nappies to LEGO. There’s a useful, blackboard label and they are easy to assemble and great quality, too.
Available with natural or white upholstery, this white chair is tremendously comfortable and offers great ergonomics, with a nice wide chair footstall, making it ideal for relaxing in when pregnant and for feeding your baby, as well as reading to them when they’re a bit older. There are seven reclining positions making it super=versatile. Take note: it will need assembling so any heavily pregnant mums should make sure they have a helping hand. New this season, this stunning cot is aimed at those want a change from the sea of white and wooden cots that line the floors of most nursery retailers. The quality is amazing and there are lots of thoughtful details, like the top cot changer and storage drawer. And because it transforms into a bed, it will last your littlun up to five-years-old. This delightful toy box is a fun and practical way to store anything from blankets and muslins, when they’re tiny, to toys when they’re older. Little fingers won’t get trapped, thanks to the cut away front, and there’s a padded top that youngsters will love to sit on.
There’s also a blue atlas design if the butterflies don't appeal. Although kids aren’t supposed to use this until they’re at least a year old, this rocking horse named Buddy will finish off a nursery beautifully, as well as being a friendly face for babies to wake up to. Then, when they’re old enough they can hone their balance and fine motor skills on his back. The frame feels solid and little ones will love pressing Buddy’s ears to hear the rattles and squeaks. Bouncers are great for when babies want to sit up. This is pricey compared to others, but the build quality is exceptional and the colour combinations, of which there are many, are gorgeous. There are three adjustable height settings, ranging from almost horizontal to an upright position that’s good for playing or feeding. It’s lightweight and foldable, too. You can buy a wooden toy bar to add on if you want extra stimulation for them while they’re in the chair, which makes a nice change from all the plastic options out there.
This innovative bedside crib, which tucks neatly alongside an adult bed, means your baby can sleep next to you whenever you want. With a zip-down mesh wall, you can comfort little ones without having to get out of bed. It can also be used as a stand-alone crib for the nursery and finally, the removable rocking bassinet can be removed so you can rock them to sleep wherever you are. Again, this is part of a wider range, allowing you to kit the whole nursery out in JCB theme if you so desire. But even on its own, this fun bookcase is charming. It’s easy to assemble, has three useful shelves and comes in one box. The vibrant yellow is cheery too. Don’t panic if you like the concept, but think this looks too big or the wrong shape, as there are loads of combinations and coloured draws to choose from. It’s nice and low, making it easy for children to reach and organise their things, and the frame has multiple grooves so you can place boxes and shelves where you want them.
The Silver Cross Nostalgia range gets a huge thumbs up from us, for durability, beautiful design and nice neutral colouring. Meanwhile, for storage, our favourite product is the GLTC Stacking Toy Box. IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing 1. Think tall, not wide 3. Make use of wall space 5. Extra storage ideas 6. The illusion of space 7. Consider other options When your nursery has limited space, keep in mind that less is more. Trying to cram in too much furniture can make the room impractical and create a claustrophobic environment. Here are some practical ideas on how to make the most of a small nursery. 1. Think tall, not wideMake use of the height of the room, using tall rather than wide furniture. Slim, tall, one-door wardrobes are available, and some have shelves all the way up.
For safety, secure tall furniture to the wall with a bracket or two. Since baby clothes are small, you can install another one or two hanging rails further down in the wardrobe. You can then hang up more clothes. Put shoe racks, storage boxes or a set of drawers at the bottom of the wardrobe to take advantage of the space. If you have space above the wardrobe, tall plastic drawers or baskets can be placed on top. Multifunctional furniture can save space and money. Try changing units with drawers or shelves underneath. Or those with longer legs that allow you to fit boxes underneath. Storage benches that double up as a toy chest and a seat are perfect for small nurseries. If you prefer to stand while changing your baby, but don't have room for a changing unit, try an over-cot changer. These changers have a table that fits across the bars of your baby's cot and can be used separately from the cot once your toddler moves to a bed. While your baby is young you may like to use co-sleeper cots next to your bed.
You are recommended to have your baby sleep in your room for the first six months and many babies stay there for a year or longer. Naturally, this will free up a lot of space in your baby's nursery, which can become a play area, clothes store and changing room until your baby's a bit bigger. Some co-sleepers convert into playpens, so you can carry on using it once your baby's outgrown it for sleeping in. If you choose a cot-bed that converts into a full-sized bed, you won't have to store the cot when you no longer need it. 3. Make use of wall spaceAnother option for nappy changing is a wall-mounted changing unit. It folds up against the wall when not in use and has storage pockets to hold all your nappy-changing accessories. Make use of the wall space by installing plenty of shelves, leaving enough space to put boxes and baskets on top of them. Your baby may only have a few books to begin with, but a tall bookcase can be used to store many other items such as toys or bedding.
Hanging nets are a safe, easy way to store teddies. They have a Velcro fastener and can be hung from curtain poles. You can also get nappy holders that hang on the wall. Alternatively, you can use hooks to hang up bags or other items that take up space. Use over-door hangers or hooks to hang your nappy bags and washing basket on the back of the door. Shoe organisers can also be hung on the back of the door and are great for storing nappies. 4. Folding furnitureFolding furniture can be stored away when not in use. Try portable or collapsible drawers for storing safe items under the cot or bed. These are not suitable for storing potentially dangerous items such as nappy bags or toiletries. Travel cots take up less space and can be folded away when not needed. Since they are smaller than standard cots, you may have to order the bedding and mattress online. Folding bassinets that double as playpens are also available. They have an attached carrier bag that they are folded into and some have wheels for moving from one room to another.
A cot tidy is a fabric pocket that can be hung on the side of the cot. It’s particularly useful if you have a cot-top changer and need nappies and other items to hand. Storage bags that you can vacuum-pack yourself are ideal for storing teddies, clothes and bedding. These airtight bags flatten your items so they take up less room without being damaged. Room corners are often left bare. Consider corner cupboards or shelving and corner hanging nets. Corner changing tables cover less floor space and your baby’s legs will be facing you. You may find this to be a better position for nappy changing. Certain wall colours can make a room feel bigger or smaller. Choose soft, pastel colours for a more spacious feel. If you prefer vivid colours, use a pale colour for the base and use a bright, stronger colour for detail. If the room has a low ceiling you can paint vertical stripes on one of the walls for an illusion of height. Mirrors create the illusion of space and are available in fun patterns and shapes great for children’s rooms.
Putting a mirror opposite a window adds more light and sparkle to a room. Mirrors are often heavy, so make sure it's securely attached to the wall. If there isn’t room for an essential item or one you have your heart set on, consider other options. For example, many mums put their changing table in the bathroom or stick to a changing mat. This can be used in any room and easily stored away. You could put the rocking chair or breastfeeding chair in your bedroom or in the living room. Not all feeding chairs take up a lot of room. There are smaller, less-expensive chairs available that have a sloped back, arm and headrests and the choice of a footstool. Many bounce gently rather than rock, but are comfortable and supportive. They are also useful if you don't want your baby to rely on motion to fall asleep. If you are struggling to squeeze furniture in, you could buy canvas wardrobes that come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. These are light and easy to pull over, so choose one with a timber frame and screw it to the wall.